The END Fund Inc - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $79,135,799 (2022 Form 990)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not publicly available (strategic partnerships)
Grant Range: Program-specific, not publicly disclosed
Geographic Focus: Global, with primary focus on Africa (30+ countries)
Total Assets: $58,581,667 (2022)

Contact Details

Address: 2 Park Avenue, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10016

Phone: +1 646-690-9775

Overview

The END Fund was founded in 2012 as a private philanthropic initiative dedicated to controlling and eliminating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) that affect over 1.6 billion people globally. Since inception, the organization has mobilized nearly $500 million in funding from over 7,000 donors across 68 countries, helping to provide over 1.7 billion NTD treatments and 126,000 life-changing surgeries while training over 6 million health workers. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN 27-3941186) in the US, a UK registered charity (number 1122574), and an NGO in Kenya. According to their 2022 Form 990, the END Fund reported revenue of $79,135,799 and expenses of $60,493,617. The organization takes a collaborative funding approach, working directly with governments, local and international partners to reach communities in the most remote areas impacted by six major NTDs: river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis, intestinal worms, and visceral leishmaniasis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The END Fund operates through strategic program initiatives rather than open grant competitions:

Deworming Innovation Fund: Launched in 2020 as a TED Audacious Project to pilot innovative techniques to eliminate intestinal worms and schistosomiasis in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe, where 80 million people remain at risk. The program treated 16.2 million people combined across these countries. Anchor funding committed through collaboration with Audacious Project partners including The ELMA Foundation, Delta Philanthropies, Sir Christopher Hohn (via Children's Investment Fund Foundation), Rosamund Zander and Hansjörg Wyss for the Wyss Medical Foundation, and Virgin Unite.

Country-Led NTD Programs: The END Fund supports national disease elimination programs across 30+ countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America through partnerships with implementing organizations and government health ministries.

River Blindness and Trachoma Programs: Through partnerships like Reaching the Last Mile Foundation (RLMF), the END Fund has expanded its footprint from eleven to thirty-nine countries, supporting elimination efforts for river blindness and blinding trachoma.

At COP28 UAE in December 2023, partners and investors – led by Reaching the Last Mile and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – pledged $777 million for NTD programs, demonstrating the scale of collaborative funding the END Fund facilitates.

Priority Areas

Geographic Priority: Over 40% of global NTD burden is concentrated in Africa, where the END Fund focuses most community-focused efforts including Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Niger
Disease Focus: Six neglected tropical diseases - river blindness (onchocerciasis), lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis, intestinal worms, and visceral leishmaniasis - with strategy to eliminate by 2030
Approach: Support for country-led programs that combine medicine distribution, community health worker training, surgical interventions (36,586 trachoma surgeries in Ethiopia alone in 2023), and systems strengthening
Partnerships: Collaborative funding models that leverage partnerships with global philanthropists and private-sector investors to close funding gaps and align local leadership with global capital

What They Don't Fund

The END Fund does not operate as a traditional grantmaker with open applications for general health or development programs
Funding is targeted specifically to NTD control and elimination programs
Programs outside the six priority diseases

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Tsitsi Masiyiwa - Board Chair (appointed August 2023). Masiyiwa has been involved with the END Fund since its inception in 2012, served as board member for six years, then Co-Vice Chair in 2022 before becoming Chair. She also chairs Co-Impact, Delta Philanthropies, and Higherlife Foundation, and serves on boards of UNICEF's Generation Unlimited and the Legatum Institute.
Alan McCormick - Board Vice Chair (US, UK, Kenya)
Carole Wainaina - Board Member (Kenya)
Total of 15 board members

Executive Leadership

Dr. Solomon Zewdu - Chief Executive Officer (effective January 1, 2025). Dr. Zewdu brings professional experience spanning public and private sectors, government agencies, military, academia, program implementation, and philanthropy. He succeeded founding CEO Ellen Agler, who stepped down in June 2024 after 12 years of leadership.
Diana Benton Schechter - Former Interim CEO (joined END Fund in 2017, served as Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO during leadership transition)
Carol Karutu - Vice President, International Programs
Anne Heggen - Senior Director, International Programs
Bridie Layden - Senior Director, Fund Development
Alessia Frisoli - Chief of Staff

The organization employs approximately 107 staff members across departments including Culture & Talent, Finance & Administration, Global Communications, International Programs, and Measurement, Evaluation & Learning.

Leadership Perspectives on Strategy

Dr. Solomon Zewdu emphasized the collaborative approach: "We work directly with governments, local and international partners to reach the communities directly impacted by these diseases in the most remote areas" and "We have the solutions, but need the sustained rigour for globe-shifting progress." He highlights that sustainable progress requires "forging partnerships that align local leadership with global capital intended to be catalytic and to de-risk long term country resource allocation."

Former CEO Ellen Agler stressed patient philanthropy: "One of the most urgent needs in the philanthropic field is for patience – moving forward only after strategic thoughtfulness, deep listening and learning, and a willingness to commit to the ups and downs and iterations of sticking to solving a problem over the long-term." She noted that "we have not paid enough attention to the diseases that cause long-term suffering and disability" and emphasized a complementary approach between medicine distribution and community outreach.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The END Fund does not have a public application process. The organization operates through strategic partnerships, proactively identifying opportunities and working with selected implementing partners rather than accepting open grant applications.

The END Fund manages grants and provides technical support by conducting country program visits and providing partner support, technical assistance, and capacity building as needed. They work in collaboration with government, NGO, pharmaceutical, and academic partners to support national disease programs.

Getting on Their Radar

The END Fund has a department responsible for identifying, mobilizing, and nurturing meaningful and impactful partnerships to advance their mission. Organizations interested in partnership can contact:

Bridie Layden, Senior Director, Fund Development at info@end.org
General inquiries: info@end.org or +1 646-690-9775

The organization facilitates partnerships with:

Government health ministries
International and local NGOs with NTD implementation capacity
Pharmaceutical companies
Academic institutions
Multilateral organizations

Known Implementing Partners include: WHO, Amref Health Africa, Caritas, CBM (Christoffel Blindenmission), Fred Hollows Foundation, Helen Keller International, Last Mile Health, Orbis International, Sightsavers, RTI International, Evidence Action, FHI 360, and government health ministries in Ethiopia, Guinea, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Senegal.

Application Success Factors

Given the strategic partnership model, organizations seeking to work with the END Fund should demonstrate:

1. NTD Program Implementation Capacity: The END Fund partners with organizations that have proven capability to deliver NTD control and elimination programs at scale. Successful partners like Evidence Action, Sightsavers, and Helen Keller International have established track records in implementing deworming programs, trachoma surgeries, and other NTD interventions.

2. Country-Led Program Alignment: Dr. Zewdu emphasizes that "sustainable progress requires forging partnerships that align local leadership with global capital." Programs must support government-led national NTD strategies rather than independent initiatives.

3. Innovation and Measurable Impact: The Deworming Innovation Fund specifically sought "innovative techniques to find solutions to stop the spread of parasitic worms." Partners should demonstrate evidence-based approaches with clear metrics. For example, Rwanda reduced schistosomiasis prevalence to just 1% in 97% of surveyed villages, demonstrating measurable progress toward elimination.

4. Collaborative Approach: Ellen Agler stressed that approaches should be "complementary" rather than opposed, working holistically on medicine distribution, community engagement, health worker training, and systems strengthening simultaneously.

5. Long-Term Commitment: The organization values "patient philanthropy" and partners willing to commit to "the ups and downs and iterations of sticking to solving a problem over the long-term" rather than short-term interventions.

6. Multi-Country or Regional Capacity: The END Fund's expansion from eleven to thirty-nine countries through RLMF suggests preference for partners who can operate across multiple geographies and support regional elimination efforts.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process - The END Fund identifies and selects implementing partners strategically; focus on relationship building and demonstrating relevant expertise in NTD control and elimination
Highly specialized focus - Only organizations working on the six priority NTDs (river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, schistosomiasis, intestinal worms, visceral leishmaniasis) are relevant partners
Geographic concentration in Africa - Over 40% of funding focuses on African countries, particularly Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, though programs span 30+ countries globally
Collaborative funding model - The END Fund operates as a catalyst, bringing together government, pharmaceutical, academic, and NGO partners with diverse funding sources (demonstrated by $777 million COP28 pledge)
Evidence and innovation matter - Programs like the Deworming Innovation Fund seek innovative, evidence-based approaches with clear metrics for impact
Country ownership essential - Programs must support government-led national strategies; Rwanda's success in taking over full funding of its deworming program exemplifies the desired outcome
Patient capital approach - The organization values long-term partnerships over quick wins, requiring sustained commitment to disease elimination goals through 2030

References

GuideStar Profile for END Fund Inc. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/27-3941186 (Accessed December 2024)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - End Fund Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/273941186 (Accessed December 2024)
Charity Navigator - Rating for END Fund. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/273941186 (Accessed December 2024)
The END Fund: Providing New Beginnings for Those Impacted by Neglected Tropical Diseases. NPTrust. https://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/philanthropist/the-end-fund-providing-new-beginnings-for-those-impacted-by-neglected-tropical-diseases/ (Accessed December 2024)
The END Fund's 2023 Annual Report. https://the-end-fund.shorthandstories.com/2023-annual-report/index.html (Accessed December 2024)
Annual Reports and Financial Statements - The END Fund. https://endfund.org/financials/ (Accessed December 2024)
END Fund Partners - The END Fund. https://endfund.org/end-fund-partners/ (Accessed December 2024)
How to Put an End to Neglected Diseases: A Conversation with Ellen Agler. https://endfund.org/impact-stories/how-to-put-an-end-to-neglected-diseases-a-conversation-with-ellen-agler/ (Accessed December 2024)
Ellen Agler, CEO of the END Fund, on the importance of understanding systems before trying to change them. https://www.circlemena.org/resources/insights/ellen-agler-why-patient-philanthropy-pays-dividends/ (Accessed December 2024)
Founding CEO of the END Fund Announces Plan to Step Down in 2024. https://end.org/press-release-re-ellens-transition-2-2/ (Accessed December 2024)
The END Fund announces Dr. Solomon Zewdu as new CEO. https://endfund.org/impact-stories/end-fund-announces-new-ceo/ (Accessed December 2024)
Why the END Fund? Dr. Solomon Zewdu, CEO, reflects on why he chose to lead this organization. https://endfund.org/why-the-end-fund/ (Accessed December 2024)
Dr Zewdu: Africa's health future depends on local leadership, innovative financing. Daily News. https://dailynews.co.tz/dr-zewdu-africas-health-future-depends-on-local-leadership-innovative/ (Accessed December 2024)
The END Fund appoints Tsitsi Masiyiwa as Board Chair. https://end.org/the-end-fund-appoints-tsitsi-masiyiwa-as-board-chair-2/ (Accessed December 2024)
Deworming Innovation Fund - The END Fund. https://endfund.org/deworming-innovation-fund/ (Accessed December 2024)
The END Fund | The Audacious Project. https://www.audaciousproject.org/grantees/the-end-fund (Accessed December 2024)
The END Fund's Deworming Program – November 2020 version. GiveWell. https://www.givewell.org/charities/end-fund/November-2020-version (Accessed December 2024)
Contact Us - The END Fund. https://end.org/contact-us/ (Accessed December 2024)

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