Alfanar
Alfanar is the Arab region’s first venture philanthropy organisation providing capital as well as management support to promising social enterprises addressing critical issues in Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan. With a focus on refugee and other disadvantaged communities, Alfanar, which is headquartered in London but with regional offices, seeks to help businesses scale their impact and become financially sustainable. Key focus areas are: education, youth employment, the environment, and women’s economic empowerment.
- Organisation type Venture philanthropy
- Year founded 2004
- Headquartered London
- Registration Lebanon · Netherlands · United Kingdom · Jordan · United States · Egypt · Palestine
- Website https://www.alfanar.org
Related sustainable development goals
Focus areas
Focus sectors
Development
- Business and industry
- Entrepreneurship
- Sustainable development
- Economic development
- Employment
- Community improvement
- Education
- Environment
Human rights
- Equality
- Female empowerment
Humanitarian
- Youth development
- Food aid
- Food banks
- Thrift shops
Philanthropy
- Nonprofits
- Venture philanthropy
Public affairs
- Leadership development
Focus populations
- Low-income people
- Refugees and displaced people
- Women and girls
- Working poor
- Young adults
Focus geographies
Middle East
- Lebanon
- Palestine
- Jordan
North Africa
- Egypt
Grantees
- BEDCO
- Bridge. Outsource. Transform. (BOT)
- Bright Tomorrow for Child Protection (BTCP)
- Educate Me
- FabricAID
- Future Eve Foundation
- Heya Masr
- INAASH
- L'Artisan du Liban
- Life Vision for Development
- Natakallam
- SE Factory
- Tabshoura
- Takafoo
Partners
- Future Eve
- Global Fund for Widows
- SODIC Developments
- TheirWorld
- UK Aid Direct
Programmes
Combat Crisis Campaign
The mobilisation of funds to support vulnerable populations across the Middle East.Venture Philanthropy Fund
Supporting ambitious social enterprises to develop sustainable revenue streams and breaking the cycle of donor dependency. Alfanar offers funding and management support to its investees.
Financials
Funding model
- Grants to organisations
- Impact investing
- Pro bono services
- Pro bono program design and analysis services
- Programme related investment
Primary funders
- Al Nowais Investments
- Aramco
- Asfari Foundation
- Coca-Cola
- Dara Holdings
- Drosos Foundation
- Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development in Germany (BMZ)
- Global Fund for Widows
- Gulf International Bank (GIB)
- Lubna S Olayan
- Ripplewood
- Social Entrepreneurship for Migration and Development (SEMD)
- Sodic
- Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation (SDC)
- Tarek Ben Halim
- Theirworld
Funding source
- Corporate
- Fundraising
- Private
- Revenue generation
Operations
Key staff
- Myrna Atalla, executive director
- Fadel Zayan, investment director
- Michelle Mouracade, Anara Impact Capital, head of investor relations, impact and operations
- Youmna Assaf, Anara Impact Capital head of investments
- Shenouda Bissada, Egypt country director
- Nicolas Kroger, operations director
- Suha Abdul Rahim, Jordan and Palestine country director
Board members
- Lubna S. Olayan, chair
- Ajmad Bseisu
- Samir Assaf
- Charlotte Boyle
- Maysa Jalbout
- Cynthia J. Oakes
- Sherif Foda
- Julia Middleton
Contact details
- 00 44 204 570 6473
- info@alfanar.org.uk
- https://www.alfanar.org
- 38 Artillery Lane, London, E1 7LS, United Kingdom
More
Resources
Giving hope: how Alfanar has partnered with the Global Fund for Widows and Future Eve Foundation to change thousands of women's lives in Egypt. Read more
Alfanar case study: Transforming lives through venture philanthropy. Read more
Podcast: Listen to Alfanar executive director Myrna Atalla and Acumen founder Jacqueline Novogratz in conversation with Maysa Jalbout in this podcast episode of The Impact Room. Listen here
Building back: The Beirut port explosion devastated the city. It also inspired new ways to fund. Read more
Reports from Alfanar:
Alfanar audited accounts for 2022. Download
Alfanar impact report for 2023. Download