2007 Annual Report

356U CMYK
contents
2 Letter from the Chair and President 14 Around the World
4 Year at a Glance 34 Sustainability Report Summary
6 Twenty Years of Fighting Poverty 36 Donors
8 Financial Report Summary 40 Board of Directors
10 What We Do 41 Staff
12 Where We Are

Cover photo ~ Dey Alexander

This Annual Report is dedicated to Kofi Nti, a friend and

member of Synergos’ staff. Kofi passed away in
September 2007, and he is greatly missed.
mission
Synergos and its partners mobilize resources and
bridge social and economic divides to reduce
poverty and increase equity around the world.

vision
Synergos is working to create a more just and
equitable global society in which all individuals,
families and communities have a meaningful
opportunity to improve the quality of their lives
for themselves and future generations.
We believe that those who are poor should
have access to basic health care, nutrition,
education, housing and opportunities for
economic betterment. They should also be
able to fully exercise their rights as citizens,
influence public policies and have equitable
access to the use of public resources.
We also believe that poor and marginalized
communities must have a significant role in
determining their own future development and
that needed systemic change can only occur when
they can work in meaningful partnership with
other citizens, institutions and sectors.
To advance this vision, Synergos works to
inspire, build and support inclusive partnerships
that address the systemic causes of poverty
and inequity.

We believe that global poverty can only be

addressed successfully when all members of a
society are treated with dignity and respect,
regardless of background, beliefs, personal
characteristics or status.

1
Letter from the Chair and President
dear
friends,
Synergos was founded in 1986 with the goal
of bringing people together to address poverty
and inequity around the globe. We’re a people-
centered organization, convinced that when
people come together in an open-hearted way,
remarkable possibilities emerge. Since our
founding, we have worked to connect people,
ideas and resources to tackle the underlying
causes of social injustice. Working with great
partners around the world, we’ve built local
capacity so that the community-based initiatives
we support can be sustained. So far, we’ve
worked in more than 30 countries.
In 2007, our twentieth anniversary, we took the
opportunity to reflect on our work over the first
two decades and plan how we could build upon
it in the future. While affirming our purpose,
values and goals, we conferred with a diverse
group of stakeholders to learn how we might have
a greater impact. The answer to this question
draws heavily on the threads of our past work,
and weaves them together more tightly. The new
Synergos strategy involves building a global
community of leaders and leading institutions,
working with them to promote collaborative
efforts that address the complexities of poverty
and social injustice, and sharing what all of us
learn for the benefit of others.
We will be growing, deepening and making
stronger the links among the members of our
global networks — the Synergos family. We
will also be expanding our efforts to promote
and facilitate inclusive partnerships that
enable local communities, businesses and
governments to work together; and we will
2
be more systematically capturing and sharing
the learning that emerges from our work.
One example of the kind of major projects we
expect to support going forward is the Bhavishya
Alliance in India. Established with UNICEF-
India and Unilever to reduce child under-
nutrition there, the Alliance brought together a
broad coalition across all three sectors to lower
the rate of under-nutrition in the country, which
claims the highest number of malnourished
children in the world. Last year, Synergos
celebrated significant project milestones, as
the Bhavishya Alliance also became an Indian
charitable institution with an Indian board
and staff and locally-raised resources.
During 2007 we also began work on the
Aboriginal Leadership Initiative in Canada,
which will identify ways to meet the needs of
indigenous people in the region, who have higher
rates of poverty, unemployment and suicide than
other Canadians. We also launched our first
major program in the Middle East and North
Africa to mentor and develop the leadership skills
of social innovators. We completed the planning
for an early 2008 launch of a major new African
public health initiative in Namibia funded by
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We also
supported the establishment of a new network
of leaders serving orphans and vulnerable
children with HIV/AIDS in South Africa.
We are happy to report that Synergos also made
further progress operating as the Secretariat for
the Border Philanthropy Partnership, working
with community foundations, businesses,
funders and others to promote collaboration on
both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. We are
transitioning this project to local staff and a local
headquarters in 2008. This will support ongoing
efforts by participants to address critical issues
impacting some of the poorest communities in
this region.

Our major collaborative projects often grow out
of and depend on the support of our leadership
networks. During 2007, we continued to increase
both our Global Philanthropists Circle and our
Senior Fellows Network. The Circle now includes
about 200 active participants from 74 families in
25 countries. The Fellows are now a cohort of
nearly 100 civil society leaders from more than
30 countries. We have also found new ways to
bring these two networks closer together so
they can draw on each other’s knowledge
and resources to help bring about systems-
changing initiatives.
We have intensified our efforts to evaluate the
impacts of our activities, so we can better learn
from both our successes and disappointments.
We have also made a commitment to develop a
Knowledge Sharing Center, which will bring the
learning and experience of our partnerships,
networks and collaborators to the entire
development field.
To ensure ongoing support for innovation and
program development, we have launched the
Campaign for the Future. By the end of 2007, we
raised about $12 million of our $20 million goal.
3
Photo ~ Deidre Schoo
We have also continued our work to create a
values-driven, high performing culture, with
additional progress on the implementation of our
values and the professional development of staff.
At the end of the year, we were grateful to be
recognized with Charity Navigator’s highest
four-star rating for our financial management
systems, policies and practices.
Synergos can only be fully understood and
appreciated through knowledge of its unique and
remarkable set of human relationships that extend
to almost every part of the world. Our board and
staff, network affiliates, partners, funders and
colleagues in the development field have all
helped make 2007 a year characterized by trust-
building, accomplishments, open-heartedness
and collaboration. We are inspired by and
grateful to all of them.
Warmly,
Peggy Dulany, Robert H. Dunn,
Founder and Chair President and CEO
 2007 at a glance
Initiative Description Progress
Partnership for An initiative of Synergos, Unilever and • Bhavishya Alliance transitioned into
Child Nutrition UNICEF, this works to develop solutions a fully Indian-led institution.
to child under-nutrition in India. The
partnership supported the creation of the • Pilot initiatives launched include:
india

Bhavishya Alliance, an unprecedented Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers,

coalition of Indian corporations, govern-
ment agencies and civil society organiza-
tions committed to reducing the rate of
child under-nutrition in the State of
Maharashtra.
improvements to supply chain
management for critical medicines,
capacity building for adolescent girls,
and training to ensure more hygienic
and nutritious foods at local child
development centers.

Synergos Southern The regional branch of Synergos that • Registered as a legal business entity
Africa oversees projects and initiatives in in South Africa.
Southern Africa.
African Public Health In 2007, Synergos received a $7 million • Project will launch in 2008 with a
Leadership and grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Namibian project office and staff.
Systems Innovation Foundation to launch the project in
Initiative Namibia. With Synergos as managing
partner, the project will convene health
leaders from across sectors, guiding
them through an intensive leadership
and project development experience to
strengthen the country’s health system.
The South African The Network, which includes Synergos, • Helped develop assessment of
Orphans and develops leadership, capacity and innova- problems, perceptions, players and
southern africa

Vulnerable Children tion to support orphans and vulnerable possibilities around orphans and
Leadership and children who are affected by the AIDS vulnerable children.
Innovation Network pandemic. The Network works with
participants in a two-year program to
create cross-sector partnerships.

Southern Africa The Cooperative convenes a network of • Includes 35 grantmakers from

Community leaders of independent, community grant-
Grantmakers making organizations to create a powerful
Leadership force for building institutional capacity
Cooperative and more effective social change. Synergos
provides convening, financial services, and
other support.
LGBT Sustainability The initiative has partnered with Synergos
and Partnership for three years to strengthen the lesbian,
Building Initiative gay, bisexual and trans-gendered commu-
nity in South Africa to take advantage of
the rights and obligations provided in the
South African Constitution.
Foundation for In Mozambique, Synergos continued its
Community long partnership with the Foundation on
Development issues of public health and child under-
nutrition.
Rio Como Vamos Synergos is a partner and member of the
steering committee of this project, which
brazil
20 organizations in South Africa,
Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
• Engaged with business and
government.
• Convened social giving and
philanthropy series.
• Major strides in fundraising,
membership, education and
rights advocacy.
• Comprehensive work plan
written for 2007–2008, outlining
initiatives.
• Synergos has piloted a survey in two
favelas (urban slums) to establish

aims to improve governance in Rio de indicators of urban life.

Janeiro, Brazil, by measuring and raising
awareness of the city’s quality of life.
Synergos works to ensure the inclusion
of the city’s poorest communities in
this process.

4
 Initiative Description
middle east/
north africa
Middle East/ Built by Synergos, this program will make
North Africa strategic investments in high-impact social
Social Innovators innovators in the region through financial
Program awards, leadership and capacity building
and strategic connections, beginning
with 20 individuals selected from Egypt,
Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine.
U.S.-Mexico Border The Partnership is a collaboration
Philanthropy between Synergos, 19 border community
Partnership foundations and 12 funders to improve
u.s.–mexico
the quality of life in the U.S.-Mexico
border
border region, one of the poorest regions
in North America.
Aboriginal Leadership The Initiative is a consortium of
Initiative government, First Nations, business and
canada
nonprofit organizations that intends to
improve quality of life among Aboriginal
people and enhance the relationship
between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal
societies, beginning on the west coast of
British Columbia.
Phuket Community The Foundation was created with the
thailand
Foundation support of Synergos and the funding of
the Bernard van Leer Foundation to
rebuild the Phuket province, which was
seriously impacted by the 2004 tsunami.
Senior Fellows The Fellows are a network of almost
100 civil society leaders from more than
30 countries.
global networks
Global Philanthropists The Circle is a network of more than
Circle 200 individuals from approximately 25
countries who are committed to using
their time, influence and resources to
address issues of poor and marginalized
communities.
5
Progress
• Program funded and set to
launch in 2008.
• $20 million dollars of investment
leveraged for border communities
and foundations.
• Groundwork laid to transition
Partnership to an independent
501(c)(3) organization in 2008.
• Built the capacity of border
community foundations and
facilitated partnerships among them.
• Plans to scale bi-national programs
on quality of life issues to network-
wide level.
• Two-year pilot phase funded and set
to launch in early 2008.
• $52,297 raised locally, the largest
amount for any community
foundation in Thailand.
• $150,000 leveraged in
international funds.
• First community project promoting
motorcycle safety.
• 11 new Fellows selected for
class of 2008.
• Program shifted emphasis to
partnership-building for social justice.
• Developed and applied a framework
for evaluating program.
• First joint meeting with Global
Philanthropists Circle.
• “Global action teams” move forward
with work on social justice and
philanthropy-related issues.
• Circle’s Middle East affinity group
members helped develop Middle East
and North Africa Social Innovators
Program.
• Africa working group started with
more than 40 members working in
18 countries on the continent.
• First joint meeting with Senior
Fellows.
• Learning journeys to India and
Middle East.
 1987 Synergos Associates is formed as a brain trust to help 1986 Peggy Dulany brings together development activists
develop the organization’s core programs. and social change experts, explores ideas for a new NGO
to bridge divides and founds Synergos along with its Board
1987 The first international conference on collaborative of Directors.
problem solving brings together leaders from around

1986
the world. 1987 Synergos International Advisory Council is
established to provide guidance and connections to
1988 The organization’s first case studies are written major global initiatives.
focusing on partnership approaches to development problems.
1988 Synergos helps establish its first multi-stakeholder
1991 Synergos helps local leaders launch the Esquel partnerships, including Roda Viva, addressing the rights

in 1992.
Foundation, the first locally-controlled grantmaking of children in Brazil; and the Chimalapas Coalition, which

facilitate a
major work over the last two decades.

foundation in Ecuador. addresses sustainable development in a rainforest in

Zimbabwe and
Synergos helped
southern Mexico.

the United States

community leader
exchange between
1992 The South-North Development Initiative is created
as an independent organization to support innovative 1991 Case studies of large-scale partnerships in Asia are
approaches to development financing. conducted by a global learning consortium with support from
the United Nations Development Programme, and provide

6
1994 At the invitation from the United Nations, Synergos insight into challenges in creating such partnerships.
convenes a group of civil society leaders to provide input
into the 1995 World Summit for Social Development. 1991 Synergos begins conducting exchanges among
community and NGO leaders in United States and the
1995 Synergos and the Overseas Development Council global south about inclusive development.
work with official development assistance agencies to
explore how they can better collaborate with civil society. 1994 Culminating the work that started in 1989, Synergos
helps local leaders launch the first locally-controlled

the Foundation for

Kiniki/Foundation for
grantmaking foundation in Mozambique, the Foundation

Mozambique’s Graça
1997 University for a Night, an evening of sharing ideas

in 1994. Photo ~ Grace

Machel (left) co-founded
for Community Development.

Community Development
Community Development
between global leaders, holds its inaugural event.
twenty years of fighting poverty

1999 The Senior Fellows network is created to bring 1995 Case studies of large-scale partnerships in Asia are
together distinguished civil society leaders. completed by a global learning consortium with UN
Development Programme support, and builds upon earlier
studies in showing challenges in building and sustaining
1999 The Global Task Force on Bridging Leadership is
partnerships.
for a Night in 1997.
In 2007, Synergos was able to reflect on its work over the past 20 years. This timeline shows some of our

created, defining a new style of leadership which is now key

to Synergos’ work; it oversees production of 18 case studies
of successful bridging leaders. 1995 Work begins with the Inter-American Development
Bank on how it can promote better civil society-government
Richard Parsons of Time Warner

cooperation in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico.

speaks at the inaugural University
 2000 The Foundation Building Sourcebook is produced by 1998 After beginning work in 1989, Synergos helps local
Synergos to help the larger development field learn from our leaders launch the first locally-controlled grantmaking
experiences in helping establish community foundations; foundation in Zimbabwe, the Western Region Foundation.
it is distributed in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
2000 Synergos and a number of Brazilian civil society

Photo ~ International
is established in 2001.

Community Foundation
The U.S.-Mexico Border
organizations help create Instituto Rio, the first community

Philanthropy Partnership
2001 The U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership
is launched. foundation in Brazil.

2000 Synergos opens its Brazil office in Rio de Janiero.

2002 Synergos and its partner in Ecuador help create
a national corporate social responsibility program, the 2001 Peggy Dulany and her father David Rockefeller
Ecuadorian Consortium for Social Responsibility (CERES). establish the Global Philanthropists Circle.

2003 The Strengthening Bridging Organizations program 2003 Synergos opens its offices in Cape Town,
begins to establish and build capacity for community- South Africa.
based grantmaking organizations in the global south.

Circle in 2001.
2003 The Asian Institute of Management in the Philippines
and Esquel Foundation in Ecuador begin providing training
2004 Synergos’ first learning journey takes place
on bridging leadership.
in Brazil, allowing members of our Global

the Global Philanthropists

Fox talks with members of
Mexican President Vicente
Philanthropists Circle to connect with innovative

7
work in the global south. 2004 The Sustainable Food Lab launches and explores new
approaches to food production and distribution.

2005 Synergos launches a multi-stakeholder partnership 2005 Synergos establishes its Multi-Stakeholder
program together with Generon Consulting and joins the Partnership initiative.
Sustainable Food Lab. With the addition of Unilever and
UNICEF-India, Synergos also begins its engagement in
2005 Synergos holds its first Montana retreat, initiating a
the Partnership for Child Nutrition in India.

Photo ~ J.D. Scott

in 2002.
to South Africa
a learning journey
Circle makes
Philanthropists
Global program to help members of the Global Philanthropists
Circle develop and deepen their understanding of them-
2006 The Bhavishya Alliance is created as an selves and their capacity to support human progress.
independent organization through the Partnership for
Child Nutrition in India. 2007 The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Leadership and
Innovation Network is inaugurated in South Africa with
2007 The Middle East/North Africa Social Innovators Synergos as a supporter.
Program is launched.
2007 The African Public Health Leadership Initiative is set to
2007 The Aboriginal Leadership Initiative is set to launch in Namibia.
launch in Canada.
2007
financial report summary
During 2007, Synergos built upon the strengths
and efficiencies of its finance function that,
combined with new and more diversified
fundraising sources, enabled it to generate a
sizable surplus in its operating budget that has
been deployed as a resource to fund its 2008
activities. The organization’s balance sheet remains
totally debt free. Total net assets show an increase
of $5.42 million (24.83% increase) from $21.82
million in 2006 to $27.25 million in 2007.
For 2008, Synergos’ operating and capital budget
will be approximately $14 million and, barring
unforeseen developments, we expect to generate a
modest surplus. Audited financial statements for
2007 and earlier years are available upon request.

Statement of Financial Position

December 31, 2007 2006

ASSETS
Cash $ 487,648 $ 548,525
Cash—restricted 665,504
Pledges and Other Receivables, net 8,229,881 5,185,812
Investments, at fair value 18,184,042 15,043,630
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets 196,892 81,203
Property and Equipment, net 2,222,931 2,516,538
Total assets $29,321,394 $24,041,212

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 565,183 $ 653,279
Capital lease obligation 102,117 147,912
Deferred rent and lease incentive 1,408,145 1,415,273
Total liabilities 2,075,445 2,216,464

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Net Assets:
Unrestricted
Invested in property and equipment 2,120,814 2,368,626
Designated for long-term investment 10,671,345 10,426,473
Undesignated 2,407,384 1,895,095
Total unrestricted net assets 15,199,543 14,690,194

Restricted
Temporarily restricted net assets 12,046,406 7,134,554
Total net assets 27,245,949 21,824,748
Total liabilities and net assets $29,321,394 $24,041,212

8
Statement of Activities (with summarized financial information for the year ended December 31, 2006)

Year ended December 31, 2007 2006

Summarized
Temporarily Information
Unrestricted Restricted Total Total

SUPPORT AND REVENUE

Contributions:
Foundations $ 1,376,918 $ 858,753 $ 2,235,671 $ 4,534,178
Corporations 210,032
Individuals 688,749 1,394,032 2,082,781 1,546,462
GPC membership dues 1,724,874 1,724,874 1,588,732
Gates Foundation grant — 6,910,382 6,910,382
Government grant 16,289 16,289
Special event, net 839,745 839,745 498,272
Return on investments available for
operating activities 282,331 9,408 291,739 59,876
Other income 583,274 583,274 386,915
Net assets released from restrictions—
satisfaction of program and time
restrictions 4,105,723 (4,105,723) —
Total support and revenue 9,617,903 5,066,852 14,684,755 8,824,467

EXPENSES
Program services:
Strengthening Bridging Organizations 3,329,131 3,329,131 3,431,997
Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships 2,087,404 2,087,404 3,439,282
Global Philanthropists Circle 1,351,886 1,351,886 1,184,442
Communications and Outreach 257,429 257,429 116,898
Total program services 7,025,850 7,025,850 8,172,619

Supporting services:
Management and general 1,817,315 1,817,315 1,686,611
Fund-raising 611,304 611,304 582,377
Total supporting services 2,428,619 2,428,619 2,268,988
Total expenses 9,454,469 9,454,469 10,441,607
Results of operations 163,434 5,066,852 5,230,286 (1,617,140)

Return on investments on board

designated funds for long-term
investments 359,741 359,741 447,504

Loss on disposal of equipment (1,002) (1,002) (29,385)

Loss on uncollectible pledges (12,824) (155,000) (167,824) (37,300)

Net realized gain on sale of building — 12,396,409

Change in net assets 509,349 4,911,852 5,421,201 11,160,088

Net assets at beginning of year 14,690,194 7,134,554 21,824,748 10,664,660

Net assets at end of year $15,199,543 $12,046,406 $27,245,949 $21,824,748

A complete set of automated financial statements is available upon request.

9
 Right: Planning session for the Partnership
for Child Nutrition in India.
Photo ~ Joe McCarron

Left Inset: Bridging leadership workshop

in the Philippines. Photo ~ Jose Enrique
Santiago/AIM-Mirant Center for Bridging
Societal Divides

Right Inset: Senior Fellow Christa Kuljian at

the Fellows’ 2007 Annual Global Meeting.
Photo ~ Rob Klein

what we do
The name “Synergos” comes from the Greek root
meaning “working together.” We address global
poverty and social injustice through a process of
collaboration. Bringing together the most
influential people and institutions in
government, business and civil society, as well as
poor and marginalized communities who are
usually left out of the process, we help every part
of society work together to create long-term
progress. In over twenty years, Synergos has
supported innovative global partnerships
in more than 30 countries.
To promote and support these systems-changing
collaborations, we help leaders and leading
institutions learn from each other and access the
ideas, people and resources that can help them
make a greater impact in addressing issues of
poverty, equity and social justice.

10
 In over twenty years,
Synergos has supported
innovative global
partnerships in more
than 30 countries.

11
8
where we are

Senior Fellows

Global Philanthropists Circle Families

Board Members

Key Program Countries

Synergos Offices

12
13
Right: In Namibia, Synergos is beginning work
to more effective public health systems.
Photo ~ Ariel Teplitsky

Left Inset: The Esquel Foundation, Synergos’

partner in Ecuador, supports efforts by
weavers and other craftspeople.
Photo ~ Esquel Foundation

Right Inset: In Brazil, Synergos Senior Fellow

Beatriz Azeredo's organization, Instituto
Desiderata, supports programs to benefit
children and families in poor communities.
Photo ~ Instituto Desiderata

around the world

The following section includes some of the highlights of Synergos’ work
in Africa, Asia and the Americas.

14
15
india
The Partnership for Child Nutrition is an
initiative by Synergos, Unilever and UNICEF to
develop solutions to child under-nutrition in
India, which claims the highest number of
malnourished children in the world. The
Partnership supported the creation of the
Bhavishya Alliance, an unprecedented coalition of
Indian corporations, government agencies and
civil society organizations committed to reducing
the rate of child under-nutrition in the country,
with an emphasis on children in the critical 0–3
years of age. Bhavishya presently works in the
state of Maharashtra, in five rural districts and one
slum area of Mumbai that have some of the
highest rates of child under-nutrition.
The Bhavishya Alliance has made large strides in
2007. It transitioned into a fully Indian-led
institution with the hiring of K.S. Murthy as
CEO and a governing council comprised of
individuals from some of India’s leading
institutions. Through its partners, Bhavishya also
launched pilot initiatives last year, including
Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers, which provide
treatment, care and ongoing support to severely
under-nourished children and their mothers.
Bhavishya is working with local organizations and
UNICEF Maharashtra to empower adolescent
girls to act as “change agents” for improved
health and nutrition within their families and
communities. In another initiative, the Taj Hotels
16
group along with the government-run Integrated
Child Development Services (ICDS) has
developed a new training program so that
women’s Self Help Groups and Anganwadi
workers (who provide food at ICDS centers) can
prepare inexpensive, hygienic and nutritious food,
which is also tastier than much of the existing diet
for poor communities. Bhavishya also facilitated a
relationship between the Department of Health
and Hindustan Unilever Ltd. to begin applying
Hindustan Unilever’s supply chain methods, in
order to improve the distribution of critical
medicines and nutrition supplements to village
health centers in one of the program districts.
In addition to these developments in the
Partnership for Child Nutrition, a group
comprised of members of the Synergos Board of
Directors and the Global Philanthropists Circle
visited the project in February to experience
projects connected to the Circle and Synergos
partner organizations. Projects included Child
Rights and You, India’s leading advocate for child
rights, and Gram Vikas, an organization that
employs an integrated approach to rural
development. The trip served as a way to engage
the Board and philanthropists with Synergos’
partners and the work being done in the region.
Inset Above: Senior government and business leaders participate
in a planning session for the Partnership for Child Nutrition.
Photo ~ Joe McCarron
Right and inset: Mothers and children receive treatment
at a Nutritional Rehabilitation Center, an initiative
of the Bhavishya Alliance.
The Partnership
supported the creation
of the Bhavishya
Alliance, an
unprecedented
coalition of Indian
corporations,
government agencies
and civil society
organizations.
southern
africa
Synergos has maintained a strong presence in
Southern Africa since 1990, and last year saw the
deepening of its existing work and the emergence
of an exciting new project. Synergos Southern
Africa officially registered as its own legal business
entity in South Africa with an Advisory Board
consisting of members of the Synergos Global
Philanthropists Circle and the Senior Fellows
Network, as well as prominent development and
community activists in the region.
In 2007, Synergos received a $7 million grant
from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to
launch the African Public Health Leadership and
Systems Innovation Initiative in Namibia. The
two-and-a-half year project aims to increase
health leader effectiveness by addressing the
attitudes, values and relationships that drive
behavior, and by cultivating managerial and
Left: The newly launched initiative in Namibia aims to improve
public health service throughout the country.
19
administrative skills. Leadership teams from
government, business and civil society will be
guided through an intensive process to develop
field projects that address pivotal health issues,
which may include maternal and child health
and basic sanitation. The Initiative will be
documented with the hope that the program will
be replicated in other African countries. Synergos
will serve as the Initiative’s managing partner, and
is opening a project office in Windhoek, Namibia
in early 2008. Supporting a local cross-sectoral
team will be a cohort of international partners,
including the Presencing Institute and Generon
Consulting.
Last year, Synergos also participated in the launch
of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Leadership and Innovation Network in South
Africa, in partnership with the country’s
Department of Social Development, Convene
Venture Philanthropy, Reos Social Innovation and
the Hollard Foundation. The Network aims to
bring together all sectors of society to address the
needs of orphans and children affected by
HIV/AIDS. Each year, the Network will recruit
approximately 45 participants to join a two-year
program, where they will build relationships
across organizations and sectors, develop
leadership capabilities and create innovative
cross-sector partnerships. The Network’s first
convening took place in November as a three-
day “Innovation Lab” that included over 50
senior civil servants, business people, academics,
donors and leaders of non-governmental,
community-based and faith-based organizations
from across South Africa. Through the Lab,
participants identified nine ideas for collaborative
initiatives and resolved to work together to
implement them.
Created in 2005, the Southern Africa
Community Grantmakers Leadership
Cooperative convenes a network of leaders of
independent community grantmaking
organizations. By creating a “safe space” for peer
learning and growth, the network endeavors to
create a powerful force for building institutional
capacity and more effective social change. So far,
about 35 community grantmaker leaders from 20
community grantmaking organizations (as diverse
as the large Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, the
smaller Ikhala Trust and Dockda Rural
Development Trust and the emerging Lurdes
Mutola Foundation in Mozambique) have made
commitments to participate as individual leaders.
Already, the Cooperative has engaged with
colleagues in the corporate sector, as well as both
the National Development Agency and the
National Lottery in South Africa. Synergos
provides convening, financial support and other
services to the cooperative, with funding from the
been made in forging collaboration within and
beyond the sector, in the fields of rights advocacy,
policy development, public education, improved
fundraising and sustainability planning. The
Initiative has also seen improvements in
communications capacity and an expanded
outreach by LGBT organizations to the
disadvantaged majority of LGBT people in
South Africa.
In Mozambique, Synergos strengthened its long-
term partnership with the Foundation for
Community Development. A comprehensive
partnership work plan for 2007-2008 was
completed with a broad range of joint activities,
including board development; sustainability and
fundraising strategy work, building development
exchanges between Mozambique and Brazil, and

Synergos received a
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ford
Foundation, the Open Society Foundation for

$7 million grant from the

South Africa and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

Synergos entered the third year of a partnership

Bill & Melinda Gates

with The Atlantic Philanthropies and Hivos
(Netherlands) to support the LGBT

Foundation to launch the

Sustainability and Partnership Building Initiative.
The broad goal of this initiative is to strengthen

Africa Public Health

the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gendered
community in South Africa – and specifically
those from historically disadvantaged

Leadership Initiative
communities – to take advantage of the rights
and obligations guaranteed in Section Nine of the

in Namibia.
South African Constitution. Since the Initiative’s
inception in 2005, membership in the Joint
Working Group of LGBT service organizations
has more than doubled, and major strides have

20
cooperation on knowledge management and
dissemination. The Foundation and Synergos
explored possibilities for multi-sector partnerships
around public health systems improvement and a
leadership and innovation process to address the
issue of child under-nutrition in Mozambique,
drawing on the experience of Synergos in the
Partnership for Child Nutrition in India.

Discussion at a workshop for

the Orphans and Vulnerable
Children Initiative.
Photo ~ Reos Social
Innovation

Teens from the Western Coast of South Africa participating in

programs supported by the Western Cape Community Foundation,
a member of the Community Grantmakers Leadership Cooperative.
Photo ~ Fanie Jason

21
brazil
As urban populations in the developing world
grow at unprecedented rates, it is an increasing
challenge for cities to understand and respond to
their residents, particularly poor communities.
These cities are often marked by inefficiencies,
lack of accountability, huge social inequalities and
Spearheaded by new Brazil Country Director
Daniel Becker, Synergos is working with the city’s
poorest communities to ensure their inclusion in
this process, help them highlight inequities
between favelas (urban slums) and the rest of the
city, and provide them with greater voice to
negotiate with public authorities. In 2007, two
favelas actively contributed to the initiative by
providing their perspectives through a pilot study.
The project is designed to develop methodologies
and tools for the inclusion of poor communities
in similar projects emerging in other cities in the
Hemisphere.

These cities are often

ineffective public policies that do little to help the
region’s poor.

marked by inefficiencies,
Rio Como Vamos was launched by leaders of
business, government and civil society to improve

lack of accountability,
governance in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by
measuring and raising awareness of the city’s

huge social inequalities

quality of life. Modeled after similar programs in
São Paulo and Bogotá, it seeks to improve

and ineffective public

government accountability in areas such as health,
education, security, environment, housing and
culture. The work over the past year brought

policies that do little to

together diverse stakeholders to develop a set of
indicators on urban life. As a next step, it will

help the region’s poor.

stimulate partnerships between civil society,
corporate institutions and the government to
develop improvements in public policy and
reduce inequalities.

Right: Through participation in Rio Como Vamos and other

innovative initiatives in Rio de Janeiro, Synergos is helping
improve lives in that city’s favelas. Photo ~ Gabriella Campagna

Inset: Recycling program supported by Instituto Ecofuturo, an

organization created by Global Philanthropist Circle member
Daniel Feffer of Brazil. Photo ~ Instituto Ecofuturo

22
The program will better
enable participants to
bring successful ideas
to scale, build the
sustainability of their
programs and
contribute to long-lasting
social progress.
middle east/
north africa
program will connect these entrepreneurs to
other civil society, business and government
leaders, as well as to critical private funding.
An advisory council, composed of leaders in
philanthropy, civil society, business and academia
who are active in the region, will provide strategic
guidance to the program.

Beyond the Social Innovators Program, members

of the Global Philanthropists Circle made
another learning journey to the Middle East in
November 2007 to deepen their knowledge of
the key regional issues, highlight their work and
explore first-hand innovative efforts to promote
economic and social development. The trip took
them to Israel, Jordan and Palestine to meet
local government officials, business leaders
and grassroots organizations, and help build
relationships for the Social Innovators Program.
Highlights included meetings with Her Majesty
Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan and the
Chief of Staff to Palestinian National Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as dinner
with Stef Wertheimer, one of Israel’s leading
businessmen and philanthropists.
Tapping into the emerging trend of social
entrepreneurship, the Global Philanthropists
Circle and Synergos’ Senior Fellows have jointly
influenced the creation of the Synergos Middle
East/North Africa Social Innovators Program.
Launched in October 2007, the program will
make strategic investments in high-impact social
innovators in the region through financial
awards, leadership training and organizational
capacity building, as well as strategic connections.
Photo ~ Shai Shmueli/Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Left: During their 2007 learning journey, members of the Global

Beginning with 20 individuals selected from
Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine, Philanthropists Circle saw outreach efforts of Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev, which included this doctor treating
a local Bedouin woman. Photo ~ Shai Shmueli/Ben-Gurion
the program will better enable participants to
bring successful ideas to scale, build the University of the Negev
sustainability of their programs and contribute
to long-lasting social progress. The three-year

25
u.s.-mexico
border
Launched in 2002, the U.S.-Mexico Border
Philanthropy Partnership is a collaboration
between Synergos, 19 border community
foundations, as well as 12 national, regional
and international funders including the Ford
Foundation, the Charles Stewart Mott
Foundation, the Inter-American Foundation,
the Houston Endowment, and corporate funders
such as JPMorgan Chase and Pfizer Inc. The
Partnership works to improve the quality of life
in the U.S.-Mexico border region, one of the
poorest regions in North America.

Since its inception, the Partnership has leveraged

more than $20 million dollars to strengthen the
institutional capacities of member foundations,
which in turn allow them to provide effective
support and leadership to their communities.
Since 2002, these community foundations have
increased their assets to support their
communities by more than $230 million.

In April, Synergos brought together Partnership

members for its eighth Learning Community,
“Border Community Foundations in Action
Together,” which focused on building cross-

26
border collaborative programs for critical quality
of life issues such as youth engagement,
community health and financial asset building for
low-income families and communities. The
Learning Community also laid the groundwork
for transitioning the Partnership to an
independent, locally-governed, bi-national entity
with a formal commitment from the partners to
sustain the work after Synergos completes its
assignment as the initial managing partner in
July 2008.
As the Partnership began transitioning to
organizational independence, Synergos continued
to strengthen the capacity of local leaders to
support sustainable local development. Plans have
continued to expand the Partnership membership
to engage all sectors, including government,
business and academia, with an interest in the
well-being of border communities.
In October, Synergos also convened border
foundations and other health experts and
institutions, such as the California Endowment
and the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission,
to discuss health challenges faced by border
communities and potential cross-border solutions.
Examples ranged from a cross-border medical
safety net that provides access to affordable health
care around Yuma, Arizona (on both sides of the
border), and to HIV/AIDS research and
prevention programs in the Tijuana-San Diego
region.

Right: This housing construction project is part of the Arizona

Since 2002, these

Community Foundation, a member of the U.S.-Mexico Border
Philanthropy Partnership. Photo ~ Arizona Community Foundation

Below: Financial literacy classes for low-income families are

community foundations
conducted by the San Diego Foundation, another Partnership
member. Photo ~ Bernadette Unis-Johnston/Narrative Images

have increased their

assets to support their
communities by more
than $230 million.

27
canada
Canadians enjoy one of the world’s highest
standards of living, yet the conditions of Canada’s
Aboriginal people present a striking contrast.
Canada’s Aboriginal communities are marked by
higher rates of unemployment, educational
failure, disease, violence, youth suicide, conflict
with the law and incarceration, compared to their
non-Aboriginal peers.
Together with the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal
Council, British Columbia Ministry of Aboriginal
Relations and Health Canada, Synergos has
helped launch the Aboriginal Leadership
Initiative. The Initiative intends to develop new
ways to improve quality of life among Canada’s
Aboriginal people and enhance the relationship
between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal societies.
The program aims to reweave a social fabric that
has become frayed, by catalyzing meaningful
dialogue, building relationships of trust and
stimulating joint action involving Aboriginal
communities and organizations, government,
civil society and businesses.
Over the past year, Synergos has advised the
Initiative on multi-stakeholder partnerships and
helped to develop the program, recruit cross-
sectoral participation, and secure financial and
in-kind support. The initial pilot phase will begin
in 2008, in three communities of the Nuu-chah-
nulth peoples of British Columbia, along the
Pacific Coast of Vancouver Island. Two projects
will be implemented in each of the communities,
focusing on social and economic development.
Below: Figure carved by Joe David of the Nuu-chah-nulth tribe;
the Nuu-chah-nulth are one of the key partners in the Aboriginal
Leadership Initiative. Photo ~ David Hayes
Inset: The Aboriginal Leaders Initiative launch meeting promotes
discussion at Teshat First Nations Reserve on Vancouver Island.
thailand
Phuket Community Foundation was created in
2006 with the support of Synergos and funding
from the Bernard van Leer Foundation. It is part
of a long-term rebuilding effort in this province,
which was seriously impacted by the 2004 Indian
Ocean tsunami.
The Foundation’s mission is to improve the
quality of life in Phuket for all levels of society,
with particular emphasis on poverty, the
environment, education, arts and culture,
historical preservation, public safety and public
health.
29
The traffic in Phuket teems with motorcycles, the target of a safety
campaign launched by the Phuket Community Foundation in 2007.
Photo ~ Stew Dean
The Foundation is considered to be the leading
community foundation in Thailand. To date,
they have raised $52,297 locally, which is
believed to be the largest amount of local
contributions raised by a community foundation
in Thailand. With Synergos assistance and a
challenge grant from the Van Leer Group
Foundation, they have also leveraged almost
$150,000 in international funds. The past year
saw their first community project, which aimed
to promote safety around motorcycles, a leading
cause of accidental injury and death in the region.
 global
networks
forms of collaborative action. A system for
evaluating the Network was also developed with
the help of Fellow David Bonbright. Fellows were
surveyed to assess the Network’s impact on the
Fellows’ work, and initial findings highlighted the
value of the Network’s peer learning approach, as
well as its focus on social justice philanthropy.

The annual meeting in New York included 35

Fellows and featured the first joint meeting with
Synergos’ Global Philanthropists Circle, which
was the first major step to formalize and
strengthen the links between Synergos’ two global
networks. Work moved ahead on four Global
Action Teams, which will help Fellows develop
solutions and best practices around the issues of
sustainability of civil society organizations, youth
leadership, promoting local philanthropy for
social change and improving cooperation between
civil society and official development assistance
agencies.

senior fellows
In 2007, Synergos invited 11 leaders from around
the world to become Senior Fellows, growing the
network to a cadre of almost 100 civil society
leaders from more than 30 countries.

Sadiqa Salahuddin of the Indus Resource Centre

in Pakistan, one of the new class of Fellows,
works with poor communities in Pakistan to help
them empower themselves and participate actively

Senior Fellow Janet Mawiyoo of the Kenya Community Develop-

in democracy-building activities. Another new
Fellow is Mariana Lomé; she leads Fundación ment Foundation discusses strategies for community empowerment
Compromiso in Argentina, which strengthens the at the 2007 joint workshop between the Global Philanthropists
Circle and Senior Fellows. Photo ~ Christine Butler
institutional and management capacity of civil
society organizations in that country and other
parts of Latin America.

Over the last year, the Senior Fellows Network

adjusted its focus from promoting and
strengthening philanthropy to impacting poverty
and social justice through partnerships and other

30
Photo ~ Soni

Senior Fellows Class of 2008

Mary Amuyunzu-Nyamongo, Executive Director,
African Institute for Health and Development,
Kenya
Rosangela Berman-Bieler, Executive Director,
Inter-American Institute on Disability and Site visit during a Senior Fellows meeting in India.
Inclusive Development, Brazil

Over the last year, the

Bharati Chaturvedi, Director, Chintan
Environmental Research and Action Group,

Senior Fellows Network

India
Celso Grecco, President, Atitude Social

adjusted its focus from

Marketing and Founder, Social Stock
Exchange, Brazil

promoting and strengthening

Gilda Haas, Executive Director, Strategic Actions
for a Just Economy, United States

philanthropy to impacting
Mariana Lomé, Executive Director, Fundación
Compromiso, Argentina

poverty and social justice

Sixto Macasaet, Executive Director, Caucus of
Development NGO Networks, The

through partnerships and

Philippines
Chebet Maikut, Vice President, Eastern Africa

other forms of collaborative

Farmers Federation, Uganda
Nora Murad, Executive Director, Dalia

action.
Association, Palestine
Lake Sagaris, President, Cuidad Viva, Chile
Sadiqa Salahuddin, Executive Director, Indus
Resource Centre, Pakistan

31
 global
networks global philanthropists
circle
The Global Philanthropists Circle is a network of
more than 200 individuals from 74 families and
25 countries who are committed to using their
time, influence and resources to address issues of
poor and marginalized communities. The Circle
is focused on peer learning, strengthening the
ability of our members to be more effective
leaders and social investors, and promoting
collaboration with other Synergos networks.

The Circle added 13 new member families in

The Circle is focused on

2007. They bring a wide range of interests and
expertise, including venture philanthropy,
women’s rights, humanitarian relief,

peer learning, strengthening

environmental justice and education. The new
members come from Saudi Arabia, India, Mexico,

the ability of our members

Peru, Brazil and the United States.

to be more effective leaders

and social investors, and
promoting collaboration
between them and other
Synergos networks.

Circle members from South Africa and Colombia at the 2007

annual meeting. Photo ~ Christine Butler

32
Synergos Chair Peggy Dulany with William H. Gates Sr. at
University for a Night 2007. Photo ~ Christine Butler

The annual meeting of the Circle in New York

featured in-depth interviews and presentations
by Paul Farmer and William H. Gates Sr.
Convenings included the annual Pocantico
Retreat and the annual Montana Retreat. The
retreats offered members opportunities for deep
reflection about their role in the world, as well as
for peer feedback on their initiatives. Circle
members also made learning journeys to India
and the Middle East.

Among the new Circle members is Greg Carr, founder of the Carr
Foundation and the Carr Center for Human Rights at Harvard
University; he is working with the government in Mozambique to
restore their flagship national park, Gorongosa, and with local
communities near the park to establish health clinics and schools,
assist in securing land tenure on their traditional homelands, and
help prepare local people for employment opportunities.
Photo ~ Carr Foundation

33
 sustainability
report summary
In the interest of being a transparent and ethically-
driven organization, Synergos has completed a
summary of our efforts to create and maintain a
sustainable organization. The structure of this
report draws upon frameworks developed by the
Global Reporting Initiative and Keystone
Accountability.
The highlights of the report are included below,
and the full report is available at
www.synergos.org/publications/.
34
Overview
The Synergos Board of Directors approved a new
organizational strategy in 2007, which will focus
on supporting bridging leaders and institutions,
inclusive partnerships and knowledge sharing to
make the greatest possible impact on poverty,
equity and social justice. We have also restructured
to bring the staff supporting our various leadership
networks together, and planned more ways to form
stronger connections among them.
We are planning a major new initiative to better
capture and share organizational knowledge,
which in 2008 will mean the development of
a Knowledge Sharing Center to provide more
opportunities to share ideas and discover what we
can learn from one another. We also promote
Web-linked social networks, host convenings and
create practical materials for the benefit of others
working to promote social progress. Currently,
Synergos offers workshops, trainings, convenings,
peer learning opportunities and free downloadable
resources on our Website.
Governance
Synergos has a 22-member Board of Directors
with six standing committees: finance (with
investment and audit subcommittees), nominating
and governance, development, program and
planning, management and executive. Eight Board
members are female and five are persons of color.
None of the Board members are compensated for
their work with Synergos.
The Synergos Community
The nature of Synergos’ work requires the
engagement of a diverse set of stakeholders,
including civil society organizations, philanthropy,
business and government, as well as representatives
of poor and marginalized communities. We work
to identify and engage stakeholders who are often
disempowered, valuing their wisdom and
experience, and building community capacity to
sustain change.
Fiscal Responsibility
Synergos is committed to being a fiscally
responsible and transparent organization. In 2007,
Charity Navigator, the United States’ most-used
evaluator of nonprofit organizations, recognized
Synergos with its highest four-star rating for our
fiscal management.
Synergos hires an independent firm to conduct an
annual financial audit. Our donors also hold us
accountable for our work, requiring us to submit
regular reports, and sometimes engaging us in a
formal evaluation process. One example of this
occurred last year in our Partnership for Child
Nutrition in India, where START, a group
dedicated to analyzing global change, completed a
valuable independent assessment of our under-
nutrition project in India. Last year, Synergos also
developed a new donor tracking system so it
could more accurately report to donors how we
use their funds.
In 2007, the Board’s investment committee
approved an investment policy for its new Board-
restricted fund, initially placing roughly 25% of
the fund in mission-driven investments. To help
ensure long-term financial stability, Synergos also
launched the Campaign for the Future, which
aims to raise $20 million to support innovation
and program development. It is our intention to
increase this percentage over time.
Program Impacts
In 2007, we have begun to see results in the
Partnership for Child Nutrition in India, and
expect to have initial findings to report in 2008.
Synergos has also begun developing a more
rigorous monitoring and evaluation system for all
our work. This system will help evaluate program
outcomes and enhance program quality; inform
our Board, partners and donors of the impacts
programs are making; and provide new ways to
share learnings across programs. Initially, Synergos
is focusing on our networks, in particular, the
Global Philanthropists Circle and Senior Fellows.
35
The methods used in this evaluation are also
informing the assessment of some of Synergos’
other programs, such as the U.S.-Mexico Border
Philanthropy Partnership and the Middle East and
North Africa Social Innovators Program, in
clarifying goals, expected outcomes and indicators.
Environmental Impacts
Synergos is dedicated to reducing our impact on
the environment. Among our efforts last year, we
began buying carbon credits to offset the footprint
of our international travel and other activities,
which in 2007 offset the equivalent of 1036.8 tons
of greenhouse gas emissions.
Workplace Policies and Practices
Synergos currently has 37 full-time staff and three
part-time staff. Synergos values diversity; and our
staff comes from more than a dozen countries and
has members who are fluent in Spanish,
Portuguese, French, Afrikaans, Arabic, Bahasa
Indonesia, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Tagalog, Thai,
Yoruba, Oshiwambo, Otjiherero, Urdu and Xhosa,
among nearly 30 languages.
Our Values
Synergos seeks to be a values-driven organization.
We try to act consistently with our core values —
social justice, collaboration, innovation, integrity
and compassion — in our relationships with all
our stakeholders and in all of our programs,
projects and activities. Our staff and Board are
governed by a conflict of interest policy, and we
compensate staff on a merit-based system that
incorporates an assessment of each employee’s
modeling of our values.
donors
Additional Major Donors
Ackerman Family
Ad Hoc Foundation
Wanda Engel Aduan
Teymour and Faiza Alireza and Family
Omar Amanat and Ozi Amanat
The Amelior Foundation
The Annenberg Foundation
Hylton and Wendy Appelbaum
Valentin von Arnim
David and Dorothy Arnold
José Ignacio and Verónica Avalos and Family
Janet Averill
John Avery
Mark Axelowitz
Emilio Azcárraga Jean and Family
Alexandra Baquerizo and Victor Mendoza
Synergos’ 2007 programs and operations were Othman and Leila Benjelloun
supported by the following group of foundations, Edward Bergman
corporations, governments and international Stanley and Marion Bergman
agencies, and individuals. Bloomberg L.P.
David Bohnett
William Bohnett
Donors Providing $100,000 or more Maria Matilde Bonetti
The Atlantic Philanthropies (USA), Inc. Pablo and Martha Borquez
Alberto and Tere Baillères and Family David A. Brewer
BNP Paribas Eileen Brown
Carlos Bulgheroni Judith Bruce
Peggy Dulany Ron Bruder
Ford Foundation Magalen O. Bryant and Family
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Teresa Bulgheroni
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation Charles Butt
Houston Endowment Inc. Paul Buttenwieser
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation Greg Carr
John W. Kluge Annie E. Casey Foundation
Lúcia Moreira Salles Leeds Chamberlin
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Laura Chasin
Nike Foundation Ram Chaudhari
The Rockefeller Foundation Dr. C. C. Chen
David Rockefeller, Sr. Petr Chitipakhovyan and Family
Shelley and Donald Rubin and Family Reena Choudhry
Instituto Rukha Noreen Clark
Samuel Family Foundation Glenn Close and David Shaw
Shell Foundation Beth Cohen and Chris Chazin
U.S. Agency for International Development Frederic Corneel

36
 Anna M. Ginn
Ben Goldhirsh
Dorian Goldman and Marvin Isrealow
and Family
Joan Goldsmith
Neva Goodwin
Donald Gordon Foundation
Van der Graaf Family
Vartan Gregorian
Eileen Growald
Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro
Participants in the seventh “Learning Community” of the
U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership. Photo ~ Don Usner
Mimi & Peter Haas Fund
Harp Family
Gary Hattem
Julie F. Cummings John Heller
Tony Custer Family Margaret Heller
Robert Day Judith Hernstadt
The Willametta K. Day Foundation Marlene Hess and James Zirin
Richard Debs William and Flora Hewlett Family
Alan Detheridge Arnold Hiatt
Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Youssef Dib Jerry Hirsch and Family
The William H. Donner Foundation Heidi Honchariw
Conway A. Downing Jeffrey Horowitz and Family
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Draper III Michael O. Hübener and Family
Meredith Dreiss Hans Humes
Sam Dryden Swanee Hunt
Lance E. Dublin Patricia Huntington
Robert H. Dunn International Development Research Centre
Kurt A. Engelhorn and Family INVESCO
Philipp Engelhorn Raza and Neena Jafar
Corinne Evens and Family
Anthony Evnin
Jeanne Farr
Toni G. Fay
Daniel Feffer and David Feffer
Anders Ferguson
The Fetzer Institute
The Flora Family Foundation
Amalia Lacroze de Fortabat
FSG Social Impact Advisors
Garcés and Echavarria Family
George P. Gardner Casa do Zezinho’s after-school program in São Paulo, Brazil is
Nili Gilbert supported by Instituto Rukha, a nonprofit organization established
by Global Philanthropists Circle member Marcos de Moraes.
Eleanor Gimon Photo ~ Instituto Rukha

37
Franklin P. Johnson Chris Mathias
JPMorgan Chase Lorenzo Mauri
Albert and Diane Kaneb David Maurrasse
H. Peter Karoff Craig O. McCaw
Shiv Khemka and Uday Khemka McCune Charitable Foundation
Henry A. Kissinger Richard McGrath
Yotaro Kobayashi MCJ Foundation and Raymond Chambers
Daniel A. Kohl McKinsey & Company, Inc.
Jill Kraus The Meadows Foundation
Kimberly Kreiling Rohinton Medhora
Daniel Kropf and Family Felipe Medina
Maria Elena Lagomasino Ikram and Sabrina Mian and Family
Deborah Landesman Peter Miscovich
Iara Lee and George Gund III Cynthia and George Mitchell Family
Gerd Leipold Mario and Dana Morino
John P. Lennon Patrice and Precious Motsepe
Bobye List Kenneth F. Mountcastle
The Lodestar Foundation Enrique Muñoz
Oscar M. Lopez and Family Elizabeth Munson
The John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Thomas W. Nugent
Foundation Cherie Nursalim and Enki Tan
Vincent and Anne Mai Rodolfo Ogarrio
Joshua Mailman Olayan Family
Cornelio Marchán George D. and Abby O’Neill
David Masten-Rosen Open Society Foundation for South Africa
The Brasileirinho (“Little Brazilian”) project of Riovoluntario
Open Society Institute
improves the quality of daycare for children up to four years of Participación Ciudadana
age in Rio de Janeiro; Riovoluntario is led by Lúcia Moreira
Salles, a member of the Global Philanthropists Circle.
Ann Partlow
Photo ~ Riovoluntario Pfizer, Inc.
John C. Portman, Jr.
Fern Portnoy
Alejandro Ramírez Magaña
Marie Rautenberg
Byron Reimus
Michael Rennie
Imran Riffat
De Rijcke Family
Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Inc.
David Rockefeller, Jr.
Richard Rockefeller
Daniel Rose
The Dowager Viscountess Rothermere
Mark Rubin
Kim Samuel Johnson
Linda Saul Schejola

38
 Laura Thorn
Robert C. Timpson and Peregrine Whittlesey
Sarah Timpson
Turney Tse
Amy and Stephen Unfried
United Nations Foundation
Van Leer Foundation
Van Vliet Family
Paul Volcker
Jeffrey C. Walker
Jennie Walker
Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation
Michaela Walsh
Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, at Hermine Warren
University for a Night 2007.
Photo ~ Christine Butler
Watson Family
Curtis Webster
Schwab Charitable Fund William White and Mott Family
Tsugiko Scullion John C. Whitehead
Norman Seiden Judy Wicks
Maria Josefa Cuevas de Serrano Malcolm Hewitt Wiener Foundation
Sesame Workshop Blenda Wilson
Tokyo and Judy Sexwale and Family David and Molly Winder
Mahesh Sharma Winsor Family
Shell International Limited Lorenzo Zambrano
Georgie Shields Jin Zidell
Adele S. Simmons and Family Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala
Lekha Singh
Sarabjit Singh
Charles Slaughter
Alan B. Slifka Foundation
James S. Sligar
Gordon and Helen Smith and Family
Michael Sonnenfeldt Family
Theodore and Vada Stanley and Family
Steiner-King Family
Sterling Resources Ltd.
Marco Stoffel and Sue Stoffel
Christopher Stone

At a conference on community health co-organized by the

Elizabeth Strong-Cuevas
Jon Stryker U.S.-Mexico Border Philanthropy Partnership, participants learned
Michael von Stumm about innovative approaches to cross-border collaboration,
including Proyecto El Cuete, which aims reduce the incidence
of HIV/AIDS among high-risk populations in Tijuana.
Washington Sycip
Susan Taylor Photo ~ Joaquin Ortiz
Eugene Thaw
Sedgefield Thomson

39
board of directors
January 1, 2007–May 1, 2008

Wanda Engel Aduan Dorian S. Goldman Cornelio Marchán

Executive Superintendent President and Trustee Co-Founder and Executive
Instituto Unibanco Joyce and Irving Goldman President
Foundation Fundación Esquel-Ecuador
Hylton Appelbaum (to 06/07)
President Kees van der Graaf
Liberty Life Foundation President Europe Marcos de Moraes
Unilever Chairman
Edward Bergman Sagatiba S/A
Co-Founder and Executive Nadine B. Hack
Director President Lúcia Moreira Salles
Miracle Corners of the World beCause Global Consulting President of the Board of
Directors
William Bohnett Roland S. Harris III Riovoluntario
Partner Vice President, GBS Americas
Fulbright & Jaworski LLP Region, Strategy and Market Kim Samuel Johnson
Development Director
Alan Detheridge IBM (from 10/07) The Samuel Group of
Associate Director Companies
The Partnering Initiative Brian Henderson
Chairman, Global Public Tokyo Sexwale
Youssef Dib Sector Client Group Executive Chairman
Global Coordinator, Personal Merrill Lynch (to 06/07) Mvelaphanda Holdings
Wealth Management
BNP Paribas (from 10/07) H. Peter Karoff Adele S. Simmons
Founder President
Peggy Dulany The Philanthropic Initiative Global Philanthropy
Founder and Chair (to 06/07) Partnership
The Synergos Institute
Uday Khemka James Sligar
Robert H. Dunn Vice Chairman Partner
President and CEO SUN Group of Companies Milbank, Tweed, Hadley &
The Synergos Institute McCloy
Maria Elena Lagomasino
Nili Gilbert Chief Executive Officer Michael W. Sonnenfeldt
Senior Director in Research Asset Management Advisors Managing Member
Invesco Quantitative Strategies LLC (to 06/07) MUUS & Company, LLC

Juliette Gimon Rajesh Tandon

Trustee Chief Executive
William and Flora Hewlett Society for Participatory
Foundation (to 08/07) Research in Asia (from 10/07)

40
staff
As of May 1, 2008

Daniel Becker Imran Riffat

Janet Becker Humberto Saddler
Manisha Bhinge Azeen Salimi
Virginia Briones Surita Sandosham
Beth H. Cohen Pratima Singh
Tasmyn Craig Rowena Sison
Justin Dake Barry Smith
Christiana DeBenedict Shannon St. John
Alissa Desmarais Ann Tartre
Alex Dolan Adele Wildschut
Jessica Dolan David Winder
Daniel Domagala Ruth Yaeger
Robert H. Dunn
Steve Ferrier Thanks also to former staff who
Hilda Gertze served at Synergos in 2007:
Anna M. Ginn Alexandra Baquerizo
John Heller Melissa Durda
Anna Jantjies Ann Graham
Michelle Jaramillo Helen Knapp
George Khalaf Candace Lessa
Len le Roux Eric Martin
Chong-Lim Lee Kofi Nti
Laura Lopez Andrea J. Rogers
Katia Massa Anthony S. Romano
Ferne Mele Kenneth Scheffler
Kasee Mhoney Shari Turitz
Mary Olushoga Vanitha Virudachalam
Cristina Parnetti

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