40 Years of Collective Power, Collective Change

Dear friends,

This year, Thousand Currents is marking forty years – four decades of vision, commitment, and care.

You’ve arrived at a remarkable moment: Into a global community rooted in solidarity and shaped by communities building the world we all deserve. Whether you’ve journeyed with us for years, are reconnecting, or are just learning about us, we’re glad you’re here.

From the beginning, we’ve centered communities not as problems to be solved, but as architects of a future where people can eat healthy food, breathe clean air, earn dignified livelihoods, and thrive on their own terms. We believed then, as we do now, that those turning resistance into innovation–cultivating food without chemicals, generating power without fossil fuels, stewarding land without extraction–are modeling the future we all need.

Today, Thousand Currents is what it is because of all who have shaped this journey: our founders; our movement partners; our donors; our past and present board members, staff, and volunteers; our global community of supporters who believed, invested, and stayed the course. This milestone belongs to all of us.

If you’ve been with us—thank you. If you’re new—welcome. There is powerful work ahead, and we hope you’ll be part of it.

In solidarity,
Solomé Lemma
President & CEO, Thousand Currents

The Bigger Picture

Explore the photo gallery below and get a glimpse into just a few of the milestones and relationships that have shaped our history. From recent events and current partnerships to early highlights that still inspire us today, explore this visual timeline to see the story of Thousand Currents.

2025: President & CEO Solome Lemma at Thousand Currents’ 40th Anniversary Celebration
2025: Theresa Strasburg, founder Paul Strasburg, and long-term advisor Mutombo M’Panya
2025: Rajiv Khanna, Vice President of the Center for Transforming Philanthropy at Thousand Currents
2025: Solome Lemma with Rajasvini Bhansali - current and former leaders of Thousand Currents at our 40th Anniversary Celebration
2025: Caroline DePalatis, the first employee of IDEX (now Thousand Currents) at the 40th Anniversary Celebration
2025: Danilyn Rutherford, an early staff member, and community member Anne Gomez
2025: Thousand Currents movement partners in the Dominican Republic
2024: A Thousand Currents movement partner in South Africa
2024: Thousand Currents President & CEO Solome Lemma with a Thousand Currents’ movement partner in Senegal
2024: Thousand Currents Vice President of Global Programs Zanele Sibanda with a Thousand Currents’ movement partner in Senegal
2024: Movement partner in Thailand
2016: Community members gather to celebrate our name change from IDEX to Thousand Currents
2016: Rajasvini Bhansali, Karie Brown, and others gather to celebrate our name change from IDEX to Thousand Currents
2015: Paul Strasburg speaks at Thousand Currents’ 30th Anniversary party in Oakland, CA
2015: The Thousand Currents community gathers to celebrate 30 years
2010: A long-term movement partner in Guatemala demonstrating their weaving practices
2009: IDEX (now Thousand Currents) staff visit movement partners in South Africa
2008: An IDEX (now Thousand Currents) visit to movement partners in India
1993: IDEX (now Thousand Currents) founder Paul Strasburg with movement partners in Ghana
1990: Staff in the IDEX (now Thousand Currents) office: Becky Buell, Beth Foster, and Susan Beaudry

Where We've Been

We began in 1985 with a $2,000 grant and a vision: that the most powerful, lasting change starts in community.

Back then, a group of volunteers gathered around kitchen tables to review applications. Today, Thousand Currents has moved over $60 million to more than 650 grassroots and movement formations in 85 countries—and we’ve never lost sight of the truth that sparked it all: communities know what they need, and they know how to lead.

We’ve deepened our approach. We’ve committed to long-term relationships. We’ve adapted how we fund, how we listen, and how we grow, guided every step of the way by our partners.

Over the past few months, we sat down with over 85% of our current partners to ask what they’re facing, what they’re building, and what the world could look like if their bolder visions were fully resourced. Their answers have shaped our next chapter.

This is the foundation of our new 10-year strategy; rooted in community wisdom, built for the world ahead, and ready to meet the scale of the moment.

Where We're Headed: The Future We’re Growing

Frontline communities organized as grassroots groups and movements are leading the way through multiple crises. We’re committing to move $250 million directly to expand regenerative farming, seed community renewable energy, and protect land, water, and forests.

The largest wealth transfer in history is underway. We’re organizing alongside donors, families, and institutions to influence $750 million in resources to global movements over the next decade – shifting power toward justice and long-term change.

To leverage community leadership at every level, we’ll seed and grow relationships with values-aligned local and regional networks and funds to support a strong, decentralized structure of support for grassroots communities.

You're Part of Our Story

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