The Malala Fund is an international charity focused on improving access to education for girls around the world by advocating for increased government educational funding, training women activists, and working to affect cultural change concerning norms about women’s education and familial responsibilities. ¹ It was co-founded by Pakistani educational activist Malala Yousafzai following her recovery from her wounding in a terrorist attack by the Pakistani Taliban. ²

Founding and History

The Malala Fund was formally established in 2013 following the attempted assassination of teenage Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai in 2012. Former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown interceded with the global consulting firm McKinsey to secure someone to temporarily head the fund as numerous donations began to pour in from around the world in the wake of the attack and Malala’s recovery. Actress Angelina Jolie was one of the first to contribute to the newly established organization. ^{3 4} The fund states that as of 2023 it has provided $39.7 million in grants and has assisted over 21 million students. ⁵

Financials

In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, the Malala Fund reported $55,818,336 in revenue, of which $55,317,404 was derived from grants and contributions and $497,729 came from investment income. It reported $26,643,480 in expenses, of which $16,074,513 was allocated to grants and $4,666,996 was spent on salaries and compensation. It ended the fiscal year with a surplus of $29,174,856 and net assets of $57,039,715. This amount is an increase of net assets from $28,707,330 at the end of the previous fiscal year. ⁶

Philanthropist Mackenzie Scott has listed the Malala Fund as a recipient of funding in 2022, however, unlike many other recipients listed in Scott’s Yield Giving database, the amount of money contributed to the fund is marked as “disclosure delayed for the benefit of recipient.” ⁷

Other supporters include Apple, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Landry Family Foundation, Citi Bank, and HP. ⁸

Programs

The Malala Fund is focused on increasing educational opportunities for girls around the world by changing social norms around women’s education, safety, and career expectations and increasing government funding for education. It works towards these goals by running international advocacy campaigns, mobilizing women activists, and providing educational resources. The fund also states that climate change is a cause of girls being unable to complete 12 years of education and that educated women will help to solve the perceived climate crisis. ^{9 10}

The fund is active in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Brazil, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Tanzania, Turkey, and Ethiopia. ¹¹

Leadership

Malala Yousafzai is the co-founder and executive chair of the Malala Fund. She was an activist for girl’s education in her home region in Pakistan before she was attacked by the Pakistani Taliban which launched an assassination attempt against her in 2012. She sustained a head wound and her case garnered international attention. As a result of this attention her fund was formally established with the assistance of former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown. She has lived and studied in the U.K. since her recovery, and she later went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. ¹²

Lena Alfi is the acting chief executive officer of the Malala Fund since January 2023. She was previously the chief development officer and worked as the corporate and foundation relations officer. Before moving to the Malala Fund, she worked at the Middle East Children’s Institute and Mercy Corps. ¹³

1. “About.” Malala Fund. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://malala.org/about?sc=header.
2. AFP. “Malala Inc: Global Operation Surrounds Teenage Activist.” The Express Tribune, October 11, 2013. Accessed April 1, 2024.  https://tribune.com.pk/story/616632/malala-inc-global-operation-surrounds-teenage-activist.
3. “Angelina Donates $200,000 To Malala Fund.” HuffPost, April 5, 2013. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/angelina-jolie-malala-charity_n_3019303.
4. AFP. “Malala Inc: Global Operation Surrounds Teenage Activist.” The Express Tribune, October 11, 2013. Accessed April 1, 2024.  https://tribune.com.pk/story/616632/malala-inc-global-operation-surrounds-teenage-activist.
5.  “Malala Fund 2022-2023 Annual Report.” Malala Fund. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://downloads.ctfassets.net/0oan5gk9rgbh/1hrHKOgwOEiRkjWJqs98U0/9855a8ac481efa466220a471a7abd066/MalalaFund_2022-2023_AnnualReport.pdf.
6.  Malala Foundation, Return of an organization exempt from taxation (Form 990) Part I, 2023.
7.  “Yield Giving.” Yield Giving. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://yieldgiving.com/gifts/?q=malala&sorting=az.
8. “Partners.” Malala Fund. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://malala.org/partners?sc=header.
9. “About.” Malala Fund. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://malala.org/about?sc=header.
10. “Advocacy.” Malala Fund. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://malala.org/advocacy?sc=header.
11. “About.” Malala Fund. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://malala.org/about?sc=header.
12. AFP. “Malala Inc: Global Operation Surrounds Teenage Activist.” The Express Tribune, October 11, 2013. Accessed April 1, 2024.  https://tribune.com.pk/story/616632/malala-inc-global-operation-surrounds-teenage-activist.
13. “Lena Alfi.” LinkedIn.com. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lena-alfi/.