Imagine a foundation where the drive for impact matches the urgency of the world’s greatest challenges. That’s the Mulago Foundation. Established in the United States as a living extension of Dr Rainer Arnhold’s commitment to children’s welfare, Mulago has evolved into one of the world’s most distinctive philanthropic engines. After Rainer’s untimely passing in 1993, his brother Henry Arnhold expanded the vision, infusing it with rigour, entrepreneurial spirit, and a drive for practical impact.
Mulago’s core philosophy is simple but radical: invest in innovators with scalable solutions to poverty, climate and conservation. Rather than focusing on grant cycles and proposals, Mulago proactively scouts for organisations and founders that demonstrate real-world results and the potential to go big. They are agnostic about organisational structure—supporting both non-profits and “mission-driven” businesses—as long as the path to widespread, lasting change is clear.
One of Mulago’s most powerful tools is its Fellowship programmes. Recognising that the journey from idea to impact is complex, Mulago selects talented leaders as Rainer or Henry Fellows, offering them not just money, but mentorship, tools, and a peer community. The foundation puts unrestricted, substantial grants directly in their hands—freeing up headspace for leaders to map out scaling strategies, iterate on models, and drive innovations where they’re needed most.
Know the team better
Mulago, on LinkedIn
Kevin Starr, CEO
Kristin Gilliss Moyer, COO
Mulago’s own team remains small and agile, enabling focused, personalised support for its partners. Instead of mountains of paperwork, they bring practical frameworks, coaching, and a network that spans continents and causes. The goal: to turn promising interventions into mature models that can be replicated across geographies and sectors, and, ultimately, to see impact multiply.
Flexibility and trust are key themes—funding is long-term, and organisations remain in the Mulago family as long as progress towards impact at scale is real. This has led to a portfolio that reads like a who’s who of social innovation: from women’s empowerment to clean energy, sustainable agriculture to digital health.
For those obsessed with making a difference on a global scale—whether as partners or prospective fellows—Mulago offers not just resources, but belief, expertise, and a sense of belonging within a movement that’s changing the world.
