The Global Whole Being Fund

Resourcing Local Leadership — Shaping What’s Next

In a time of overlapping crises and fundamental change, a different system of care is taking shape—more local, more distributed, and more effective when resourced.

Local organizations deliver rapid, effective, and sustained support to millions of people displaced by conflict and climate shocks. Many are led by those directly affected, and all are rooted in the communities they serve—closest to the realities they address.

However, they only receive fraction of global funding. Resourcing them is why the Global Whole Being Fund exists [read about our model].

The Global Whole Being Fund (GWBF), a 501(c)3, is a global philanthropic fund that resources local organizations in 50 countries.

Since inception in 2015 we’ve reached over 10 million people and in 2025 alone 2.7 million people through our partners on the ground.

We identify, seed, and scale effective and holistic local organizations directly or through intermediaries [read about how we source talent here].

Currently, we have 67 direct partners and 4 intermediary partners who collectively support 251 local organizations across the globe — from the Americas to East Africa, the Middle East all the way to Asia-Pacific [read about our impact here].

Impact

Since our inception in 2015, we have successfully anchored equity, dignity, and collaboration into the global response reaching 10+ million people across the globe.

Our impact is a result of collaboration and coordination with non-profits and philanthropies. By unlocking the complementary positions, strategies, and assets of a diverse network, we have advanced the rights and wellbeing of millions of people on the move. Our strategic holistic resourcing has been pivotal in times of crisis and beyond and contributes to transforming the refugee response to be rooted in local realities and co-led by impacted people and communities.

2025 Impact

We are currently analyzing the numbers and reviewing partner reports—full insights coming soon.

What we can share for now is that together with leaders across 318 partner organizations, our funding reached 2,753,924 people across 50 countries in 2025 alone. We work directly with 67 and support others through four vetted intermediaries—extending reach where access is limited. 

2023–2024 — Proven Scale, Growth, and Leverage

These two years mark GWBF’s first full growth cycle — a period defined by bold bets, catalytic investment, and results at scale. Only a two-year view shows the full speed and depth of change.

Five Key Highlights 

1. People Reached — Supported 8.7 million people since inception, up from 5 million in 2022 — nearly doubling our reach with access to safety, dignity, and opportunity.

2. From Regional to Global — Grew active involvement with partners from 27 countries in 2022 to 65 countries in 2024 — a 141% increase — resourcing underfunded communities across key displacement corridors.

3. Resourcing Communities, Strengthening Leadership — Invested $16.5 million across 2023–2024, up 197% from 2021–2022, directing resources where they’re needed most while building leadership capacity.

4. Pioneering New Models — Launched the first global Organizational Development Program for Refugee-Led Organizations. In two years 41 organizations have been strengthening the skills, systems, and resilience needed to meet urgent needs today — and shape what comes next.

5. Equity at Scale — Grew from 16 partners to 150 — an eightfold (837%) increase. 70% are refugee-led and 41% women-led: leaders rooted in lived experience who deliver effective, reliable, innovative solutions — yet still receive less than 2% of global funding.

Our Purpose in Action

Imagine a world where local leaders have access to resources to support their communities during and after a crisis at scale.

When crises hit, people rely on those already there. 

Local leaders act first and stay longest. They provide care, protection, and continuity in places where formal systems often fall short. They work with context, trust, and speed. Yet, they remain the least resourced.

The Global Whole Being Fund directs funding to vetted and effective frontline organziations—supporting immediate response and strengthening the systems they build over time.

Our model is adaptive across four areas:

• Emergency Response
  Rapid funding when timing determines survival.

• One- and Multi-Year Grants
  Flexible support for health, education, protection, and livelihoods.

• Organizational Development
  Targeted investments in leadership, governance, and financial systems.

• Peer-to-Peer Leadership
  Direct exchange between frontline leaders to strengthen practice and coordination.

How We Work

We identify new partners through trusted networks—regional advisors, peer funders, and partners who understand the terrain.

Each partnership is co-designed to meet both immediate realities and long-term ambition—grounded in four factors:

• Community trust

• Collaborative capacity

• Institutional strength

• and the potential to sustain or scale what works

Team

Negar Tayyar

Co-Founder and Executive Director

Born into war and displaced at a young age, her work is shaped by lived experience and a two decades of work on how communities navigate crisis and recovery. Negar leads GWBF’s strategy and global network, mobilizing millions of dollars to support community-led organizations across more than 65 countries—reaching over 10 million people. Negar serves as Chair of Choose Love U.S. and sits on the board of Atmos. With over two decades of experience, she works across philanthropy to resource frontline leadership and strengthen locally led systems—with a sweet spot for women-led organizations.

Negar is also a life coach supporting women in positions of power.

Nicole JARAMILLO Paul

Director of Operations and Grantmaking

Growing up at the Southwest border, her work focuses on building the systems that enable community-led organizations to operate effectively in complex, fast-changing environments. With a background in public health and experience across government and philanthropy, she brings a systems-oriented and creative approach to grantmaking, operations, and organizational design. She leads GWBF’s grantmaking systems and operations. Previously, she managed large-scale public sector programs. Her work centers ontranslating strategy into systems and ensuring funding moves efficiently and effectively while ensuring compliance.

Alison Harrell

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Analyst

Leading the development of systems that track impact, generate insight, and inform strategic decision-making across a global network of partners—ensuring GWBF’s grantmaking and programs are grounded in real-time evidence and continuous learning.

With over a decade of experience across public service and international development, Alison brings deep expertise in qualitative research, evaluation design, and knowledge systems. She has supported high-stakes initiatives through USAID, the U.S. Department of State, nonprofits, and academic institutions—translating complex data into clear, actionable insights that strengthen funding strategies, program design, and long-term effectiveness.

Our Network

GWBF operates with a lean core team of three permanent staff who anchor a broader collective impact model—designed to mobilize expertise, relationships, and leadership across regions rather than concentrate it centrally.

We work through a distributed network of 19 specialized consultants across nonprofits and philanthropy. This model allows us to access the right expertise at the right time—while directing more resources to frontline organizations.

Our Regional Advisor Model

At the core of this model is a group of Regional Advisors who combine lived experience, deep regional knowledge, and global perspective. They shape strategy, guide grantmaking, and strengthen the ecosystems in which our partners operate.

Our Regional Advisor Model—embeds advisors within local organizations across regions. This deepens proximity, expands coverage, and strengthens coordination across actors working in the same contexts.

Americas

Lublanc Prieto (Colombia); Danilo Manzano (Ecuador); Nancy Landa (Mexico); and Aryah Somers Landsberger (United States, Texas)

Africa

Simon Marot Touloung (Uganda), Muzabel Welongo (Kenya); and Samuel Binja (Kenya)

Asia

Naw Ta Mla Saw (Thailand/Myanmar); Sharifah Shakirah (Malaysia); and Jessica Olney (Bangladesh)