The END Fund is a private international health organization that aims to end the most common neglected tropical diseases (NTD). These diseases infect over 1.7 billion people. The END Fund receives fiscal support from donors like MacKenzie Scott,¹ ex-wife of billionaire Jeff Bezos, the Legatum Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Wyss Foundation. ²

End Fund’s CEO and founder is Ellen Agler. ³

Background

Founded in 2012, The END Fund delivered over 724 million neglected tropical diseases treatments valued at over $1.3 billion. Another 1.8 million people received training in neglected tropical diseases control to prevent the effects which include blindness and deformed legs. ⁴ Its strategy is to collaborate with academia, administer impactful investments, engage, and create a supporting network of philanthropists. The END Fund differs from other groups in this space by deriving its funding from the private sector. ⁵

Within the End Fund, is the Deworming Innovation Fund (DIF) specifically targeting parasitic worm infections. In countries like Rwanda and Kenya, over 40 million children are victim to these parasites. ⁶ The DIF is deploying de-worming treatments derived from pharmaceutical industry donations and delivered in conjunction with governments and partners. ⁷ A typical infected child will have over 200 worms, each up to 12 inches long. Treatments cost less than 25 cents per child, per year. With proper funding, tens of millions will receive medical care that will stop the disease transmission cycle. ⁸

Supporters

The Legatum Foundation recognized the lack of attention and support to eliminate neglected tropical diseases. Its initial forays in this area achieved successful outcomes that led to the founding of a private initiative that became the END Fund. ⁹ Legatum invested over $110 million in 107 countries and 1,480 projects that positively affected 240 million lives. ¹⁰ The programs include the Christian Relief and Development Association and Win Souls for God Evangelical Ministry that focuses on HIV/AIDS. ¹¹

1. Mandela, Nelson. “MacKenzie Scott Invests in the Deworming Innovation Fund.” PML Daily, August 10, 2020. https://www.pmldaily.com/business/2020/08/mackenzie-scott-invests-in-the-deworming-innovation-fund.html.
2. “END Fund Partners.” The END Fund, November 13, 2020. https://end.org/who-we-are/partners/.
3. Capron, Maddie. “This Idahoan Landed on Fortune’s World’s Greatest Leaders List. Here’s How She Did It.” idahostatesman. Idaho Statesman, September 6, 2019. https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/community/boise/article234483127.html.
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6. “The END Fund Announces Deworming Innovation Fund in 4 African Countries.” The Real News. The Real News, January 30, 2020. https://realnewsmagazine.net/the-end-fund-announces-deworming-innovation-fund-in-4-african-countries/.
7. Editor, ADC. “The END Fund Announces The Deworming Innovation Fund In Rwanda.” Africa.com, January 31, 2020. https://africa.com/the-end-fund-announces-the-deworming-innovation-fund-in-rwanda/.
8. Agler, Ellen. “Transcript of ‘Parasitic Worms Hold Back Human Progress. Here’s How We Can End Them.’” TED, April 2019. https://www.ted.com/talks/ellen_agler_parasitic_worms_hold_back_human_progress_here_s_how_we_can_end_them/transcript.
9. Legatum Foundation. Accessed December 16, 2020. https://www.legatum.org/.
10. “Releasing Human Potential – The Legatum Foundation.” Legatum Foundation. Accessed December 16, 2020. https://www.legatum.org/ourimpact.
11. “Social Impact Index – The Legatum Foundation.” Legatum Foundation, 2020. https://www.legatum.org/sii.