What would you do if you had millions of dollars to invest in impact? Would you put it in an existing charity - or would you try to do something different, something better?
Kevin Starr needed to answer these questions when, in 1993, he unexpectedly found himself at the head of a new foundation named Mulago. Instead of taking the path well traveled, Kevin decided to experiment with creating impact that lasts. And so, through the twists and turns of many years, he developed the Mulago Foundation fellows program and investment approach.
In today’s conversation, Kevin shares how he found his way in the early years of Mulago. He talks about the challenges of early investments and how those lessons are applied to his current approach. Over time, he shares how the Foundation really started to gel once he was able to build common ground with his investors and his awardees. Kevin dives into some of the fallacies and idiosyncrasies of the aid sector, and how he’s established a more efficient way of working. Mulago runs lean because it builds on talent and trust - and skips the bureaucracy. Finally, Kevin presents his “playbook for scale”, the six systemic accelerators he sees again and again in his most successful investments.
In addition to leading Mulago, Kevin is one of the primary instigators of Big Bang Philanthropy, a group of funders that work together to direct more money to those best at fighting poverty.
Mulago Foundation was an early funder of Digital Green, Nexleaf Analytics, Medic, One Acre Fund, Living Goods, Last Mile Health, VillageReach, and Mothers2Mothers.
To find out more, access the show notes at https://AidEvolved.com
Let us know what you think of this episode on Twitter (@AidEvolved) or by email (hello@AidEvolved.com)
Empower Women to Code with Marlene Mhangami of the Python Software Foundation
The Promise and Peril of Biometrics with Sebastian Manhart and Simprints
From Serial Entrepreneur to Non-Profit Founder with Gustav Praekelt of Praekelt.org
Foreign Aid or Local Aid? The Side Hustles of Ismaila Diene of Dimagi
Learning How to Speak Up with Joy Kamunyori of JSI
Side Chat: Behind the Scenes with Three Digital Development Podcasts
The Seven Lives of Living Software with Nic Pottier of Nyaruka
Digital Identity, Cash, and Trust in Humanitarian Response with Rosa Akbari
Defying Expectations with Nithya Ramanathan of Nexleaf Analytics
Side Chat: Podcasting in the Aid Industry with Stephen Ladek of the Terms of Reference Podcast
If What You Need Doesn't Exist, Go Build it - Ken Banks of FrontlineSMS
The Tip of the Spear with Matt Berg of Ona
6,000 Videos by Smallholder Farmers with Rikin Gandhi of Digital Green
Side Chat: Wandering in the Woods in West Africa
From ICTD Research to Practice with Eric Brewer of UC Berkeley
The Many Sides of Digital Health with Liz Peloso
Starting Up in South Africa with Nneile Nkohlise of 3DIMO
Punching Above Your Weight with Karl Brown and the Rockefeller Foundation
Connecting the Roof of the World with Yahel Ben-David of AirJaldi
Fostering a Culture of Innovation in Malawi with Gerry Douglas
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Social Dallas Podcast
Change Church Podcast
Advocacy Scoop Podcast
The Biz of Nonprofit Consultants
Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon