“that The Ikoku Foundations may endeavor to seek out children of all ages in need of sustenance, support, and guidance, and collectively do our best to help a wider cross-section of the world’s youth and their communities reach their full potential”
The Trust in Youth and Community
The Trust in Development of Youth Communities was established to provide essential investment so that societies may endeavor to seek out children of all ages in need of sustenance, support, and guidance, and collectively do their best to help a wider cross-section of the world’s youth and their communities reach their full potential.
Inspiration from Shared Joy and Pain
The Trust arose from three sources of inspiration. First, the joy shared by many when seeing children flourish physically, psychologically, and intellectually; and the attendant pain felt by most when encountering those suffering and possibly left to languish.
Shared Desire to Protect from Politics
Second, the fundamental desire that political debate, disagreement, and impasses within and across national and international communities not have deleterious effects on their youth.
Evidence of Youth as Essential to Societal Betterment
And third, the continual evidence that youth communities are able to foster and articulate new and productive avenues for the betterment of society, and so should be nurtured for their active contributions to our shared futures.
A Commitment to Youth That Extends
With these ends in mind, the Trust makes a sustained commitment of yearly support for pertinent work with youth in Africa and its global diasporas, in the world’s most underserved, disenfranchised, and marginalized communities, and in a range of interconnected societies.
The Trust’s Finances
The Trust in Development of Youth Communities was established as part of the Declaration of Trust of the Chinyere and Chinelo Ikoku Charitable Trusts. It is therefore subject to the general fiduciary responsibilities outlined in the founding Declaration.
Annual Spending
These responsibilities include stipulations that limit appropriated spending in any given year to no more than 5% of the three-year average market value of the Trust’s current principal.
Appropriated Spending I
The Declaration also stipulates that no less than half of such annual spending be dedicated to work on continental Africa.
Appropriated Spending II
It is also expected that such annual spending be overwhelmingly dedicated (greater than 75%) to being of direct benefit to low-income communities and individuals.
To Fund in Perpetuity
Such stipulations are in line with best practices to ensure that the Trust continues to exist in perpetuity and that it continues to have assets to carry out its charitable purposes during that time.
Reports: In Charts and Numbers
Reports: In Charts and Numbers
The Trust’s Projects (Actual and Proposed)
We provide below access to a number of projects partly funded and conceived under the rubric of this Trust. Note that the operations of said projects are typically the purview of The Ikoku Foundations, and so the links will often guide you to their sites.
The Database for Youth Communities
Programs for Early Learning and Youth in Action
The Report for Youth Communities
The Report for Youth Communities
The Fellowship for the Development of Youth Communities
The Fellowship for the Development of Youth Communities
The Grant for the Development of Youth Communities
The Grant for the Development of Youth Communities
The Newsletter on Developments in Youth Communities
The Newsletter on Developments in Youth Communities
The Trusts Areas
The Chinyere and Chinelo Ikoku Charitable Trusts hold and manage the donated assets of The Ikoku Foundations, with specified attention to areas of focus delineated in the founding Declaration of Trust. Below is access to further information in each of the Trusts Areas.
Education and Research
Agriculture and Sustenance
Civic Society and Governance
Contributions to Public Knowledge
Cultural and Technological Innovation
Energy and Infrastructure
Ethics of Research and Care
Human and Environmental Health
Humanistic Inquiry and Expression
Public Opinion and Civic Discourse
Rights and Covenants
Youth Communities
Governace Suited to Local and Global Philanthropy
We have designed the governing structure of the Ikoku Foundations and Foundations in order to be attentive to needs and operations at the local and global level, as well as across the complex states and societies where our communities reside, living shared, interdependent lives.
With Respect Being Central to Our Ethics
At the core of our founding and governing Code of Ethics is a commitment to the most robust conceptions of respect and humanity, including and beyond what the law has protected and provided for, as we fulfill our twin mottos: to serve the public interest in Africa and its global diasporas; and to account for the past while ensuring a shared and just future.
To Ensure a Just and Shared Future for Many
We are inspired by peoples who have contributed to the foundations and development of their societies, despite a history of systemic difficulties. Who maintain an unyielding belief that the betterment of their human condition will foster the betterment of those living around them, and will enhance the futures of the regularly underserved, marginalized, disenfranchised. We draw from their example a vision of the public good and common community that is our hope and objective.
More About Us
The Ikoku Trusts
About Us • Founding & Overview • Governance • Policies • Press & Media • Careers at The Trusts and Foundations