Frequently Asked Questions
This page contains answers to some of our most frequently asked questions. More detailed information about our work can be found in the What We Do section of our website.
Does the Touch Foundation give grants to other nonprofits?
We work to support our partners in Tanzania who operate the training schools and hospitals there. We raise funds to support the development of these institutions, which includes provision of management advice and support as well as targeted investments in infrastructure (e.g. building student housing to allow for expansion of classes). However, we do not typically provide direct support to other organizations.
Who funds the Touch Foundation?
We rely on broad-based support from individual donors, corporate donors, grant-making foundations, donor governments, and multi-national funding organizations. Contributions from every level are necessary for the Touch Foundation to develop programs that enhance hospital management, improve facilities and expand training schools.
We cultivate relationships by holding fundraisers and “friendraisers,” leveraging our growing network, and engaging in international dialogue on health development, both formally and informally. We provide a “return” on investment through ongoing feedback on our results, and lives saved by our graduates in Tanzania.
Why did the Touch Foundation choose to work in Tanzania?
Tanzania faces severe health care challenges. The country’s maternal mortality rate is nearly seventy percent higher than in neighboring Kenya, at 950 deaths per 100,000 births. It has one of the lowest doctor-to-patient ratios in the world, at one doctor for every 30,000 people. Nonetheless, Tanzania has a relatively stable economy and a supportive government that is committed to health care reform.
The work of Father Dr. Peter Le Jacq started at the Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, Tanzania, where Weill Bugando’s university was established to train doctors and health workers. The existence of these institutions, together with the wider public health, political and economic situation in Tanzania, informed our decision about where to engage. Weill Bugando remains a core focus and our base of operations in the region.
If the Touch Foundation is concerned about the global health worker crisis, why do you focus on Tanzania?
We recognize that many nations are confronting health care crises, which is why we hope to develop a comprehensive and flexible model in Tanzania that will provide lessons for other health care development projects across the region. Much of our early analysis is applicable to other countries, and we work with the global health community on developing trends in the field.
Does the Touch Foundation work with other nonprofits?
Given the scale of the task in sub-Saharan Africa, we believe that partnerships are crucial. We have developed partnerships with organizations that value sustainability, local ownership and quantifiable outcomes. Read more about our various partners here.
One of our key objectives is to find workable solutions that may be tailored to similar situations across the region and beyond. To this end, we are committed to sharing our findings and engaging with the global health and development communities.
Where did the Touch Foundation get its name?
“Touch” comes from Father Dr. Peter Le Jacq’s “Touching Tanzania” committee that worked to fundraise for Bugando Medical Centre in the 1980s and 1990s. Learn more about Touch's history.