Kanini Mutooni-Managing Director for Africa - Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK),/Photo; EAPC
Kanini Mutooni works at the early stages of social impact organisations, where access to funding is often limited, and the risks are high.
As Senior Managing Director for Africa at the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, she focuses on identifying and supporting social enterprises as they take shape, working alongside founders as they navigate growth, funding, and organisational development across different contexts on the continent.
Her work sits within broader conversations on how capital is deployed, who gets funded, and what it takes for organisations to grow sustainably- issues that are expected to feature at the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference, scheduled for 16–20 June 2026 in Addis Ababa, where she will be among the speakers.
Her approach goes beyond funding. It includes working with organisations on governance, leadership, and the practical decisions that shape how they grow, particularly in the early stages where structures are still forming.
This reflects a broader shift toward more engaged forms of support that combine financial investment with longer-term partnership.
Alongside her investment work, Mutooni also serves in governance roles across a range of institutions, including Vodacom Tanzania Plc and Britam, where she contributes to oversight, risk, and strategic direction.
She is also engaged in wider ecosystem efforts through FSD Africa and the Mastercard Foundation Growth Fund.
Across the sector, there is increasing attention on how early-stage organisations are supported, particularly in environments where access to capital remains uneven.
This includes a growing focus on how funding is structured, how risk is understood, and how organisations are guided through different stages of growth.
Her experience across early-stage investment and governance places her within wider sector discussions that will be part of the 10th East Africa Philanthropy Conference in Addis Ababa.
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