The East Africa Association of Grantmakers (EAAG) launched the East Africa Philanthropy Awards during its second regional conference for Grantmakers that was held in September 2011 in Arusha, Tanzania.

EAAG whose core mission is to nurture and enhance a culture of local giving and resource mobilization through effective grant making, advocacy and networking in East Africa strongly believes that East African philanthropists have done, and continue to do a lot of good to the economic & social lives of its nationals.

These awards intend to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations to strategic social development and to the growth of the philanthropic movement in East Africa. By highlighting their contributions we hope to create awareness on the importance of giving and create role models for future generations.  It is also our hope that the recognition will motivate philanthropist to continue giving and also serve to raise the profile of philanthropy in the region.

Objectives

• Recognize efforts and successes of philanthropists in the Region
• Create awareness of the importance of giving and thus raise role models for future generations and thereby motivate and raise the efforts of philanthropists in the region
• Set the stage for future statistical computation of the level of contribution by philanthropists to the national economic index-GDP
• Promote the mission and vision of EAAG by displaying the contribution of its members to the Region’s national development initiatives.

Winners of the inaugural Award will be announced at a Gala Dinner during the 3^rd East Africa Grantmakers Conference & Exhibition, scheduled to take place from the 27-29th June 2012 in Uganda.