No. WKKF will not be managing a pool of funds for the Pockets of Hope campaign. Instead, we are inviting others to make their own investments in Haitian-led initiatives. We would like to work with those funders to share contacts, learnings and best practices based on our experiences, but we as a foundation do not raise funds (we are endowment-funded) and we do not want to interfere in the important relationships between funders and their implementing partners.

Absolutely. Despite the challenges that Haitians face every day, local organizations continue to lead  initiatives that are building a stronger and more equitable future for Haiti. We encourage other funders to partner with local organizations that are already working toward system-level change within their communities.

The Kellogg Foundation has made investments in Haiti since the 1950s, but it was in 2011 that we established Haiti as one of our priority places. That is, we have an office and a team of staff dedicated to Haiti grantmaking, and we have made a commitment to investing in Haitian communities for a generation. That commitment includes supporting initiatives in early childhood education, family economic security, and health equity, always with an emphasis on leadership development and community engagement. Ours is not the only way to invest in Haiti, but experience has taught us the importance of locally led, long-term investment strategies. As a member of the Pockets of Hope campaign, WKKF embraces its longstanding role as a convener of grantees, funders, members of Haiti’s diaspora, and other notable individuals who are united by the goal of building a brighter future for Haiti.

WKKF has made grants in Haiti for more than 70 years, allowing us to witness first-hand the hard work, talent, and innovation present in communities across the country, and how access to resources translates into life-changing opportunities for children and families. Following the devastating 2010 earthquake, WKKF deepened its commitment to Haiti, making it one of the foundation’s six priority areas, where it would partner with select organizations and communities for a generation. Since then, we continue to see potential and determination. That is why we’ve reaffirmed our commitment to our Haitian partners.

In 2023, W.K. Kellogg Foundation announced a $30 million, three-year commitment to invest in local efforts to advance opportunities for Haitian children, families and communities. We asked others to join us and collectively double that commitment. Several funders – the Digicel Foundation, Dunn Family Charitable Foundation, and Porticus – also made commitments totaling another $20 million collectively. More have since joined the campaign.

Our work in Haiti rests on a bedrock of strong and respectful relationships with community leaders that we built through years of direct collaboration. Rather than seeking to exert influence, our work focuses on strengthening the capacity of local organizations.

Pockets of Hope is a convener that helps local organizations join forces to maximize their impact. It connects investors with locally led organizations while highlighting best practices in philanthropy, which include authentic partnerships, community engagement, local leadership, and equity.

Change in Haiti must be driven by the leadership and authentic engagement of local communities, including participation across sectors. One example of an effective partnership is the Haiti Food Systems Alliance, which is several locally led organizations working across sectors to increase food production, boost farmer income and get more nutritious food to children and other vulnerable populations.

Our first measure of success is the most obvious: Have we reached our goal of $90 million committed to game-changing, Haitian-led initiatives as part of the Pockets of Hope campaign?

At the same time, we’re also going to look at how those funding commitments are implemented—have those making the contributions both delivered on their commitments and built a strong connection to the initiatives they funded? 

Also, have we been able to generate interest in increased investment in Haitian-led initiatives from people who haven’t made those kinds of investments before?

Finally, as we carry out all of our work, we’ll monitor the impact the investments made as part of this campaign have had on the ground in Haiti. Essentially, does this increased investment yield concrete improvements in the lives of the children, families, and communities who call Haiti home?

To get involved with the Pockets of Hope campaign in Haiti, you can email HaitiPOH@wkkf.org.

WKKF and its partners have pledged to invest in Haitian-led projects because of the long-term opportunities they provide for children, families and communities. We do not see insecurity in Port-au-Prince as a reason to turn our backs on Haiti. There is risk in investment anywhere in the world. Conversations with the implementing partner are essential for determining the most secure way to transfer funds as part of a philanthropic investment.