About our grant-making group
We are a new kind of grant-making organization, built on trust, speed, and the belief that small actions change the world.
Our Mission
To bypass the bureaucracy of traditional aid and get funds directly into the hands of verified, high-impact community organizations. We believe speed is a vital component of relief and development.
Our Vision
A world where local changemakers have immediate access to the resources they need to solve problems in their own backyards, without jumping through endless administrative hoops.
Our Story
From a family dinner conversation to a global movement.
Started as a conversation among friends frustrated by how slow traditional charity was.
We pooled our own money and made our first direct grant to a school in rural Nepal.
More friends joined. We formalized our verification process to scale safely.
We now operate on consistent quarterly grant cycles, supporting vetted NGOs worldwide.
Our Values
The principles that guide every decision we make.
Transparency
We are open about where every dollar goes.
Fairness
We evaluate impact, not just slick presentations.
Impact
We prioritize tangible outcomes over vanity metrics.
Respect
We trust local leaders to know what their communities need.
Accountability
We hold ourselves and our partners to the highest standards.
Who funds this?
Solven Foundation is 100% friends & family funded. We are a private grant-making group. We do not solicit public donations. We are simply a group of individuals using our resources to do good, directly.
Founding Members
The visionary group that makes this work possible.
Robert Vance
Founding MemberRetired Tech Executive. Believes in the power of direct, fast-acting capital.
Elena Rodriguez
Founding MemberFormer Diplomat. Brings decades of international policy experience to our global mission.
William Thorne
Founding MemberHealthcare Pioneer. Focused on sustainable health interventions in rural areas.
Margaret Hill
Founding MemberLifetime Philanthropist. Champion of education and women's empowerment initiatives.
The Team
The professionals executing our vision every day.
Sarah Jenkins
Executive DirectorWith over 20 years in philanthropy, Sarah leads our vision to democratize access to funding.
David Chen
Program DirectorDavid oversees our grant lifecycle, ensuring every dollar creates maximum on-the-ground impact.
Amara Okeke
Head of VerificationAmara leads our due diligence team, combining data analysis with deep community understanding.
James Sterling
Chief Financial OfficerJames manages our endowment and financial transparency, ensuring accountability at every level.
Ready to make a difference?
If you are an NGO doing impactful work, or if you know one, we want to hear from you.