Development Ratings

Director/founder, Georgie Fienberg, studied Anthropology before working in the pharmaceutical sector. For 5 years, she made contacts, raised funds and developed what was to become AfriKids in 2002. Still only 30, she has consulted on development and charity start-ups while growing AfriKids. While on maternity leave to mid-2009, other members of the dedicated and professional young UK team will direct the charity. Their experience includes business development and project & finance management experience. Nich Kumah, the Ghana Director, has a degree in sociology and a public administration background. He began a street child welfare organisation locally before joining with AfriKids to launch Operation Bolgatanga. He now oversees all local projects. Trustees include business professionals, and people with accounting and investment experience.

Since it began in 2002, the charity has been growing rapidly, particularly in 2007 when the fundraising efforts made earlier began to show positive results. Before 2007, ratios were somewhat variable. This was partly due to the accounting policies adopted by the auditors at the time, which did not sufficiently credit high levels of UK management input into the Ghana operations. More appropriate policies now adopted have resulted in sounder ratios.

Fundraising were higher than normal in 2008 because Afrikids produced a directly sponsored documentary. There was significant pro bono PR support around its release and there should be a long-term positive impact.

Donations are not broken down by individual donor. Around one third of funds in 2007 came from institutions, trusts and corporations. Just over one third came from regular individual and high net worth donors, and just under one third came from events and community group donations.

Project expenditure is exclusively in Ghana. In 2007, the main project spending was: Operation Fresh Start 17%; Operation Sirigu 16%; AfriKids Medical Centre 13%; Operation Zuarungu 10%; Operation Sunlight 9%; Operation Bolgatanga 7%; and AfriKids Ecovillage 7%.