Maya Ajmera

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1993

Global Fund for Children

http://www.globalfundforchildren.org

Washington D.C., United States

Education & Youth Leadership

The Bold Idea:

Lack of access to education, dangerous child labor practices, exploitative child trafficking, and the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic are just a few of the challenges confronting the world’s most vulnerable children. Grassroots organizations worldwide are the true innovators, operating on the front lines to combat these problems in their communities with groundbreaking methods. In many places around the world, governments and foreign aid have failed to provide support for innovative grassroots organizations.

The Global Fund for Children (GFC) was founded with the belief that investing in grassroots innovation will unlock the key to addressing many of the most glaring social issues affecting children around the globe. Small community-based organizations are nimble and flexible, with the ability to make maximum use of minimal resources. They serve hard-to-reach and marginalized children and youth, vulnerable kids who are otherwise invisible to the world.

Since 1997, The Global Fund for Children has invested nearly $14 million in 365 grassroots organizations in seventy-two countries around the world, touching the lives of over 1 million children.

In addition to its innovative philanthropic model, GFC has developed a unique social enterprise program. The Global Fund for Children Books is an extremely well respected collection of children’s books that provide insight into cultural diversity and present common experiences that children share. The publishing imprint is partnered with major publishers in the United States. With over 600,000 copies in circulation, Global Fund for Children books have reached over 2 million young readers. These award-winning titles include Children from Australia to Zimbabwe, To Be a Kid, Be My Neighbor, and Global Babies.

GFC’s documentary photography fellowship program provides talented photographers with the opportunity to document the daily lives of young people served by the community-based organizations supported by GFC. Its film investments focus on the resilience of young people and raise awareness of the issues confronting them. Past investments include such films as War Child, Journey of a Red Fridge, and Going to School in India.

By combining thoughtful grantmaking with an innovative media strategy, The Global Fund for Children has reached well over 3 million children and adults worldwide.

Biography:

Maya Ajmera is the founder and president of The Global Fund for Children (GFC), a philanthropic intermediary that makes small grants to innovative, community-based organizations working with some of the world’s most vulnerable children and youth. Since 1997, GFC has awarded 2,422 grants, totaling nearly $14 million, to 365 grassroots organizations in seventy-two countries. In addition, GFC has a dynamic media program focused on children’s books, films, and documentary photography. Maya is the co-author of many Global Fund for Children books, including the award-winning Children from Australia to Zimbabwe and Faith.

Maya is sought out nationally and globally to address audiences on local and global philanthropy, global children’s rights, early childhood development, and social entrepreneurship. Her work and life story have been profiled by such media outlets as CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, the Financial Times, NPR, and many others.

Maya serves on the boards of directors of Echoing Green, the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center at the University of North Carolina, and the Washington Area Women's Foundation. She also serves on the advisory boards of numerous philanthropic entities, including the American India Foundation, Youth Philanthropy Worldwide, Global Philanthropy Forum, and the Emerging Markets Foundation.

Maya received a bachelor's degree in biology from Bryn Mawr College and a master's degree in public policy from the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University.