Segal Family Foundation (not to be confused with the Evan and Tracy Segal Family Foundation) is a philanthropic organization that makes grants to development groups in Africa. It boasts that its grantmaking team is “100% African” and that it directs its “progressive” donors to help “transform society.” ¹ It was founded by entrepreneur Barry Segal; the foundation asserts that he created the group after a meeting with former President Bill Clinton in 2006. ²

Background

Barry Segal, the founder and CEO of roofing materials company Bradco Supply, created Segal Family Foundation. After meeting former President Bill Cliton at a 2006 event hosted by the Clinton Global Initiative, he was encouraged to “narrow his funding focus,” leading him to take a trip to Africa. ²

Segal Family Foundation, not to be confused with the Evan and Tracy Segal Family Foundation, is a philanthropic organization that primarily makes grants to development groups in Africa. It claims that its grantmaking team is “100% African,” and directs its supporting “progressive” donors to help it “transform society.” ¹

The organization is headquartered in Warren, New Jersey. It was founded in 2008 and is estimated to have roughly 50 employees. ³

Activities

As of 2025, Segal Family Foundation claimed to support 350 partners in Sub-Saharan Africa in the belief that there is a lack of Western funders committed to “championing local visionaries.” ² It pursues its own “Theory of Change,” which revolves around grantmaking, community building, and “equitable philanthropy,” with a pronounced focus on supporting local groups. ⁴

As of 2025, Segal Family Foundation was running an “African Visionary Fellowship,” a two-year training and financial aid program for organizations in Africa. ⁵

In 2023, Segal Family Foundation hosted a “social impact incubator” program for grassroots groups in Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya. It involved a series of training seminars covering growth and support toward the goal of increasing social justice. ⁶

In 2023, Segal Family Foundation hosted gatherings of grantees and partners for the purpose of networking in New York and Rwanda, spending $441,758 on the events. ⁷

Affiliations

The Segal Family Foundation is a member of Dietel Pickering and Partners’ nonprofit network, which means it helps the organizations fund its recipients. ⁸ Dietel Pickering is a left-of-center philanthropic advisory firm founded by former Rockefeller Brothers Fund president William “Bill” Dietel and two of his daughters. ^{9 10 11}

Financials

In 2023, the Segal Family Foundation reported revenue of $12,085,434, expenses of $20,314,525, and net assets of $86,759,976. ¹²

Grantmaking

Each year, Segal Family Foundation disburses grants to numerous organizations working to advance social justice and economic development goals in African countries. Some notable 2023 grantees were African Visionary Fund ($100,000), Anza Tech ($106,000), Bless a Child Foundation ($51,100), FOCCAD ($65,000), FVS Amade ($75,000), Glami ($75,000), Imbuto ($100,000), JITEGEMEE ($90,500), the Gould Family Foundation ($75,000), Wiser International ($70,000), and UGEAFI ($177,500). Many of its grants were designed to employ “progressive” and environmental methods to recipient communities: it gave $15,000 to Padziwe to create remote learning systems for young students and $18,5000 to Rwanda Biosolution to create fertilizer using waste. ¹³

In 2023, Segal Family Foundation paid NGO Source $269,020 to administer its grantmaking services. It also paid Shona Group Limited $84,0000 for consultation on “impact investing.” ¹⁴

Leadership

As of 2025, the executive director of Segal Family Foundation was Andy Bryant, who was based in New Jersey. ¹⁵ He previously worked for humanitarian groups including TechnoServe India and the Mpona Community HIV/AIDS Initiative. ¹⁶

As of 2025, real estate investor Martin Segal was the chair of the board. Founder Barry Segal’s daughter Janis Simon and his son Richard Segal also sat on the board, and his partner Dolly Segal as well as his grandson Jason Segal sat on the advisory committee. Janis also sat on the advisory board of Nyaka and Richard was an advisor for Powering Potential, a partner of Segal Family Foundation. Another board member, Sue Davis, is the co-founder and former president and CEO of BRAC USA. ¹⁷

1. “What We Do.” Segal Family Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.segalfamilyfoundation.org/what-we-do/.
2. “Our History.” Segal Family Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.segalfamilyfoundation.org/who-we-are/our-history/.
3. “About – Segal Family Foundation.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/company/segal-family-foundation/about/.
4.  “Theory of Change.” Segal Family Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.segalfamilyfoundation.org/tools/theory-of-change/.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Segal Family Foundation. 2023. Part VIII-A – Summary of Direct Charitable Activities, line 1.
6. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Segal Family Foundation. 2023. Part VIII-A – Summary of Direct Charitable Activities, line 2.
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Segal Family Foundation. 2023. Part VIII-A – Summary of Direct Charitable Activities, line 3.
8. “Our Network.” Dietel Pickering and Partners. Accessed May 27, 2025. https://www.dietelpickering.com/network-affiliations.
9. “What We Do.” Dietel Pickering and Partners. Accessed May 27, 2025. https://www.dietelpickering.com/what-we-do.
10. “Betsy Dietel.” Dietel Pickering and Partners. Accessed May 27, 2025. https://www.dietelpickering.com/elizabeth.
11. “Ren Dietel.” Dietel Pickering and Partners. Accessed May 27, 2025. https://www.dietelpickering.com/ren.
12. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Segal Family Foundation. 2023. Part I, lines 12 and 26; Part II, line 29.
13. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Segal Family Foundation. 2023. Part XIV. 3. – Grants and Contributions Paid During the Year or Approved for Future Payment.
14. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Segal Family Foundation. 2023. Part VII – Information About Officers, Directors, Trustees, Foundation Managers, Highly Paid Employees, and Contractors. Line 3 – Five highest paid independent contractors for professional services.
15. “Our Staff.” Segal Family Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.segalfamilyfoundation.org/who-we-are/our-staff/.
16. “Andy Bryant.” LinkedIn. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-bryant-980925198/.
17. “Our Board.” Segal Family Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.segalfamilyfoundation.org/who-we-are/our-board/.