The Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion for people living in poverty. One of the largest foundations in the world, it works almost exclusively in Africa. It was created in 2006 by Mastercard International and operates independently under the governance of its own Board of Directors.

The Foundation's Young Africa Works strategy sets out an ambitious goal for the next decade: by 2030, its work will enable 30 million young people in Africa, especially young women, to secure employment they see as dignified and fulfilling. Using youth employment as a key measure of socio-economic progress, the Foundation aims to help millions of people to find a pathway out of poverty.


Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley