RISA CHARITABLE TRUST
email:info@risafund.org
web: www.risafund.org
TEL: 774.276.0202
9120 173rd Ave SE
Snohomish, WA 98290 USA
A Brief History
The work of RISA Charitable Trust commenced in the early 1990's under the private foundation of the Folin family of Philadelphia, PA. As the RISA business began to take shape it became clear that there were many opportunities for philanthropy in South Africa and the interests of the Folin Family and RISA converged. In 2000 the Folin family withdrew from the Board and allowed the foundation to seek public charity status under the RISA Charitable Trust name.
The RISA Charitable Trust made several small initial grants in 2000-2001 and began to pursue its mission through investment funding soon thereafter. RISA's investments included a loan guarantee to a South African housing finance company, Peulwana Financial Services. Through its partnership with Peulwana, RISA helped provide over 1500 low-income South African families with mortgages and home improvement loans. RISA exited from this investment in early 2006.
In the spring of 2004, RISA expanded its program focus to include a model that provides capacity building grants to small South African businesses in need of technical expertise and skills development. In 2005, RISA decided to focus solely on grant making. RISA sees this grants-based initiative as a way to respond to an urgent need in the small business market, while expanding its commitment to job development in some of South Africa's poorest communities.
RISA has now provided a number of grants to women-owned and operated businesses in South Africa's neediest communities, including a childcare center, a pottery shop, a driving school and many others. RISA continues its commitment to South Africa through awarding new grants and by continuing to support our former grant recipients as their businesses change and grow.
An expanding Board of Directors governs the RISA Charitable Trust.
