We are the Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund (EDTF)—a community of passionate people across the globe investing in the future of Ethiopia. From teachers and nurses in D.C., to artists in Austin, to doctors and entrepreneurs in Addis, we are united by a purpose: to empower local innovators, strengthen critical infrastructure, and honor our shared responsibility to the next generation.
EDTF is Ethiopian-led, transparent, apolitical, and built entirely through grassroots generosity. Every birr and dollar raised helps to support Ethiopian-owned solutions in critical areas the nation needs for growth.
Our funding isn't a lifeline—it's a launchpad. Through the Great Rift Valley Innovation Summit, our current initiative, we’ve invested $700,000 into Ethiopia’s brightest innovative startups in healthcare, agriculture and education. Our previous projects have addressed urgent needs through COVID mitigation efforts, hygiene and sanitation initiatives, early childhood development, food aid, and emergency healthcare. By partnering with local organizations, empowering startups with innovative solutions, and supporting grassroots initiatives, we tap into Ethiopia's rich cultural heritage and diverse communities to foster self-reliance and resilience.
Too often, Ethiopia is spoken for by others, instead of speaking for itself. At EDTF, we believe in narrative dignity and economic justice—shifting global development to center local brilliance and collective healing.
We’re not saviors. We’re partners. We’re builders.
And we’re just getting started.
We don’t just give—we build. EDTF identifies bold entrepreneurs with gamechanging ideas and causes of high need in critical sectors and backs them with capital, community, and credibility.
Whether you’re from Addis or Atlanta, everyone deserves the chance to make their mark. EDTF creates platforms that validate potential and connect people to purpose.
To immediate relief efforts via our Relief Fund
to our Current Projects
“For every dollar EDTF gives, 57 people are impacted.”
Your support helps scale homegrown solutions addressing some of Ethiopia’s most critical needs:
Every contribution—big or small—moves us closer to an equitable,
empowered Ethiopia led by local changemakers.
“This is a bridge. And we’re inviting you to cross it.”
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