Empower - The Emerging Markets Foundation

Charity Number: 1118916

Annual Expenditure: £4.8M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £4.8 million / $6.1 million (FY2023)
  • Average Grant Size: $42,500 (FY2022)
  • Grant Range: Single-year to multi-year grants (up to 10 years)
  • Geographic Focus: 15 emerging market countries across Latin America, Asia, Africa, Turkey, and Russia
  • Total Impact to Date: $58.4 million awarded through 1,609 grants
  • Youth Impacted: 1 million directly, 3 million lives touched

Contact Details

UK Office:

  • 3rd Floor Paternoster House, 65 St. Paul's Churchyard, London, EC4M 8AB
  • Phone: +44 203 488 7516
  • UK Partnership Inquiries: Zaryna Lee

US Office:

  • 106 W. 32 ST, The Yard, New York, NY 10001
  • Phone: +1 212-608-4455
  • US Partnership Inquiries: Robin Barnes

Other Regional Contacts:

  • India: Ankita Das
  • Singapore/Hong Kong: Simren Sekhon

Website: empowerweb.org

Overview

Founded in 2000 by a group of finance professionals working in emerging markets, EMpower - The Emerging Markets Foundation has evolved into a sophisticated global grantmaking organization focused exclusively on marginalized youth aged 10-24. Registered as UK charity 1118916, EMpower operates with a distinctive model: 100% of funds raised from individual donors go directly to grantee partners, with board directors and the Leadership Council underwriting all management, general, and fundraising expenses.

The organization currently operates in 15 countries across Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru), Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa), Asia (China/Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam), Turkey, and Russia. With offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, and Delhi, plus presence in Argentina, Mexico, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, and Turkey, EMpower takes a “patient capital” approach, providing sustained support to local organizations for up to 10 years.

In FY2023, EMpower awarded $6.1 million through 126 grants, directly affecting 99,000 young people. Since inception, the foundation has awarded over $58.4 million through 1,609 grants to organizations working with marginalized youth. The average grant size has increased significantly from $30,200 in FY2019 to $42,500 in FY2022—a 41% increase demonstrating their commitment to more meaningful funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

EMpower employs a phased partnership model that evolves over time:

Phase 1: Single-Year Programmatic Support

  • Initial grants for specific programs
  • Average grant: $42,500
  • Focus on establishing partnership and assessing results

Phase 2: Multi-Year Programmatic Support

  • Available after several years of successful partnership
  • Demonstrates solid organizational capacity
  • Nearly half of renewal grants in FY2022 were multi-year

Phase 3: Negotiated General Support

  • Focus on organizational strengthening
  • Flexible funding for up to 10 years total
  • Reserved for proven long-term partners

Priority Areas

EMpower focuses on three key building blocks for youth futures:

Economic Well-Being

  • Livelihoods and economic development programs
  • Skills training and employment preparation
  • Entrepreneurship support

Safe, Healthy Lives

  • Mental health support
  • Health education and services
  • Protection from violence and exploitation

Inclusive Learning

  • K-12 and STEM education
  • Alternative education pathways
  • Life skills training

Cross-Cutting Priorities:

  • Women and girls' equity (especially emphasized)
  • Locally-led solutions
  • Programs addressing cycles of disadvantage
  • Youth voice and leadership (Youth Fellows program)

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations based in UK or other developed countries (they fund only in emerging markets)
  • Programs not focused on youth aged 10-24
  • Organizations without established track record
  • Short-term or one-off projects
  • Programs outside their 15 target countries
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Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Cynthia Steele - President and CEO (serves on US, UK, and HK boards)

Nisha Dhawan - Vice President, Impact & Influence (India Advisory Council)

Board Chairs

  • James Donald - US Board Chair (Lazard Asset Management)
  • Jeremy Llewelyn - Global Executive Committee Chair
  • Swatee Deepak - UK Co-Chair
  • Aasha Pai - HK Co-Chair
  • Aleem Jivraj - HK Co-Chair

Notable UK Board Members

  • Mary-Therese Barton - Pictet
  • Jonathan Bell - Cape Ann Asset Management
  • Beth Fredrick - Senior Associate, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Board Director since 2005)
  • Liza - Former Head of Corporate Citizenship at Credit Suisse, now Head of Programmes and Optimus, Social Impact & Philanthropy US at UBS (Board Director since 2024)
  • Nicolette Naylor - Ubuntu Global Philanthropy
  • Toby West - Global Head of Marketing, MarketAxess (Board Director since 2020)

Mission Statement

“EMpower partners with local organisations in emerging market countries to enable marginalised young people to transform their lives and communities.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

EMpower does not have a public application process. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or requests for funding. Instead, EMpower identifies and approaches potential partner organizations through their in-country programme teams and board networks.

How Organizations Are Selected

EMpower's selection process is relationship-driven:

  • In-Country Programme Teams: EMpower maintains programme staff based in each country they serve who identify potential partners through deep local knowledge and sector connections
  • Board and Network Referrals: Board members with emerging markets expertise identify organizations through their professional and philanthropic networks
  • Sector Research: The foundation conducts active research to identify high-performing local organizations working with marginalized youth
  • Initial Contact: EMpower initiates contact with organizations that align with their mission and demonstrate strong local impact

Getting on Their Radar

While EMpower doesn't accept unsolicited applications, organizations can increase their visibility:

Build Relationships with EMpower Board Members and Staff:

  • Review EMpower's board composition on their website to identify members with connections to your sector or region
  • Attend sector events in your country where EMpower programme staff may be present
  • Research EMpower's existing grantees in your country to understand their profile

Leverage Existing Grantee Networks:

  • Connect with current EMpower partners in your region (listed on empowerweb.org)
  • Participate in youth sector networks where EMpower partners operate
  • Build reputation for innovative, effective work with marginalized youth

Contact Regional Representatives Directly:

  • UK organizations working in emerging markets can contact Zaryna Lee for institutional partnership discussions
  • Organizations in specific regions can reach out to regional contacts (India: Ankita Das; Singapore/Hong Kong: Simren Sekhon; US: Robin Barnes)
  • Note: These contacts are primarily for institutional partnerships (corporate/foundation funders), but can provide guidance on EMpower's work

Demonstrate Alignment with EMpower's Model:

  • Establish strong track record of working with marginalized youth aged 10-24
  • Focus on one or more of their priority areas (education, health, livelihoods)
  • Show capacity for long-term partnership and organizational learning
  • Operate in one of EMpower's 15 target countries

Decision Timeline

Given EMpower's proactive identification model, there is no standard application timeline. However:

  • Initial grants are typically for one year, allowing EMpower to assess the partnership
  • Partnership development can take several years before multi-year funding is offered
  • Board meetings occur periodically (e.g., Spring 2024 meeting approved $1.267 million in 21 grants)
  • Organizations report that EMpower engages in extensive due diligence before making initial grants

Partnership Duration

  • Minimum: 1 year (initial programmatic support)
  • Maximum: 10 years (total support across all phases)
  • Typical progression: Single-year grants → Multi-year programmatic → General operating support

Application Success Factors

What EMpower Values in Partners

Local Embeddedness and Knowledge

EMpower strongly prioritizes organizations with deep cultural and programmatic knowledge of their communities. Their 2024 Annual Report, “Driving Change, Shaping Future,” emphasizes that “local organisations that work with marginalised young people—and have the knowledge and solutions needed to break cycles of disadvantage” are central to their model.

Long-Term Commitment and Learning

EMpower seeks partners willing to engage in multi-year relationships. Organizations must demonstrate “results, accountability and learning” throughout the partnership. The foundation values partners who can evolve and strengthen organizationally over time.

Focus on Marginalized Youth

Priority goes to organizations working with youth aged 10-24 who face significant barriers, with special emphasis on girls and young women. Successful partners address critical transition periods in young people's lives.

Organizational Capacity

While EMpower provides capacity building support, they look for organizations with “solid organizational capacity” before advancing to multi-year funding. This includes financial management, governance, and monitoring and evaluation systems.

Flexibility and Responsiveness

EMpower notes they provide “flexible funding” and value partners who can “respond and adjust” to changing contexts. Organizations that demonstrate adaptability while maintaining programmatic quality are favored.

Recent Funding Examples

EMpower's recent grants have supported:

  • Life-skills training programs for marginalized youth
  • Mental health support services for young people
  • Education access initiatives including STEM programs
  • Livelihood development and economic empowerment programs
  • Programs in India, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, Nigeria, Ghana, Peru, Colombia, and Brazil

Common Barriers

Based on EMpower's model, organizations face challenges if they:

  • Are not based in one of EMpower's 15 target countries
  • Work primarily with adults or children outside the 10-24 age range
  • Lack established track record or organizational infrastructure
  • Do not have connections to EMpower's network or in-country teams
  • Seek only short-term or project-specific funding rather than partnership

Key Quote from Leadership

EMpower's approach is characterized by “open dialogue and trust” with grantee partners, “forming trusting conversations about the issues they face and their solutions.” They emphasize that their Programme Team is “based in-country” and “deeply embedded in the regions they serve,” enabling them to identify and support the most effective local organizations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not a UK grant maker for UK organizations: EMpower raises funds in the UK but makes grants exclusively to local organizations in 15 emerging market countries, not to UK-based charities
  • No public application process: EMpower identifies and approaches potential partners through in-country programme teams and board networks; unsolicited applications are not accepted
  • Build relationships strategically: Connect with EMpower's existing grantees, board members with expertise in your region, or attend sector events where their in-country programme staff may be present
  • Long-term partnership model: Be prepared for a 10-year potential relationship that progresses from single-year programmatic grants to multi-year and ultimately general operating support
  • Demonstrate local expertise: EMpower prioritizes organizations with deep cultural knowledge and locally-grounded solutions to youth marginalization
  • Focus on girls and young women: While serving all marginalized youth aged 10-24, EMpower places special emphasis on programs benefiting girls and young women
  • 100% funding model: Individual donations go directly to programs (management costs covered by board), making EMpower an attractive partner for maximizing donor impact
  • Significant funding increases: Average grant size increased 41% from FY2019 to FY2022, demonstrating EMpower's commitment to providing meaningful, substantial support to partners

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