Founded in 2004, Orphans of Rwanda, Inc. (ORI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting orphans and vulnerable young people in Rwanda who have been affected by the 1994 genocide and diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. ORI’s principal mission is financing university education and related training for young people who, against tremendous odds, have completed secondary school and scored highly on university entrance examinations.

ORI is governed by a Board of Directors that includes Rwandan and American members and is actively involved in oversight and governance. The Board convenes quarterly to review programmatic and financial progress, discuss organizational policies, and make key strategic decisions. ORI has public charity status in the U.S. and England/Wales and recently applied for similar recognition from Canada's Charity Commission.

ORI's staff is led by a U.S.-based Executive Director, who is primarily responsible for strategic planning, fundraising, and organization-wide coordination. Our work in Rwanda is led by a Country Director who oversees all programmatic activities as well as ORI's partnerships with Rwandan organizations. Volunteers in the U.S. and Rwanda also play key roles in our organization. For more on the ORI team, click here.

Please click here for our 501(c)(3) determination letter.