Thousand Currents and Africans in the Diaspora (AiD) are pleased to announce an organizational merger. Since their partnership started in 2014, AiD and Thousand Currents have been conducting targeted joint programming and outreach to engage diasporans in philanthropy and to channel those resources to local, grassroots organizations across the African continent.

Creating space for African diaspora participation in Thousand Currents’ grantmaking and solidarity work is an expression of Thousand Currents’ commitment to changing the culture of philanthropy. Also a mark of Thousand Currents’ central tenants of learning from its partners, this is the first time a US-based grassroots funder has re-arranged its structure to accommodate diaspora-focused programming.

Moving forward, AiD will function as a Thousand Currents program focused on diaspora engagement. While the aid and philanthropy sectors have begun to recognize the growing significance of the African diaspora in development, few institutions fully engage diasporans in strategy-setting and program and financial decision-making.