Who We Are
The Berhan Foundation operates as a private charity that works to promote sustainable development and positive social transformation throughout the Global South. Our advocacy for transformation through collective efforts remains solidly rooted in empathy while being supported by integrity. We support organizations at the forefront of work that corresponds to our foundation's principal goals.
Funding Areas
The Berhan Foundation currently operates four grantmaking programs:
Education
Education serves as the essential tool to unleash individual potential while dismantling the persistent cycle of poverty. Our organization empowers both children and adults to achieve academic success and create better futures by offering scholarships, building schools, and distributing educational resources.
Economic Empowerment
Economic empowerment is essential for generating sustainable progress and helping communities overcome poverty. Our organization backs economic empowerment initiatives that deliver vital resources and training to help people attain financial self-sufficiency and enhance their living standards.
Legal Assistance
The right to justice represents a basic human entitlement which many people cannot access especially those belonging to marginalized or underserved groups. Our support extends to legal assistance programs that work to bridge this gap through their delivery of legal services at free or low-cost rates to persons who are unable to afford representation.
Funded For A Long-Term Perspective
The Berhan Foundation originated from an intimate legacy that connected love and generosity with community service.
The foundation honors Mr. Girma Mekonnen and Mrs. Tsehai Kebede by perpetuating their cherished principles throughout their lives. Mr. Mekonnen, a pioneering airline executive, and Mrs. Kebede, a successful entrepreneur, dedicated themselves to their family and careers while promoting their belief that prosperity should benefit others. As partners for 67 years, they embraced the conviction that giving back formed an essential duty.
The name Berhan (bɛrˈhɑːn) means “light” in Amharic, the national language of Ethiopia. The foundation derives its name from Mr. Mekonnen's intimate term of endearment for his wife, Berhane (bɛrˈhɑːnɛ), which means “my light” aiming to serve as a guiding force for others. In the same way that Mrs. Kebede served as a guiding light to her husband, children, extended family and community, the Berhan Foundation works to illuminate opportunities for equity and hope.
The foundation came into existence through the financial backing provided by their estate. But more powerful than the money was the message it sent: change begins when people decide to act. Thanks to Mr. Mekonnen and Mrs. Tsehai's generous gift, the foundation gained the ability to address essential causes, including education and healthcare access, while backing community strengthening efforts that uphold human dignity.
Their belief in practical and sustainable solutions continues to direct our current work. The Berhan Foundation allocates funds to projects with a focus on achieving long-lasting impacts. Our foundation works alongside local leaders and grassroots organizations together with global partners to create scalable programs that address actual community needs while remaining practical.
We will progress their lasting legacy by converting the static memory of Mr. Girma Mekonnen and Mrs. Tsehai Kebede into an active mission that guides our work and keeps inspiring us. Their vision went beyond creating a better world to building a just society where educational opportunities exist for all children, families receive empathetic care and communities obtain necessary resources to prosper. The positive outcomes we see today are not coincidental but rather stem from the vision and sacrifices of these two extraordinary individuals who remained committed to their cause. Each service provided and individual life transformed demonstrates their lasting influence.
The foundation of our mission stands firmly upon their story which serves as our origin. Our navigation through complex situations and trials continues to be guided by their core principles which include compassion without limits, integrity, and their strong belief in the inherent value of every person. Every student we mentor embodies the legacy of Girma Mekonnen and Tsehai Kebede through their aspirations while parents who receive support feel their legacy through relief.
Their story is our foundation. Their values are our compass. We push forward their vision while holding deep reverence and renewed determination because Mr. Girma Mekonnen and Mrs. Tsehai Kebede spirit guides the creation of a brighter and more equitable future for many generations ahead.