About Us

MAMA HOPE founder Nyla Rodgers finds hope when visiting a community in Kenya that her late Mother had called family.

MAMA HOPE began in 2008 with a simple idea: to fund community organizations directly, giving them the resources they needed to make a real difference. It started with our founder’s late mother, who supported an organization in East Africa by providing funds and trusting their agency in deciding how to use them.

Our founder, Nyla Rodgers, was inspired by the sustainable impact these organizations achieved; and came to understand that when communities are supported in making their own decisions, they direct resources where they are most needed. This understanding led her to start MAMA HOPE.

Shifting the Sector

MAMA HOPE is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to shifting balancing in global development. We invest in the people already leading change in their communities—providing the tools, training, and visibility needed to help them thrive. Our approach challenges traditional aid models by recognizing local expertise, not external intervention, as the key to sustainable impact.

We believe in the solution we’re offering and are committed to co-creating a world where everyone has what they need to live healthy and productive lives, as defined by themselves. MAMA HOPE is providing resources, catalyzing funding, and opening networks to locally-led organizations across East Africa.

Vision, Mission & Values

Vision: A world where the existing power of Locally-led Organizations is acknowledged and utilized, leading to the creation of a more equitable and prosperous future for all.

Mission: To accelerate Locally-led organizations through systems strengthening fostering effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in locally-driven development leading to a balance in power dynamics.

Values:

Love – Community-driven solutions start with relationships.
Partnership – We work with locally-led organizations, not for them.
Integrity – We uphold transparency and respect in everything we do.
Transformation – Change comes from within communities, not ou

Operations Team

Margot HincheyCo-Executive Director (Sustainable Impact)

Margot is passionate about working with young leaders in the early stages of building their organizations. She sees this phase as a time of immense creativity, innovation, and bold ideas — where the energy to drive meaningful change is at its peak. As an entrepreneur herself, she thrives in these dynamic environments, drawing inspiration from the vision and determination of those shaping their communities’ futures.

Vincent MwangiCo-Executive Director (Program Development)

Vincent is driven by the question: how can we truly actualize a world of abundance? He recognizes that a scarcity mindset has fueled competition, deepening inequalities and injustices — challenges that he is committed to addressing. In his community, there is a saying, kamûingî koyaga ndîrî, meaning “unity is strength.” This belief underpins his work, as he sees collaboration as the key to building a better, more just world.

Wambui JLDirector of Communications & Advocacy

Wambui is dedicated to ensuring that authentic narratives drive the conversation around development. With a strong background in graphic design, digital communications and strategy she is committed to amplifying the voices of communities and shaping narratives that center lived experiences.

Sara SwettPartnership Manager (Fundraiser)

Sara sees herself as a “Dreamcaster,” dedicated to making the visions of innovators and change makers a reality by connecting them to the resources and networks they need to succeed. As a natural connector, she believes her purpose is to bring people together to build a more just and equitable world.

Ali CareyDevelopment Manager (Fundraiser)

Ali is passionate about connecting locally-led, impactful solutions with the financial resources they need to thrive. She shares MAMA HOPE’s vision for transforming how the development sector invests, recognizing the barriers that many organizations face in accessing the funds necessary for growth and sustainability.