The Gazelle Foundation’s goals are to find ways to improve life for all people in Burundi. This is a unifying effort that does not favor a specific tribe or group. Secondly, because Austin is home, the Foundation gives back to the local community, specifically helping Austin’s youth.

A key challenge in Burundi is that financial gifts do not often get to where they are intended. We initially addressed this by providing a grant to a well-established relief organization in the country who was already providing tangible relief to their beneficiaries. Since the Songa Project, we have located a manager who has administered the last four water systems. We are pleased to say that nearly 100 percent of all donations go directly to our work, thanks in part to a grant covering administrative needs. As a near all-volunteer organization, this practice makes best use of our limited personnel resources and simplifies the Foundation’s requirement to retain status as a tax-exempt organization.

The Foundation focuses its efforts in two areas:

• Improving life for people in Burundi
• Providing opportunities for Austin area youths who show potential

The Foundation’s initial focus will be on the first two objectives. As we grow, we will identify specific opportunities to take on a wider breadth. Having a clear, succinct mission allows us to execute it effectively and provide tangible results to beneficiaries and our donors.

In Burundi

As of December 2011, the Gazelle Foundation has served over 8,000 citizens clean, potable drinking water with a goal to double that number by the end of 2012. Through this accessibility to clean water, the people of Songa, Burundi have seen a dramatic decline in the existence of waterborne illnesses, an increase in school attendance, and an overall positive change in life. Visit any one of our projects by selecting the links on the right side of your screen.

Austin Area Youth

The Foundation’s initial plans were to encourage youth participation in running events by lowering the barriers to entry. Our goal was to allow more kids to experience Kids K or 5K races and enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes through participation, completion and physical fitness. By subsidizing the cost of entry fees for select events, the Foundation can significantly reduce or remove a financial barrier for many families and encourage a healthy, rewarding lifestyle. Over the past four years the Foundation has sponsored kids in the Dillo Run, St. Johns 5K, Run for the Water, and Gilbert Tuhabonye’s Youth Summer Camp.

Implementation and Distributions

The foundation implements its efforts through charitable relief organizations. These organizations are chosen based on their:

• Synergy with the goals of the Gazelle Foundation
• Ability to provide direct action to the Foundation’s targeted beneficiaries
• Name recognition to assist in generating visibility and donations
• Qualification with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization

The Foundation’s Beneficiary Committee identifies and qualifies individual organizations. Please contact our beneficiary committee at info@gazellefoundation.com.