CAF America

One of the most challenging aspects of disasters and humanitarian crises is the need to act quickly with limited information. CAF America has the ability to grant funds to validated charities, getting the organizations the funds they need right when they need them. Join our list to receive a disaster response-focused newsletter and update emails when we’re responding to an active crisis. Sign up now: https://lnkd.in/e9WTMBv4

 Earlier this year, CAF America’s Annual Site Visit program sent 14 team members around the world to strengthen relationships, improve grant strategies, and monitor project progress with our grantee partners. Richard Norman and Angelica Gonzalez visited four nonprofit organizations in Argentina including Bancos de Alimentos ARGENTINA, a civil society organization that coordinates food rescue programs across the country. Bancos de Alimentos Argentina’s mission is to reduce food waste and combat hunger, particularly in light of Argentina’s severe inflation, which has exacerbated food insecurity. Their network of food banks rescues produce deemed “unsellable” and redistributes it to vulnerable populations, serving as a vital resource in the fight against hunger.  Learn more about our work and shared impact with Bancos de Alimentos Argentina in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/eJitnBYN

CAF America is hiring! We are currently seeking to fill a new role: Officer, Corporate Donor Services. As a Corporate Donor Services Officer, you will be responsible for managing donor client relationships, programs, and grantmaking. In addition to providing excellent customer service, you will be responsible for maintaining expertise in international grantmaking, DAF regulations, and CAF America validation protocols by performing the following duties. Learn more about this open role and apply today!https://lnkd.in/gA72xbhJ #ApplyNow #Hiring #Philanthropy #Marketing #Nonprofit

On September 28, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs announced an extension of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) eligibility certificates pending renewal to December 31, 2024. Read more about what this means for donors and our Indian grantee partners in our updated news alert: https://lnkd.in/e_VEgcn3

Earlier this year, our team members, Lev Heller and Anson Mersereau, spent a week in Ghana visiting a few of our grantee partners in the region, as a part of CAF America’s Site Visit program. Lev and Anson met our grantees to gain a better understanding of the cultural and philanthropic landscape in their countries, while ensuring their grants have been used in a regulatory compliant manner. While in Ghana, the duo visited Jabneel Impact, a nonprofit founded by actress and movie producer Selassie Ibrahim. Jabneel serves to empower widows and orphaned girls in Ghana through professional development and vocational training. As Jabneel Impact continues to grow, their leadership aims to expand their reach and begin support networks in different countries around the West African region. Read more about our work with Jabneel Impact in our Story of Impact: https://lnkd.in/eANstCsV

As communities in Florida and Georgia grapple with the impact of Hurricane Helene, CAF America is committed to supporting the vital relief efforts underway to recover from this devastating disaster. Visit our Global Relief Navigator, featuring our fully vetted response partners and the latest information on their work: https://lnkd.in/eNXjxkvZ

As a CAF America response partner, Cadena Foundation provides crucial support during natural disasters, delivering food and essential resources to affected communities. CADENA goes beyond immediate relief, focusing on resilience and preparedness for future crises in regions across Latin America, Europe, and Africa. Their initiatives empower communities to better withstand future disasters through education and infrastructure improvements. Learn more about our work with CADENA in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/e6ZEK7Hp CADENA is part of our vetted network of charities who respond to disasters. Explore the Global Relief Navigator to learn more about disasters that CADENA, and other organizations like them, are responding to right now: https://lnkd.in/eNZ7QViU #DisasterRelief #HumanitarianAid

Over the past five days CAF America’s President and CEO, Jessie Krafft, and Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications, Nick Harvey, visited Bulgaria to meet with our network partner BCause Foundation and celebrate the end of the Helen Rinker Ashley Fund, our longest program. In Sofia, Jessie joined Elitsa Barakova on Bloomberg TV Bulgaria TV to share the legacy of Helen Rinker Ashley’s generous bequest in her estate to Voditsa, Bulgaria and discuss the differences and trends in philanthropy between our countries. After the interview, they enjoyed a delicious breakfast at Blagichka-Zero waste Bulgaria / Нулев отпадък България, one of the Rinker Center’s entrepreneurship accelerator alumni organizations. In addition to their zero waste restaurant, Denimir Dimitrov and Blazhka Dimitrova Trepetanova’s innovative approach to turn spent malt from micro and macro breweries into high protein snacks, is a shining example of the possibilities of sustainable food sources. Stay tuned for more information on their sustainable cuisine products and community programs in an upcoming Story of Impact. After our meetings in Sofia, we drove to Veliko Tarnovo, the old capital of Bulgaria and commonly known as the cultural capital. In Tarnovo, we explored the beautiful, historic streets of the old city and participated in a street festival in celebration of Independence Day. For dinner, we met with another Rinker Center alum Neven Boyanov of Tinusaur and Daniel Kiryakov, PMP of AmCham Bulgaria. The next morning, we drove to Voditsa, a small town of 200 people, and home to Helen Rinker Ashley’s living legacy of generosity. You can read more about their visit here: https://lnkd.in/erj6Nh5Q We cannot thank Elitsa and Yavor Gochev enough for their generous time and hospitality to organize our site visits. Jessie and Nick both fell in love with the historic cities, the many shopka salads, and the warm and welcoming people we met. CAF America looks forward to continuing to evolve our partnership with BCause and connecting in person again at the upcoming CAF Global Network event.

Thank you Daniel Kriyakova for joining us in Voditsa and Veliko Tarnovo! We appreciate you sharing your insights on the growing philanthropic culture in Bulgaria and the challenges of the giving landscape. CAF America looks forward to you and AmCham’s next trip to the U.S. so we can continue to build our partnership to enable giving from the Bulgarian diaspora in the U.S.

On Saturday, September 22, CAF America’s Jessie Krafft and Nick Harvey joined BCause’s Elitsa Barakova, the Rinker Center’s Yavor Gochev, and AmCham Bulgaria’s Daniel Kriyakov, PMP in Voditsa, Bulgaria to celebrate the life and philanthropic legacy of Helen Rinker Ashley. Since its inception, the Helen L. Rinker Ashley Fund has made a profound impact on the lives of the people of Voditsa, which some 200 residents call home. Over the past few decades, Voditsa’s poor infrastructure, lack of economic opportunities, and aging and shrinking population has led to the town being in need of significant financial support. To support her parent’s hometown in their time of need, Helen Rinker Ashley bequeathed her full estate, over $1.4m, to the town of Voditsa through a Donor Advised Fund with CAF America. The guidance Helen established for her legacy demonstrates just how closely connected she was to the needs of this distant village, despite living in the U.S. To help recognize and celebrate Helen Rinker Ashley’s legacy, Voditsa puts on an annual festival drawing participants from around Bulgaria to perform traditional songs and dances from their home regions. As a part of this festival, the community commemorated the end of the Helen Rinker Ashley’s fund to celebrate  the 14+ years of infrastructure revitalization, education programs, and entrepreneurial training. Jessie and Nick toured the town to see the impact of her generous bequest and our collective work firsthand. Based on recommendations from the community, some of projects supported include: 🔶Establishing the Rinker Center to provide training and financial support to entrepreneurs 🔶 Renovating the primary school and kindergarten so all students have a comfortable place to learn and grow 🔶 Weatherizing the school, medical center, and community spaces By hearing the stories from community members and seeing the impacts of administration of Helen Rinker Ashley estate, we were inspired to have played a part in seeing her vision come to life and the sustainable change in Voditsa. We are excited to see the continued evolution of her legacy through the Rinker Center’s entrepreneurial programs. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we publish our updated case study reflecting on Helen Rinker Ashley’s legacy of giving and sustainable funding!