New board chair for the GFCF

The board and staff of GFCF are delighted to announce that Rita Thapa has been appointed as the new Chair of its board.

Rita will be well-known to anyone who has worked in community philanthropy or women’s empowerment, as she is widely recognized for her groundbreaking work in founding Tewa, the Nepal Women’s Fund – in her own words, she did this because she was convinced that she was “becoming part of the development problem rather than the solution.” She has over thirty-five years’ experience as a feminist educator, community activist, initiating and supporting institutions for women`s empowerment and for peace. Rita also founded and led Nagarik Aawaz, an initiative for conflict transformation and peace-building in Nepal. A long-standing supporter of the GFCF, Rita served as a founding board member when the organization was incorporated in 2009.

More recently, Rita captivated participants at the Global Summit on Community Philanthropy with her lightning talk on flawed aid structures, and shifting the power in Nepal. She spoke of Tewa and Nagarik Aawaz’s work following the 2015 Nepal earthquakes, which prioritized working with and for the most marginalized in affected communities. Adopting a community philanthropy approach allowed them to build relationships with affected individuals based on trust and mutual respect, which is key if ordinary people are to take charge of their own development. As concluded by Rita: “I don’t think we can do good work from flawed structures.”

Rita takes on the role of Chair following the term of Gerry Salole, Chief Executive of the European Foundation Centre, who has held the position since 2013. Gerry will remain on the board as member, to ensure a smooth and successful leadership transition. 

Rita addresses the Global Summit in Johannesburg, Dec 2016