Building on Aid to Eliminate Poverty

Acumen's New Approach to Aid

• Problem: Traditional aid often results in continuous dependency.
• Solution: A new kind of aid targeting poverty more effectively.
• Method: Invest in local entrepreneurs with community-based solutions.
  • Healthcare
  • Water
  • Housing
  • Alternative Energy
• Philosophy: Low-income individuals are not just recipients of charity but active participants (customers, clients, consumers).

Acumen’s Investments and Impact

• Model: Invest charitable donations in companies, leaders, and ideas to create long-term solutions.
• Impact Since 2001:
  • Benefitted over 100 million lives globally.

Success Stories

• India and Africa:
  • D.Light Design: Provides over 7 million people with safe, affordable solar lanterns.
• Nigeria:
  • Ashifi Gogo & Sproxil: Developed Africa’s first mobile verification system to identify counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
  • Impact: Prevents thousands of unnecessary deaths annually.
• New York:
  • Training the next generation of social impact leaders through year-long international fellowships.

Core Beliefs

• Solutions to poverty should uphold individuals’ fundamental dignity.
• Dignity > Wealth for the human spirit.
• Entrepreneurs across sectors are creating innovations that offer freedom, choice, and opportunity.

Call to Action

• Message: Changing how the world tackles poverty requires collective effort.
• Donation: Support by donating at acumenfund.org.