Find a meaningful job
Training for impact
Profile
Misc
EMpower- The Emerging Markets Foundation
We partner with local organisations in emerging market countries and other change-makers to enable marginalised young people to transform their lives and communities.
126
IN 2023, EMPOWER AWARDED 6.1 MILLION IN 126 GRANTS
99,000
IN 2023, OUR WORK DIRECTLY AFFECTED THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 99,000 YOUTH.
680,000
IN 2023, WE TOUCHED THE LIVES OF OVER 680,000 PEOPLE.
More about the project
EMpower was born in 2000 with a simple yet powerful idea: to give back. At the time, the Emerging Markets (EM) finance industry had become a mainstream asset class, included in many institutional portfolios. Finance professionals often travelled through EM countries, assessing investments, but were struck by the deep societal inequities they witnessed. The desire to address these disparities and contribute positively to the communities that had shaped their careers led to the founding of EMpower.
From the beginning, a few key principles shaped our approach to creating impact. We sought out local organisations already doing meaningful work in their communities, recognising that we didn’t need to reinvent the wheel. EMpower aimed to be a support system for those on the ground who were making a difference. Additionally, we fostered a participatory process where donors could be directly involved in philanthropic decision-making, ensuring that contributions were informed and intentional.
Overcoming Early Challenges: The Underwriting Model
Securing consistent funding and maintaining momentum were significant hurdles in EMpower's early days. Every year began with the challenge of building the budget from scratch. To address this, we launched the Underwriting Model (UM) in 2004, a three-year renewable commitment by loyal supporters to cover core operational costs. This model proved transformative. With core costs covered, EMpower could direct all other donations to programming, building confidence in our financial sustainability. It also allowed us to extend our partnership timeline to 10 years, fostering deeper relationships with our partners and enabling long-term, meaningful impact.
Moreover, this structure freed EMpower’s staff from the constant pressure of external fundraising in their day-to-day activities, allowing them to devote more time to building relationships with grantees and communities. This focus enabled us to select the most promising organisations and build a best-in-class funding model, enhancing collaboration with our grantees and leading to more impactful outcomes for young people. EMpower has presented funders with a tangible and powerful solution to their desire to give back, creating a fulfilling philanthropic experience that resonates deeply with their values.
Impact study
EMpower- The Emerging Markets Foundation did not yet communicate its impact measurement.
Labels and certifications
This structure did not communicate to us the labels or certifications that it was able to obtain.
Jobs
Links
Gallery
