named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Animal Husbandry Micro-savings Groups
Men's micro-savings groups raise cattle; animals graze in women's gardens at night, providing manure for compost while men retain ownership of adult animals and breeding rights
Community Organic Micro-gardens
Establishes organic market gardens linked to micro-savings groups, integrating drip irrigation, tree planting, composting, and training to improve nutrition and generate income for rural women
Indigenous Artisan Development
Trains artisans in warping, weaving, dyeing, and product manufacturing in Senegal and links them to markets, promoting sustainable livelihoods
Micro-savings Groups
Supports formation and expansion of women's micro-savings groups in Senegal and Mali, with over 5,000 members across 200+ groups, enabling self-management of funds and expansion into agriculture and commerce
Water Transportation Initiative
Provides 3-wheel motorcycle delivery systems for water in isolated communities, including resettled Hazara refugees in Balkh province, Afghanistan
activities · 6 groups
What they do
-
Integrated Community-Led Development Programs 1 activity
- Designs and implements integrated development programs linking micro-savings with water, nutrition, education, and health initiativesDevelops and runs holistic programs that integrate micro-savings groups with solutions such as micro-gardens, solar pumps, literacy, and prenatal care to address interconnected challenges in underserved communities.
-
-
Documentary Film Production 1 activity
- Funds and promotes documentaries and educational content on global poverty and philanthropyProduces documentaries and runs educational programs, exhibitions, and appeals to inform the public about global philanthropic efforts and conditions affecting the poor in developing countries.
-
-
Smallholder Agricultural Development 1 activity
- Implements micro-garden and agricultural support programs in SenegalOperates pilot market garden schemes involving over 300 women, provides tractor ploughing services, facilitates bulk irrigation system purchases, and employs agricultural instructors to train women in organic farming through micro-savings groups.
-
-
Transportation Access Support 1 activity
- Implements small-scale transportation solutions for vulnerable populationsProvides targeted transportation projects including a bus for blind schoolgirls in Mysore, India; ambulances for pregnant women in remote areas of Pakistan; and water transport for refugees in Afghanistan.
-
-
Women's Microenterprise and Livelihood Development 1 activity
- Supports micro-savings groups to enable women’s economic participation and enterpriseEstablishes and strengthens micro-savings groups that allow women to generate income by purchasing and reselling essential goods such as medicines, salt, rice, and clothing within their communities.
-
-
Uncategorized 2 activities
- Introduces sustainable agricultural and energy technologies in rural communitiesIntroduced peanut shelling machines, solar-powered cell phone charging, and organic cotton crops in Senegal to improve productivity and income generation in rural areas.
- Organizes fundraising campaigns to finance critical health transportCreated fundraising initiatives to supply 4-wheel drive ambulances for pregnant women with complications in remote mountainous regions.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$226K
Contributions & grants$226K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$132K
Program expenses98%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$25K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$201K
Cash$201K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$201K
Liquid reserves18.2 mo
4 years on record · 2018–2021 · YoY revenue +15.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROBIN SAIDMAN | CHRN,EX DIR | 10 | $25K |
board members · 3
- DOCEY LEWIS — DIRECTOR
- JEFF LIPSITZ — DIRECTOR
- NINA RUMBOUGH — DIRECTOR
relationships · 5
Who they work with
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Funder — Received support for documentary work.
- Concern Worldwide Partner — Collaborated on documentary projects in Ethiopia.
- Concern Worldwide Partner — Robin Saidman conducted photographic assignments for Concern Worldwide in Ethiopia and Haiti, which influenced the founding vision of Vital Edge.
- Freedom From Hunger Partner — Partner organization that has created micro-savings groups similar to those supported by Vital Edge Fund.
- Oxfam Partner — Partner organization that has created micro-savings groups similar to those supported by Vital Edge Fund.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Gender-Integrated Economic Resilience Model 152 orgsmethodology: gender-integrated agricultureBy combining women’s micro-savings and gardening groups with men’s animal husbandry groups, the organization enhances resource flows (e.g., compost) and promotes gender-integrated development, because symbiotic economic partnerships increase productivity and social cohesion.shared approach: Integrated Community Development →
- Integrated Service Delivery via Micro-Savings Groups 152 orgsmethodology: integrated-service-deliveryBy embedding multiple basic needs interventions within existing micro-savings groups, the organization increases program effectiveness and reduces delivery costs, because shared group infrastructure and trust lower barriers to adoption and coordination.shared approach: Integrated Community Development →
- Agroforestry-Enhanced Micro-Gardens 27 orgsmethodology: agroforestryBy integrating multi-species tree canopies into market gardens, the organization improves soil moisture, fixes nitrogen, provides shade, and generates additional food and income, because agroforestry systems create resilient and productive micro-agricultural ecosystems.shared approach: Root-Cause Systems Change →
- Graduated Livelihoods Pathway 6 orgsmethodology: graduated livelihoodsBy using established micro-savings groups as a foundation to scale into agricultural entrepreneurship, the organization leverages existing financial discipline and group cohesion to increase the sustainability of livelihoods, because progressive economic intensification builds on proven social and financial infrastructure.shared approach: Integrated Service Delivery →