About Us

Photo: Jan Stürmann

Women’s cooperative group meeting in Nepal.

IDEX is a San Francisco based non-profit organization that promotes sustainable solutions to poverty by providing long-term grants and access to resources to locally run organizations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

IDEX’s Story

Since 1985 IDEX has been working with groups around the world that are creating lasting solutions to poverty in their communities.

IDEX was the inspiration of a group of returned Peace Corps volunteers who had a vision for a different kind of international development model. Together they created IDEX after seeing that small grants targeted to grassroots groups—who had the trust of their neighbors and the knowledge of what was needed in their own communities—was often more effective than traditional large scale philanthropy.

Today, IDEX’s grantmaking has grown to an all-time high. We currently work with partners and grantees in Guatemala, India, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Partnering for Change

IDEX supports community-led solutions that are making a huge difference for people living in extreme poverty. Initiatives that involve entire communities in: building local economies, empowering women, protecting the environment, creating food security, and promoting local leadership.

In the 25 years since its inception, IDEX is more convinced than ever that the most effective use of funds and resources is to bolster existing projects: successful and innovative local solutions to local problems.

IDEX is not about aid. IDEX is about local, effective problem-solving and leadership. When matched with the vision, resolve, and ingenuity of communities all over the world, it is a proven formula for lasting change.

Join us. Help us reach thousands of women, their children, and their communities who are forging their path to prosperity, peace, and health.