2012 Q3 Board Book (Staff)

The October 29-30th, 2012 Board Meeting, focused on to expanding access to microfinance and education, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, with an emphasis on strategic partnerships and innovative programming. The Foundation aimed to prepare young people to engage with the economy and lead change in their communities, and improve the quality of life for people of all ages. The Foundation also concentrated on developing its internal capacity and building its brand.

Key activities and initiatives include:

1) Grant-Making: The Foundation committed $209.1 million in grants, surpassing its $200 million goal. Significant investments were made in the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program to enable students to complete quality secondary and university education, as well as projects with the African Leadership Academy (ALA) and the Boulder Institute of Microfinance.

2) Microfinance Programs: The Foundation supported initiatives to scale access to financial services, promote social performance management (SPM), and build the capacity of microfinance institutions (MFIs). Projects included training MFIs in SPM, and promoting client protection principles. The Foundation also focused on integrating technology, such as mobile banking, into microfinance.

3) Youth Learning Programs: The Foundation scaled access to education through scholarships, mentoring, and other support. It also supported entrepreneurship learning and innovation. The Foundation continued to develop its Scholars Program and engaged youth in program design and implementation.

4) Evaluation and Learning: The Foundation emphasized learning and evaluation, disseminating project reports and publications and implementing regular project reviews. The Foundation also explored the use of "spend-down endowments" to disburse funds and advance its program strategies.

5) Reputation Building: The Foundation commissioned a reputation audit and participated in several global events to raise its profile. This included the launch of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program, which was featured by the US State Department.

Overall, the Foundation's efforts in Q3 2012 reflect its commitment to strategic, impactful, and innovative initiatives that address the needs of disadvantaged youth and communities, while also focusing on learning, evaluation, and responsible financial management.