The Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation was born from a simple but demanding belief: that Africana ideas matter, that culture carries memory, and that Utu—our shared humanity—must be practiced, not merely proclaimed. Our mission is to advance Pan-African thought, orature, creative expression, and critical human rights by building a living institution rooted in care, courage, and intellectual rigor. We imagine a world where Africana voices are not only heard, but stewarded with dignity, continuity, and love.
This letter is a reflection on our first six months—humble, imperfect, and deeply human. It is also, above all, a letter of thanks.
A Young Institution Finds Its Feet
Every story needs a protagonist. Ours is the Foundation itself—newly formed, full of promise, and stepping into a philanthropic landscape marked by uncertainty and ideological crosswinds. When we officially launched on June 30, 2025, we did so at a moment when many cultural, artistic, and academic institutions were contracting, pausing, or retreating.
Starting something new in such an unprecedented climate required resolve, imagination, and trust—especially trust from those willing to believe in us before there was proof.
You were among those believers.
Legitimacy, Earned Early
One month after our launch, in July, a quiet but pivotal moment arrived: our Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letter confirming our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status[1]. For a young organization, this was more than significant paperwork. It was recognition. It meant that the Foundation could now fully protect its donors, steward gifts responsibly, and stand with confidence among peer institutions.
Shortly thereafter, we received registration from the New York State Charities Bureau—another safeguard for transparency and accountability. These milestones may seem administrative, but they are foundational acts of trust. They are the invisible architecture that allows a mission to endure.
All expenses—from the filing and compliance costs, professional services, the unglamorous but essential operational work of “doing things right” —were incurred entirely from personal coffers. This decision was born out of the need to ensure that all Foundation revenue is overseen by a sitting Board of Trustees. And your early encouragement helped soften the considerable weight of those sacrifices.
Your messages, your curiosity, and your belief in the Foundation’s promise became the quiet reassurance that the long nights of institution-building were worth it.
That same momentum enabled us to produce our first suite of Foundation print materials and literature—crafted pieces that now accompany every outreach effort. These have become indispensable tools in building partnerships, introducing our mission to new audiences, and grounding our institutional identity with clarity and confidence.
Building the Front Door
A foundation cannot invite people in without a door. This year, we funneled considerable resources in building a robust, accessible online presence, including a fully integrated donation portal through a trusted global giving platform. This allowed supporters across geographies to give securely, in multiple formats, and with confidence.
Because of this infrastructure:
- We received our first post launch wave of gifts entirely online.
- We issued timely acknowledgements and tax documentation.
- We began to see not just donations, but patterns of trust—recurring gifts, first-time donors, and messages of encouragement accompanying contributions.
Each gift, no matter the amount, will help us test and strengthen the systems that will support future programs. You weren’t just giving funds; you were helping us build capacity.
The Challenge: Building in Headwinds
It would be disingenuous to say this year was easy. It was not.
We applied for six grants—a combination of both major institutional grants and regional community grants, they were all carefully researched, thoughtfully written, and aligned with our mission. Alas, we were unsuccessful in all six. This is a sobering reality for many emerging organizations, particularly those rooted in justice-centered, Pan-African work at a time when funding priorities are shifting, competition is fierce, and capitulation is encouraged.
There were moments of recalibration, of asking hard questions, of choosing persistence over pause. Rather than retreat, we doubled down on governance, clarity, and relationship-building. We reminded ourselves that institutions of consequence are not built in a single funding cycle.
Dr. Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo once reminded us that “sacrifices liberated a lot of spaces that we occupy today.” These words are both reflection and instruction. They call us to steward—not merely inherit—the freedom, imagination, and intellectual possibility opened by those who came before.
Your individual donations helped stabilize our resolve during this period. When institutional funding said “not yet,” you said, “keep going.”
Investing in Stewardship
One of our proudest achievements this year cannot be photographed or posted—it lives in documents, deliberations, and shared responsibility. We invested heavily in oversight: comprehensive bylaws, the establishment of a Board of Trustees, codes of conduct, management and legal frameworks designed to protect the mission for generations.
This work is slow, deliberate, and essential. It involved countless weeks and months of critical thought and engagements across disciplines and geographies. It ensures that the Foundation is not personality-driven, but principle-driven. That it will outlast any single season or steward.
Your belief in us made it possible to prioritize this long view.
The Hero of the Story
In every meaningful narrative, there is a hero who steps in at a critical moment. In ours, that hero is you.
You gave when there was no track record, only intention.
You gave knowing the road would be long.
You gave not for recognition, but for resonance.
And you gave with acts of solidarity and encouragement.
These contributions will help transform an idea into an institution in motion. They will help us move from aspiration to action—from becoming to being.
Looking Ahead: 2026 and the Work Before Us
As we enter the New Year, we do so grounded and hopeful.
In the coming months, we will:
- Welcome a fully seated Board of Trustees to guide strategy and growth.
- Unveil our Council of Patrons—an esteemed circle of elders whose wisdom will serve as our moral north star.
- Expand and deepen our newsletter, building a consistent rhythm of reflection, dialogue, storytelling, and reach.
- Enlarge our online infrastructure and roll out a beta version of the Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Archives.
- Set an ambitious but necessary funding goals to move from infrastructure-building to program launch.
This next chapter will require renewed partnerships. We invite you to continue walking with us—through a renewed gift, a recurring contribution, or by sharing our work with those who share your values.
With Gratitude, Always
Despite a year filled with so many unknowns, we found solace in knowing that ours was a shared journey.
Thank you for believing in the quiet work of institution-building.
Thank you for trusting us with your generosity.
Thank you for helping the Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation take its first steps with integrity, courage, and care.
We are embracing becoming—because of you.
With deep appreciation,
Livingstone Mukasa
Interim Director
on behalf of
The Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo Foundation
[1] 501(c)(3) status refers to a federal tax exemption granted by the IRS to organizations operated for specific purposes, such as charitable, religious, educational, or scientific reasons. This status allows the organization to be exempt from federal income tax, and permits donors to claim tax deductions for their contribution.