Acumen Fund

Building businesses that change lives.

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Good...Better...Even Better

Learn about a new and even better approach to fighting poverty

A Better Harvest

A farmer’s story: How drip irrigation saved a harvest

A Brighter Future

A mother’s story: How a solar lamp has brightened her family’s life

I Can Be Somebody

A reader’s story: How “The Blue Sweater” changed a young man’s outlook on life

Meet the Supporters in Our Video

  • "Acumen Fund's unique approach - the concept of moving away from the charitable model to an investment model supporting sustainable innovation for the underserved--was very convincing. Being involved with an organization like Acumen is truly inspiring!"

    Najmi Sarwar is originally from Pakistan and has been actively engaged in supporting educational initiatives in South Asia for over a decade. Najmi has been an Acumen Fund Partner since 2007 and is currently a Vice President at Citibank N.A.

  • "Helping to organize the Dignity Photo Auction & Benefit solidified my dedication to Acumen Fund. Finding others like myself, passionate to be part of an organization that provides lasting social and financial benefits has been truly inspiring. In addition, Acumen Fund continues to stimulate my curiosity, give me a glimpses into different worlds, and indulge my abilities to articulate stories and tie our common humanity."

    Bryan Brady currently champions the work of Acumen Fund as the Communications Committee Co-Chair with Acumen Fund's NY Chapter, New York for Acumen.

  • "I believe Acumen Fund is the stalwart in an entrepreneurial movement that serves the poor with dignity and dares to create and support markets that few would consider viable centers of commerce. Acumen Fund exhibits the foresight that is needed from leaders across industries, institutions and communities such that the world’s people can realize a future that is full of compassion and prosperity."

    Sarah Dimson is a 2010 Acumen Fund Fellow from California. She is currently in Lahore, Pakistan working with AMC to build housing for low income communities.

  • "I support Acumen Fund because I believe that empowering individuals with resources and patience is fundamental to eliminating poverty. I joined Acumen because I saw a group of highly talented, passionate and commercial-minded people doing something postive and sustainable to eliminate poverty and I wanted to be a part of it."

    Faiz Ahmad serves as a pro bono Legal Counsel to Acumen Fund. Prior to joining Acumen Fund, Faiz worked for seven years at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP practicing mergers and acquisitions.

  • "Acumen Fund offers me a unique way to contribute to solving the problems of poverty. Every dollar is used as intended--for the benefit of people needing the basic building blocks of life. I like learning from Acumen and being part of worldwide community that cares. Bottom line: I'm a better person for being a part of Acumen."

    Margo Alexander was formerly a senior executive of PaineWebber, where she spent the greater part of her thirty-three year career in the financial services industry. She is currently the Chair of Acumen Fund's Board.

  • "When I went to the Acumen FUN Day I learned that Acumen gives money to people so they can start a business to earn their own money instead of always relying on others. I want to help because I feel bad about the obstacles the poor must go through."

    Lavanya Attavane attended Acumen Fund's first ever "Take Your Sons and Daughters to Work Day" (aka Acumen FUN Day!) in April 2009, together with her father, Anand, Acumen Fund's Director of Finance. She is currently in the 4th grade and enjoys arts and crafts and playing the viola.

  • This was Mazin's frist time in front of a camera and he says he enjoyed it because he got to "say a lot of cool things!"

    Mazin Attia is a four year old who loves dinosaurs, monster trucks, and enjoys eating cucumbers with Italian dressing. When his father’s best friend [see Faiz Ahmad] moved to NYC to work for Acumen Fund and needed a place to stay, Mazin generously gave up his room.

  • "As a strategist for many multinational global brands it had always troubled me that there was an apparent conflict between making money and having a positive social impact. The good people at Acumen resolved that for me, proving I didn't have to choose. I've become fascinated by their brand, their investment model and their businesses and have been lucky enough to be asked to help take them to scale."

    William Charnock is the Director of Strategic Innovation at JWT, as well as a brand communications advisor and friend of Acumen Fund.

  • "I'm happy to support Acumen Fund's innovative approach of using patient capital to actually serve the poor. I have seen firsthand how difficult the task is. But, I have also witnessed Acumen's unwavering committment to treat the poor as people with choice--who can vote with their hard earned money for what serves them best."

    Joel Montgomery was a 2009 Acumen Fund Fellow who worked in Pakistan with Micro Drip to provide affordable drip irrigation to small-scale farmers. Originally from Alabama, Joel is currently the Director of New Country Expansion at Endeavor Global based in NYC.

  • "At GOOD, we were developing a new web video series which documented creative ideas from around the world that were concretely changing lives. Acumen Fund had a wealth of amazing projects that fit the bill. We ended up profiling Dial 1298 for Ambulance, an Acumen investment that is revolutionizing Mumbai's health care system by bringing emergency medical care to the masses."

    MacKenzie Fegan worked at GOOD Magazine and has helped as a video advisor for Acumen Fund. She is currently a freelance producer.

  • "I am inspired by Acumen Fund's mission and its enormous ability and potential to make lasting and sustainable change. The rich complexity of Acumen’s mission invites me in to learn and explore more, and with each story I hear about the persistent and patient entrepreneurs around the world growing their services little by little, the small amount I can contribute becomes even more rewarding."

    Dorothy Jean is an Account Supervisor at Edelman and manages communications, PR strategies, and campaigns for clients in the technology sector.

  • "I am a fan of Acumen Fund because its commitment to talent, capital support and knowledge reflects my personal commitment, and most importantly, it gives me the platform to serve with dignity and respect."

    Sule Amadu is a 2010 Acumen Fund Fellow from Ghana. He is currently working with D.light Design in India, providing safe lighting for low income communities.

  • "I love Acumen Fund because of its innovative approach to fighting poverty. They enable social enterprises to start, sustain and continuously scale. This means that these enterprises can make health, water, housing, and energy affordable to more and more people at the base of the economic pyramid."

    Asim Hussnain is a 2010 Acumen Fund Fellow from Pakistan. He is currently working with Micro Drip to provide affordable drip irrigation to small-scale farmers in Pakistan.

  • "It's easy to respect Acumen Fund for having a truly distinguished, original concept about how to promote economic development that benefits the poor. This is unusual enough. But you have to support them because of their efforts that have demonstrated that the idea is right, that it works, and that it can be scaled to offer promise to millions."

    Bob Alexander is the President and founder of IndiePix, an independent film distribution company, and an Acumen Fund Partner.

Our Impact

Acumen Fund measures success by both social and financial returns.

  • 24 profitable businesses in 6 countries
  • Serving over 36 million low-income customers worldwide
  • Providing over 9,000 paying jobs
  • 4x leverage for every dollar invested