CAFAmerica helps US based public/private partnership distribute over $500,000 to charities in its first year

3 June 2009

Muslim womanCAFAmerica, part of the Charities Aid Foundation’s international network, today celebrated the first grants worth over $500,000 made through a public/private partnership to empower women across countries with significant Muslim populations.

The One Woman Initiative (OWI) announced its first grants to five grassroots organisations in Azerbaijan, Egypt, India, Pakistan and the Philippines. CAFAmerica is managing the funds raised for OWI from individuals and companies, making the grants, and using its knowledge of civil society and charities to provide the initiative with an independent voice.

The OWI grants are being made to locally focused organisations for programmes providing women access to legal rights, political participation, and economic development. It is hoped that the initiative will raise funds and award grants worth more than $100 million over the course of 5 years.

Susan Saxon-Harrold, CEO of CAFAmerica said, "This is an exciting initiative to be involved in. The OWI was attracted to partnering with us because of CAFAmerica’s 17 years of experience in making safe and timely global grants, and in this instance our knowledge of local charities around the world that can make an impact in the area of women and empowerment."

For more information on the grants awarded, including the recipient organizations, please follow the link below

Visit the One Woman Initiative website >>


Notes to Editors

The One Woman Initiative

The One Woman Initiative is an international women’s empowerment fund launched on 12 May 2008, with the Secretary of State and representatives of the diplomatic corps and NGO community at the US State Department.

With the pragmatic goals of engaging 10 corporate partners and working with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the US Department of State, OWI’s objective is that some $100 million dollars will be applied to empower women to achieve a local difference and a global impact, in five years.

Visit the One Woman Initiative web site >>

CAFAmerica

CAFAmerica was founded in 1992 as a member organization of the Charities Aid Foundation International Network, which provides charitable financial services to nonprofits, individuals and companies.

The CAF International Network spans 6 continents and has over $4 billion of charitable funds under management. CAFAmerica is dedicated to expanding borderless charitable giving by providing guidance and international grant-making options for donors.

CAFAmerica’s range of innovative charitable solutions for US donors and overseas nonprofits include Donor Advised Gifts, Donor Advised Funds, Matching Donor Advised Fund and most recently, the ‘Friends of’ Charity Fund.

Visit the CAFAmerica web site >>

Charities Aid Foundation

The Charities Aid Foundation is a charity set up to help other charities by working with donors, companies and charities to encourage and facilitate a culture of giving. They do this by offering products and services that make giving easier, tax efficient and help charities to make the most of donations through their banking and fundraising support services.

Media contacts

James Ketchell
Press Officer
Charities Aid Foundation
T: 0207 832 3014 (Out of office - 07846 484 192)
E: jketchell@cafonline.org

Mandy Pursey
Head of PR
Charities Aid Foundation
T: 0207 832 3012
E: mpursey@cafonline.org