2010 Q3 Board Book (Staff)

The September 13th, 2010 meeting of the Board, focused on refining the Foundation's strategic approach, expanding its program reach, and ensuring effective financial management. A significant theme was the Foundation's commitment to financial inclusion and youth learning, with specific initiatives aimed at underserved populations in Africa.

Key developments included a "refresh" of MasterCard Worldwide's philanthropic strategy to better align with its business goals, emphasizing financial inclusion, and creating measurable social impact. The Foundation also explored its positioning and messaging, seeking to define its unique identity as a large, yet focused, innovative, and collaborative organization that helps the poor realize their economic potential.

Several programs and partnerships were developed and reviewed during this period. These included the following:

1) A global secondary school scholarship program in partnership with the Institute of International Education (IIE) that aims to provide education to 15,000 disadvantaged youth.

2) A microfranchising project in Sierra Leone with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) to test its effectiveness as a poverty alleviation tool for youth.

3) An employability program in Egypt with the International Youth Foundation (IYF), which also seeks to expand across Africa. 4) Support for the Center for Financial Inclusion (ACCION) to promote client protection principles among African microfinance networks.

5) A multi-year grant to BRAC Uganda to scale its "microfinance multiplied" approach, aiming to serve four million people.

6) Support for the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) to expand its data coverage in Africa.

7) A project with PAMIGA in Mali to test how consolidation can help rural MFIs comply with new regulations.

8) A partnership with Water.org to adapt its WaterCredit model in Africa.

9) A partnership with Digital Opportunity Trust to equip 100,000 youth in Kenya and Rwanda with ICT and workforce readiness skills.

These initiatives demonstrate the Foundation’s commitment to strategic, impactful, and scalable solutions to global poverty.