About
An institution built across cultures and continents.
We were founded on a simple correction: connection between Africa, the Caribbean and the American diaspora should be reciprocal, specific and accountable — not symbolic.
Our story
The organisation began as a working group of African institutional leaders and African American philanthropists who kept meeting the same problem: goodwill was abundant, and durable structure was not.
We built the structure. Today we operate three programmes, an advisory council based on the continent, and a philanthropic fund that deploys multi-year, unrestricted capital to African-led organisations.
Mission
To create meaningful, reciprocal connections between Africa, the diaspora and those who invest in both.
Vision
A generation for whom the relationship between Africa and its diaspora is ordinary, two-directional and institutionally supported — in education, enterprise, culture and philanthropy.
Leadership
Executive team
Dr. Yaa Boateng
President & Chief Executive
Washington, DC
Charles Adeyemi
Managing Director, Impact Fund
Lagos
Renée Charleston
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Atlanta
Dr. Fatou Diallo
Director, Heritage & Roots
Dakar
Board of Trustees
- Ambassador Lillian Okoro — Chair
- Terrence Whitfield — Vice Chair
- Dr. Samuel Kagwe — Treasurer
- Adaeze Nwosu — Secretary
- Marcia Delacroix
- Prof. Kwame Asante
African Advisory Council
Practitioners based on the continent who review programme design and grantmaking.
- Prof. Ngozi Eze — Abuja
- Dr. Miriam Tesfaye — Addis Ababa
- Ibrahima Sow — Dakar
- Grace Wanjiru — Nairobi
Governance & financials
Audited statements, IRS Form 990 filings, bylaws and independent programme evaluations are published on our transparency page.
View governance & financials →