Live! Database of Investment Ready Leaders
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Live! Database of Investment Ready Leaders ---
Accelerate
Positive Change
Across Pakistan
We Are A Member Network. You Have A Role Too.
The Friends of Pakistan is an issue agnostic community of: (A) credible investors and philanthropists from around the world; and (B) proven non- and for-profits leaders scaling social products and services in Pakistan.
If Challenges Are Measured In Millions, Your Ambition Should Be Too.
A local-only approach to good work is not enough. For example: 40M+ lack access to safe water. 30M+ kids are out of school. 30M+ smallholder farmers have low productivity. 1K+ children under-5 die from preventable causes everyday, and more. We bring you along a journey to embrace a complementary, “scale” approach.
Leaders are Already Scaling Good Work. We Know Who Will Deliver.
A growing number of non- and for-profits with their social products and services continue to achieve, or be on the cusp of, scale across Pakistan. We know what good work looks like and what it takes to succeed.
We Come From Traditional Charity and Investing. It Can Do So Much More For You.
Our usual charity (e.g., zakat) versus market-rate maximizing, investment mindset is not enough to match the pace of growing Pakistan’s challenges. With 20+ years of experience, we know a third way.
We See Our Success Differently. Its Ok to Fund Our Members Directly And Not Pass Through Us … For Now.
Our ultimate success is more funding to leaders scaling good work across Pakistan. If you only feel comfortable funding them directly, please go ahead. We strongly believe that our members’ success reinforces our collective vision. As you continue to engage with our network we aim to demonstrate such great value that you support our operations as well.
The Bottom Line Up Front
Pakistan is the world’s largest and most underserved market for social finance and impact.
Our rationale anchors on two multipliers: 250M+ Pakistanis are the 5th largest nation in the world and growing fast. And Pakistan is home to 9 major ecological zones - from mangrove forests and fertile river plains to deserts, glaciers (most outside the polar region), and five of the world's highest mountains - making it one of the planet's most geographically diverse and climate important nations.
Against extraordinary growth and poverty challenges, Pakistanis continue to achieve scalable, proven results. But the severity of these problems continues to outpace these leaders and solutions. In rooms of power worldwide, with the ability to change this dynamic, Pakistan remains underrepresented.
The Friends of Pakistan Society and Fund focus is to increase the amount of effective money to non-/for-profit leaders scaling across Pakistan.
We do this by investing directly into and connecting credible, trusted, on- the-cusp of scale Pakistan non- and for-profit leaders with proven funders globally. This combined power unlocks meaningful funding, amplifies inspirational stories, and ultimately shifts mindsets on Pakistan’s potential.
Our Purpose
There are several “gaps” that stunt your success. We bridge the gaps.
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The multitude of growth and poverty problems are not stuck in time, and impact more and more Pakistanis daily.
The evidence is clear: Pakistan is unique in its size and vulnerability to a range of familiar challenges the world faces. It’s over 250 million people (work rank top 5) are exposed the worst effects of climate change vulnerability (top 5), to educational outcomes (bottom 20), to poverty rate (bottom 50), and much more.
As one leading, global philanthropist put it" “So goes Pakistan, so goes the world.” If a development challenge can be solved in Pakistan given its unique social, political, economic, technological, and environmental dynamics - we believe the lessons are a blueprint for all people and the planet.
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In a crowded field of NGO, corporate, and government actors, non-/for-profit leaders bridging these categories are not a sideshow anymore. This is a growing cohort of leader in Pakistan.
Often local charity projects and national programs leave behind both the average Pakistani and non-/for-profit leader. The landscape is dominated by unaccountable government agents, exploitative for-profit businesses, and distrusted NGOs. Globally, myths and stigmas about Pakistan keep out assistance that readily goes to other regions.
A new generation of non/for-profit leaders identify unjust problems and develop a product or service and inspire additional change that combined are scalable solutions.
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There are significant financial flows, in the billions of USD, to tap into for Pakistani non-/for-profit leaders scaling a social product or service. But between charity/zakat (<$100K) donations and market rate investing (>$10M) there is a money desert.
Pakistanis and their champions are incredibly generous, but the harsh reality is the immense resource need. Annually Pakistan receives only:
$2.5B in foreign investment
$3B in institutional philanthropy
$15.7B in aid
$38.3B in remittances
Myths and stigma negatively influence major investment beyond politically tied foreign aid/debt, costly private capital, and highly fragmented diaspora remittances.
Our Model
We Find Leaders. Refine Them. Fund Them.
Our Services
We advance your interests through free and paid offerings.
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Learn about Pakistan-focused, proven, ready-to-scale products and services including the leaders, funders, and champions behind them.
Examples of our services
We provide free, online directories of credible funders and scalable social purpose organizations
We generate free thought leadership on social solutions and execution insights
We host free and paid Pakistan-first focused convenings with side meetings for topical deep dives
To learn more about our convenings and events see our “Convenings” tab.
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Promote compelling and curated investment opportunities for funders and organizational leaders that reflects the on-the-ground reality in Pakistan, unlocks money, and advances impact at scale. Examples include curated portfolios and convenings.
Organization leaders, in addition we help you you to meet global standards for investment readiness. Examples of our services include: Capacity building, fundraising strategizing, and execution.
To learn more about our growing network and landscape map please see the “Community Tab”
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Funders, we help get your on-strategy funds out the door effectively and efficiently. Examples of our services include: Building pipeline, delivering due diligence, and getting capital out logistically.
Organization leaders, we help you execute and activate your fundraising strategy to get results. This includes helping with due diligence, identifying likely funders, and getting money into your bank account.
To learn more about our $100M intermediary, pooled fund please see our “Fund” tab
How to Engage Us? Pick a Member Level
Basic
Free
Click above to join our mailing list.
Benefits include:
Access to event invitations
Access to latest Pakistan insights and intelligence
Friend
Free
Click above to join our mailing list and let us publicize your endorsement of our vision.
Other free benefits include, “Basic” plus:
Early invitation access to events
Access to our funder and leader database
Champion
Invest/Donate
Click above to donate in support of our work and/or to members.
Other benefits include, “Friend” plus:
Curated portfolios of non-/for-profits and funders aligned to your priorities
Advisory and capacity building support
First invite access and design input into event
[All US donations are 501(c)(3) tax deductible]