Azurit Foundation was established in 2021 with a mission to fund locally led organisations in low-income countries working on systemic solutions to poverty and inequality. Rather than concentrating solely on service delivery, the Foundation prioritises early-stage organisations that combine evidence-informed approaches with local ownership, recognising that those most affected by social challenges are best placed to develop lasting solutions.
Azurit’s funding model is rooted in a clear understanding of philanthropy’s power and limitations. The Foundation openly acknowledges that philanthropic decision-makers are not democratically accountable and that funding processes can reinforce existing inequalities by favouring established organisations and privileged networks. In response, it has designed its grant making to direct resources towards organisations and leaders who have historically had less access to funding, while deliberately funding civil society organisations rather than delivering its own programmes.
Trust is central to this approach, but Azurit argues that trust-based philanthropy should not mean abandoning rigour. Instead, the Foundation combines flexible, predominantly unrestricted funding with careful relationship-building and an emphasis on learning rather than compliance. Reporting focuses on helping organisations understand and strengthen their own impact rather than satisfying donor requirements, and grantees are encouraged to develop evidence that is meaningful for their own work rather than reporting against externally imposed indicators.
Azurit also sees philanthropy’s comparative advantage as its ability to take risks that other funders cannot. By supporting young, locally led organisations, it aims to help grantees build organisational capacity, establish a track record and unlock future funding from larger donors. This reflects the Foundation’s belief that philanthropy should be catalytic: using its flexibility to create opportunities that would not otherwise exist.
What practitioners can take from this
Azurit demonstrates that equitable grant making is not about choosing between trust and accountability. By recognising the limits of philanthropic power, funding locally led organisations, providing flexible support, and using reporting as a tool for learning rather than control, funders can shift power while maintaining a strong focus on effectiveness and long-term impact.