Go behind the scenes of how The Adventure Project vets nonprofit partners in Rwanda—from financial review to field visits and real-world impact.
Before we invest in a new partner, we go.
We sit with communities. We ask hard questions. We see the work with our own eyes.
Because every dollar you give should fund something that works.
At The Adventure Project, we believe in creating jobs—not handouts.
But that only works if we partner with the right local leaders.
Recently, our COO, Michael, and I traveled to Rwanda to evaluate a social enterprise led by a Rwandan female founder bringing clean water to schools and communities.
Most of our vetting starts long before a site visit.
We review:
But here’s the truth:
Spreadsheets only tell you so much.
Once we arrive, everything changes.
We:
Because real impact isn’t what looks good on paper.
It’s what keeps working over time.
The social enterprise we visited is delivering innovative clean water solutions across Rwanda.
At one school, we watched something remarkable:
1,800 students gained access to clean water in a matter of hours.
At another stop, community members gathered to share how much they rely on these systems.
One man said it simply:
“We need more.”
That moment stayed with me.
Because demand isn’t the problem.
Scaling solutions that last is the challenge.
After visiting the communities, we sat down with the founder.
What stood out:
This isn’t a solution designed from afar.
It’s built by someone who lives the reality and is solving it from within.
That’s exactly the kind of leadership we back.
Before we say yes, we ask:
Because short-term fixes aren’t enough.
We’re investing in systems that keep working long after we’re gone.
We’re still early in the vetting process, so I’m not ready to share everything yet.
But I can say this:
The work is incredibly promising.
Want to hear what happens next? Join our email list to be the first to know.
Strong nonprofits combine financial analysis with in-person visits, community interviews, and long-term impact evaluation to ensure partners are effective and sustainable.
You are welcome to click here to get an inside look at what metrics we use when evaluating local partners.
Local leaders understand the problem firsthand and build solutions that are more likely to last and scale.
Water systems require ongoing maintenance and management—creating stable, local employment while improving health outcomes.
Have a question for farmers or entrepreneurs in Rwanda?
Send your question. I’ll ask and report back.
Explore our collection of inspiring blog posts and stories.
