For Funders
The Fund harnesses Africa’s diversity of talent, creativity, and untapped potential to drive a continent-wide shift toward adaptability and self-sufficiency.
The AIR Fund focuses on five strategic goals: (1) advancing civic innovation, (2) building climate resilience, (3) expanding economic opportunities, (4) supporting innovation ecosystems, and (5) leveraging AI for social good. By awarding grants ranging from $15,000 to $50,000, the AIR Fund enables nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and local innovators to deliver targeted solutions in governance, education, healthcare, and climate action. For instance, AI-driven tools for urban planning have increased citizen participation by 50%, while community-driven climate adaptation initiatives have protected agricultural livelihoods and reduced food insecurity for millions.
The AIR Fund prioritizes localized impact by targeting secondary cities, which house nearly 40% of Africa’s urban population yet receive less than 5% of global climate adaptation funding. By directing resources to high-need regions like Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, and Tanzania, the AIR Fund ensures that its support drives meaningful change where it matters most. At AIR, we fund projects such as low-cost climate sensors for real-time flood monitoring, which have saved thousands of lives annually, and affordable AI-powered tools that enhance urban resilience.
Why Partner with AIR?
Innovative Approach
AIR Fund prioritizes African-led solutions, integrating cutting-edge methodologies such as AI and data-driven tools to address localized challenges. By combining bold investments in proven models with support for emerging ideas, AIR Fund balances stability with experimentation.
Measurable Impact
Every dollar invested in resilience yields up to $6 in avoided losses and economic gains. AIR Fund focuses on initiatives with demonstrable outcomes, from saving lives with climate-smart interventions to creating jobs and driving productivity in secondary cities.
Equity and Inclusion
AIR Fund is committed to empowering historically excluded groups, such as women, youth, and people with disabilities, ensuring that its resources reach those with the greatest potential for transformative impact.
A Unique Focus
While many funds concentrate on Africa’s primary cities, AIR Fund turns its attention to secondary cities—untapped engines of growth with extraordinary potential to bolster regional resilience and productivity.
Funding Opportunities
AIR Fund offers a range of partnership levels tailored to philanthropic goals and areas of interest. Funders can choose to support:
Climate Resilience
Invest in climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and water management systems to protect livelihoods and reduce vulnerabilities to climate-related disasters.
AI Innovation
Back AI-driven tools for education, healthcare, and urban planning, ensuring technological self-reliance and scalability across Africa.
Secondary City Development
Empower local leaders to enhance governance, infrastructure, and social entrepreneurship, transforming secondary cities into hubs of inclusive growth.
Innovation Ecosystems
Strengthen innovation ecosystems by funding African startups, innovation hubs, and mentoring programs to drive employment and economic inclusion.
Funders can engage through one-time contributions or multi-year commitments, with options for co-funding initiatives or creating bespoke partnerships aligned with their priorities.
Transparency Commitment
AIR Fund values accountability and transparency, ensuring funders can track their contributions' impact. Our robust reporting mechanisms include:
•
Annual Impact Reports: Comprehensive summaries of project outcomes, metrics, and financial allocations, highlighting the measurable difference made through funders' contributions.
•
Quarterly Updates and Funder-Grantee Townhall meetings: Regular updates on ongoing projects, key milestones, and strategic developments.
•
Interactive Dashboards: Future plans to provide funders with access to real-time data on funded initiatives, enabling informed decision-making.
