ABOUT
Palms for Life Fund (PFL) is a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to breaking cycles of poverty and marginalization. Since 2006, PFL has empowered thousands of people with improved access to education, food, water and Sanitation— basic human rights we believe everyone deserves.
Founded by Hannah Laufer-Rottman and co-founded by Maayan Laufer, PFL operates with over 45 years of global development expertise. We partner with local organizations in Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and- most recently Zimbabwe and Angola- and manage multi-million dollar programs with a lean, impact-driven approach.
MISSION
Our mission is to champion access to education, food, water, and Sanitation for vulnerable communities—because these are not privileges, but fundamental human rights.
Palms for Life Fund operates from a human right perspective because access to these essential services is not a matter of charity, but a matter of justice. We believe that every individual, regardless of circumstance, deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, health, and hope.
Through initiatives like the Ceres Food Film Festival, we raise global awareness about hunger, sustainability, and food justice, sparking dialogue and action.
“It’s everyone’s business if a child goes to bed hungry. Together, we can ensure girls don’t miss school due to lack of Sanitation, and that every child has clean water to drink and wash.” — Hannah Laufer-Rottman, Founder
HOW WE WORK
At Palms for Life, we prioritize efficiency, accountability and dignity. We build lasting partnerships with governments, communities, and the private sector to drive positive and lasting social change.
As an organization, we:
Work with Partners, Not Beneficiaries: We collaborate with participants, learners, and local leaders—everyone shares responsibility for the process and outcomes.
Trust Local Expertise: We work with proven, on-the-ground Implementing Partners. When needed, we invest in their capacity or co-fund with the private sector to maximize impact.
Adhere to a Zero Alcohol Tolerance Policy: All project participants commit to a no alcohol/drug agreement as a condition of support/investment.
Train with Purpose: We link training to real job opportunities through private sector partnerships and internships.
Believe in Ethical, Evidence-Based Action: We design projects based on real needs, with clear goals and measurable results.
Support Short- and Long-Term Impact: We address urgent needs, and we build long-term independence with mentoring and support.
Emphasize Community-Driven Impact: Every intervention is rooted in local context and participatory groundwork.
EXPERTISE
Palms for Life brings to the table more than 45 years of expertise to our programming. We:
Build strong local partnership
Design scalable, cost-effective programs
Implement systematic monitoring and evaluation
Provide clear financial oversight and strategic support
Advocate and mobilize for the most vulnerable in our global community
PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA:
All projects supported by Palms for Life must be:
Inclusive and empowering
Participatory
Grounded in local needs and responsive to changing needs
Cost-efficient and scalable
Environmentally and gender-sensitive
IMPACT
We build sustainable local capacity
We ensure that our projects generate long lasting results that improve the lives of most marginalized people
We elevate hunger and poverty as human rights issues
What We Offer
To Grantmakers:
At Palms for Life, we will ensure that your vision meets our mission.
To enable successful interventions, we:
Conduct needs assessments and feasibility studies to inform interventions
Engage reliable local partners in project design and implementation
Provide full implementation oversight and impact reporting
Boutique Management:
where your smaller dreams and our mission meet.
For smaller initiatives (6–12 months, <$50K), we offer tailored support. Please contact us to initiate a conversation.
Fiscal Sponsorship
We operate under strict guidelines by the IRS, and only for US-based organizations that seek to obtain their 501 (c 3) status.
Applicants must: (a) be approved by our Board of Directors, and (b) have goals in line with our mission (addressing food, water, Sanitation and education).
Fiscal Sponsorship is formalized via an agreement and Palms for Life applies a 10% management fee for the funds that we administer. We also charge a one time fee of $500 to review and advise on a proposal.
All funds are received and managed by Palms for Life Fund; recipient organizations that manage projects on the ground receive funds directly from Palms for Life based on an approved budget and a schedule of expenses, ongoing oversight and periodic requests for funds.
WHY GIVE TO PALMS FOR LIFE
90%+ of funds go to the field
Our innovative, replicable models are rooted in local realities
Impact is tracked and proven, with clear periodic reporting
Trusted leadership provides confidence, results and accountability