*Photos credits: The photograph at the top of the page was taken by John D. Canning. All other photographs were taken and copyrighted by
Maryann Fernandez. No use of photos without prior written permission.
Living Philanthropy
That’s what we want to help you achieve.

Step out of the boardroom and make the philanthropic
process come alive through meaningful conversations,
engaging in hands-on experiences, meeting partners
and developing new friends

Face to face. Eye to eye. Heart to heart.

Local. National. International.

DISCOVER THE CHANGEMAKER
YOU WERE MEANT TO BE.
Philanthropy Indaba uses travel to facilitate meaningful interactions between dynamic social enterprises around the world and people with the
capacity to support their solutions.  Through the experience, our clients become inspired, develop lasting partnerships and find new ways to
make change.

Our broader goal is to build a community of like-minded individuals who are learning and exploring meaningful ways to serve the world and
each other.
OUR MISSION
WHAT OUR NAME MEANS
WHAT WE DO
Philanthropy Indaba (“Indaba”) stands at the crossroads of philanthropy and travel. We enrich the worldview of individuals and organizations
through a thoughtful and curated approach to travel and the exploration of nature and humanity.  We provide a philanthropic framework, using
travel as the means, to enable an individual or organization to go out into the world and explore different cultures and ways of life, understand
their challenges and solutions, meet innovative social entrepreneurs, and see the impact on beneficiaries firsthand.

We expertly design exclusive journeys and life experiences, both at home and abroad, that nurture the mind and the soul and bring individuals
to a deeper exploration and understanding of themselves, each other, and the world in which we live. Each of our exclusive
small-group  journeys and carefully crafted service and internship opportunities are created with the intent of cultivating our clients’ ability
to sharpen the focus of their philanthropy and strengthen the impact of their engagement.
indaba: [in dä′bä′] noun; origin Zulu
a meeting of people from different tribes to engage in discussions around important issues
Our inspiring journeys employ a framework of effective philanthropy, asking: what change do we believe in, and how can we best contribute to
it? This supports each of our clients to reflect deeply on their values and refine their own strategies for achieving meaningful impact.

Here are the hallmarks of our approach:

  • Inspiring organizations. Exciting visits with vetted not-for-profit and for-profit social enterprises referred by a vast network of grant-
    making organizations including individual philanthropists, private foundations, impact investors and organizations awarding social
    entrepreneurship fellowships.

  • Anonymity. People want the opportunity to learn about and deeply consider an issue and organizations that have potential solutions in
    a private setting with room to compare and contrast and without the pressure of committing to a donation immediately. Unlike
    participating in a donor trip that is hosted by one non-profit organization where participants are more actively cultivated as donors,
    Indaba enables people to learn about issues and visit a variety of organizations with anonymity, giving them the chance to think about
    what really resonates with them. We connect people to organizations with whom they wish to form a relationship.

  • Personal attention. Individual consultation with clients before, during and after their journey, to understand their goals and  translate
    new knowledge and inspiration into action upon their return.

  • Leadership. Each journey is guided by our Founder or Next Generation Director, who bring many years of experience in philanthropy,
    advising and travel to the table to enrich our clients’ experiences.

  • Engaging learning. Focused pre-trip curriculum on philanthropy and issue areas to be explored during the trip. Discussions in the field
    facilitated by experienced philanthropic advisors and local experts.

  • Unique next generation philanthropy journeys. Helping young adults gain deeper understanding of social and environmental issues
    while building skills and inspiration to take action as advocates and philanthropists.

  • Community. Online network, content and events so past clients can maintain connections developed during their journey and continue
    learning. (coming next year)

  • Travel arrangements. Expert management of travel details, working with the most qualified and skilled travel partners in each
    destination, including support for safety and health on all journeys with our preferred providers.

  • Depth of Pre-trip Planning. We conduct exploratory visits to develop each trip itinerary, which includes initial vetting of organizations,
    curating site visits, identifying local thought-leaders, assessing any security concerns and creating unique mini-adventures to bring
    country and culture alive in a new way.
WHY WE'RE DIFFERENT