Catalyzing Sustainable Change
The FAHU Foundation was established in 2007 by members of the Kähler family who shared a vision to make a positive and continuous difference in the world.
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The FAHU Foundation
As a privately funded foundation, we operate free from political, religious, and economic constraints, giving us the freedom to choose partners and interventions that best align with our strategic goals.
Since our inception, we have focused on addressing the root causes of poverty through sustainable solutions. Over time, we recognized the transformative power of savings groups—particularly Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)—as an effective tool for financial inclusion and community empowerment.
Today, FAHU Foundation is working to support innovative savings group projects worldwide, with a particular emphasis on marginalized communities and digital innovation.
Strategic Focus
FAHU Foundation's donations and partnerships are aligned with six core priorities.
Savings Groups
All our donations are related to savings groups, primarily using the VSLA methodology. We believe in the power of this simple, community-led approach to financial inclusion.
Sub-Saharan Africa
We focus most of our donations on activities in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the need for financial inclusion remains high and the impact of savings groups has proven significant.
Catalyst Role
We seek to leverage the impact of our donations by being a catalyst helping other actors within our domain of expertise achieve their goals. Rather than working alone, we multiply our effect through strategic partnerships.
Knowledge Creation
We see it as our most important role to create, gather, and share knowledge to help ourselves and other actors obtain better outcomes. The Digital Savings Group Hub serves as a cornerstone of this commitment.
Innovation Support
We intend to support interventions and innovations that do no harm, and therefore we are willing to take "risks" that other funders might avoid. This includes supporting digital solutions and new approaches to savings group methodology.
Boots on the Ground
We always maintain active intervention projects within our strategic focus to keep connected to the real-world challenges we are striving to solve. This hands-on experience informs all our work.
What We Believe
At FAHU Foundation, we believe that savings groups provide members with the means to cope with emergencies, build capital, and recreate social dynamics that support genuine self-reliance. These community-led financial systems offer an efficient and effective anti-poverty and empowerment tool, particularly in regions where formal financial services are limited or inaccessible.
Our approach emphasizes:
Community Ownership
Placing decision-making power in the hands of local communities
Financial Inclusion
Ensuring all people have access to useful and affordable financial products
Social Cohesion
Strengthening the bonds within communities through collaborative saving
Sustainable Impact
Creating lasting change that continues beyond our direct involvement
Innovation
Embracing new approaches, particularly digital solutions, to enhance savings group effectiveness