Mulago funds a lot of early stage organizations. The foundation looks for organizations built around a big idea and focused on maximum social impact. Mulango focuses on solutions for the basic needs of the very poor, most of whom live in rural settings. Priority areas include Water and Sanitation (and a bit of hygiene), Health and Energy.
Mulango also funds organizations taking proven solutions to scale. The foundation operates like a philanthropic venture fund where impact serves as an analog for profit, and cost-per-impact sits in for return on investment. Mulango wants the biggest bang for the buck with the least hassle for themselves and those they fund. This means:
- Fund impact: Mulango funds high-impact organizations to do what they do well; mostly grants, sometimes debt or equity. Mulango doesn't invest in organizations that don't measure impact – they're flying blind and we would be too.
- Organizations not projects: Impact at scale doesn't come from projects, it comes from the work of organizations. The best way to reach scale with a great idea is to pair it with a great organization.
- Unrestricted money: Unrestricted funding drives innovation and growth. It's the most useful for the organization and most leveraged for the donor. If we don't think an organization knows how to use the money better than we do, we don't give them any.
- Continued funding for increasing return: Mulango doesn't abandon a good thing. If Mulango continues to see real impact and clear progress toward scale, they stay in the game.
Mulango doesn't take proposals. Proposals are a hassle for all concerned and rarely give Mulango the information they need. Mulango sources through its own network and ask its own questions.
