Are you searching for funding to bring your community project to life? What if I told you that Kenyan corporations are quietly sitting on CSR billions budgeted for exactly that?
While international donors pull back, a powerful shift is happening right here at home. Local companies are stepping up—investing in schools, health, environment, and youth programs like never before.
In this exclusive guide, discover 20 of Kenya’s most generous corporate donors—and how your project, initiative, or organization can tap into their support in 2025 and beyond.
Key Take Aways
- Safaricom, Equity Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank Kenya are among the top corporate CSR donors in Kenya, focusing on education, healthcare, and environmental conservation.
- Other notable donors include East African Breweries Limited (EABL) and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), with programs like Water of Life and 2Jiajiri.
Table of Contents
- Key Take Aways
- Understanding CSR strategy in Kenya
- Top CSR Donors in Kenya
- 1 Safaricom Foundation
- 2 Equity Bank Group Foundation
- 3 KCB Foundation
- 4 EABL Foundation
- 5 Co-operative Bank Foundation
- 6 Unilever Kenya
- 7 Bidco Africa
- 8 Bamburi Cement
- 9 Nation Media Group
- 10 Coca-Cola Kenya
- 11 Standard Chartered Bank Kenya
- 12 BAT Kenya
- 13 NCBA Bank
- 14 Absa Bank Kenya
- 15 SBM Bank Kenya
- 16 APA Insurance
- 17 Isuzu EA
- 18 Sarova Hotels & Resorts
- 19 Airtel Kenya
- 20 USIU-Africa
- Conclusion
- FAQs about CSR Grants and Donations in Kenya
Understanding CSR strategy in Kenya
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Kenya continues to play a critical role in addressing the country’s pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges. As international funding declines—due in part to Kenya’s reclassification as a lower-middle-income country and disruptions such as the USAID funding freeze—corporate donors have stepped in to fill the gap.
Kenya still faces widespread issues such as illiteracy, food insecurity, deforestation, poverty, and gender inequality. In response, many leading companies have evolved their CSR strategies to directly tackle these challenges. More than ever, businesses are integrating social and environmental concerns into their operations, with a growing focus on economic empowerment, gender equity, and GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion).
These CSR initiatives not only improve lives in communities but also enhance corporate reputation, build trust with stakeholders, and contribute to long-term business sustainability. Common areas of investment include education, healthcare, and environmental conservation. Approaches vary, from highly structured programs to strategic partnerships—examples include Wings to Fly, 2jiari, and the Safaricom Foundation Academy.
Top CSR Donors in Kenya
This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the top 20 corporate CSR programs in Kenya, focusing on their focus areas, notable programs, and contributions to social development, based on recent data from reputable and reliable sources. You can explore their initiatives on their websites for more details.
| Rank | Company | CSR Focus Areas | Notable Programs | Website |
| 1 | Safaricom | Education, healthcare, economic empowerment, environmental conservation | M-PESA Foundation Academy, Ndoto Zetu campaign | Safaricom Foundation |
| 2 | Equity Bank | Education, financial literacy, economic empowerment | Wings to Fly program, SME training programs | Equity Group Foundation |
| 3 | Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) | Education, enterprise development, health, environment | 2Jiajiri program | KCB Foundation |
| 4 | East African Breweries Limited (EABL) | Water and sanitation, education, responsible drinking | Water of Life program, educational scholarships | EABL Foundation |
| 5 | Co-operative Bank of Kenya | Education, healthcare, environmental conservation | Scholarships for needy students, tree planting, clean-up campaigns | Co-operative Bank Foundation |
| 6 | Unilever Kenya | Health, hygiene, environmental sustainability | Lifebuoy Handwashing Campaign, sustainable sourcing, waste reduction | Unilever Kenya |
| 7 | Bidco Africa | Health, education, environmental sustainability | Bidco Land O’Lakes Foundation, agricultural training, waste reduction | Bidco Africa Sustainability |
| 8 | Bamburi Cement | Environmental conservation, education, community development | Bamburi Haller Park, scholarship programs, school construction | Bamburi Cement Sustainable Development |
| 9 | Nation Media Group | Education, media literacy, community development | Newspapers in Education (NiE) program | Nation Media Group |
| 10 | Coca-Cola Kenya | Water stewardship, community development, environmental sustainability | Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), YES (Youth Empowerment through Sport) | Coca-Cola Kenya |
| 11 | Standard Chartered Bank Kenya | Youth empowerment, environmental conservation, sustainable finance | Futuremakers initiative, tree planting, marathon sustainability | Standard Chartered Kenya Sustainability |
| 12 | BAT East and Southern Africa Markets | Afforestation, farmer livelihoods, gender balance, carbon neutrality | KIJANI, THRIVE | |
| 13 | NCBA Bank | Education, green finance, community partnerships | Partnerships for education, golf series | NCBA Bank |
| 14 | Absa Bank Kenya PLC | Sustainable investment, women-led MSMEs, tree planting, green mortgages | Sustainable investment programs | Absa Bank Kenya |
| 15 | SBM Bank Kenya | Women empowerment, sustainable business financing, MSME support | WeMove, sustainable financing | SBM Bank Kenya |
| 16 | APA Insurance | Health, education, community development | Health claims, education sponsorship, sand dams | APA Insurance |
| 17 | Isuzu EA | Environmental conservation, education, sports, road safety | Environmental projects, education mentorship | Isuzu EA |
| 18 | Sarova Hotels & Resorts | Community support, wildlife conservation, tree planting, education | Local community projects, wildlife conservation | Sarova Hotels & Resorts |
| 19 | Airtel Kenya | Digital education, women in technology, e-waste recycling, tree planting | Digital learning programs, women in tech initiatives | Airtel Kenya |
| 20 | USIU-Africa | Global scholars, women economic empowerment, environmental sustainability | Global scholars program, women empowerment initiatives | USIU-Africa |
To provide a deeper understanding, here are brief explainers for each company,
1 Safaricom Foundation
Safaricom’s CSR is deeply rooted in education and community development, with programs like the M-PESA Foundation Academy providing free education to underprivileged children and the Ndoto Zetu campaign supporting various community projects. Their efforts also include healthcare improvements and environmental sustainability projects.
- Website: Safaricom Foundation
- Notable focus: Education, healthcare, economic empowerment, environmental conservation
- Typical partners: Local communities, NGOs, government agencies
- Grant size: Varies, but significant investments in education and community development
- Unique angle: Leveraging technology for social good, such as mobile money for financial inclusion
2 Equity Bank Group Foundation
Equity Bank focuses on education through scholarships and financial literacy programs, while also supporting small and medium enterprises to grow and create jobs. Their Wings to Fly program has transformed lives by offering secondary education to bright but needy students.
- Website: Equity Group Foundation
- Notable focus: Education, financial inclusion, agriculture, health
- Typical partners: Schools, financial institutions, NGOs
- Grant size: Significant, with scholarships and SME grants ranging from KES 50,000 to millions
- Unique angle: Focus on financial inclusion and youth empowerment through education
3 KCB Foundation
KCB’s 2Jiajiri program aims to create jobs and empower youth through skills training and entrepreneurship support, aligning with national employment goals. They also focus on education, health, and environmental conservation.
- Website: KCB Foundation
- Notable focus: Education, enterprise development, health, environment
- Typical partners: Youth organizations, educational institutions, environmental NGOs
- Grant size: Varies, with project grants typically KES 1–5 million
- Unique angle: Youth-focused job creation and skills development
4 EABL Foundation
EABL is committed to water conservation and sanitation through the Water of Life program, which has impacted over 2 million people, and also supports education through scholarships, promoting responsible drinking initiatives.
- Website: EABL Foundation
- Notable focus: Water & sanitation, education, responsible drinking
- Typical partners: Water authorities, schools, community groups
- Grant size: Large, with water projects costing KES 10–50 million, scholarships KES 100,000–500,000
- Unique angle: Large-scale water and sanitation impact, aligning with UN SDGs
5 Co-operative Bank Foundation
Co-operative Bank provides scholarships to needy students and engages in environmental conservation through tree planting and clean-up campaigns, supporting community development.
- Website: Co-operative Bank Foundation
- Notable focus: Scholarships, health, environment
- Typical partners: Schools, environmental NGOs, community groups
- Grant size: Scholarships typically KES 50,000–200,000, environmental projects KES 1–5 million
- Unique angle: Community-focused environmental and educational support
6 Unilever Kenya
Unilever focuses on health and hygiene with campaigns like Lifebuoy Handwashing, and promotes sustainable sourcing and waste reduction in their operations, aligning with global sustainability goals.
- Website: Unilever Kenya
- Notable focus: Health & hygiene, sustainable agriculture, waste reduction
- Typical partners: Health organizations, agricultural cooperatives, waste management firms
- Grant size: Varies, with health campaigns costing millions, sustainable sourcing investments in the tens of millions
- Unique angle: Global health and sustainability leadership with local impact
7 Bidco Africa
Bidco Africa supports farmers through training and sustainable agriculture practices, while also focusing on waste reduction and environmental sustainability, particularly in agribusiness.
- Website: Bidco Africa Sustainability
- Notable focus: Agribusiness training, women’s empowerment, renewable energy
- Typical partners: Farmer groups, NGOs, renewable energy firms
- Grant size: Agricultural training grants KES 2–10 million, waste reduction projects similar range
- Unique angle: Strong focus on agricultural sustainability and farmer empowerment
8 Bamburi Cement
Bamburi Cement is known for its environmental conservation efforts, including the Haller Park, and supports education through scholarship programs, contributing to community development.
- Website: Bamburi Cement Sustainable Development
- Notable focus: Environmental restoration, education, community development
- Typical partners: Environmental NGOs, schools, community groups
- Grant size: Scholarships KES 100,000–500,000, environmental projects KES 5–20 million
- Unique angle: Environmental restoration through Haller Park, a model for conservation
9 Nation Media Group
NMG promotes education and media literacy through its Newspapers in Education program, which distributes newspapers to schools to enhance learning, supporting media development.
- Website: Nation Media Group
- Notable focus: Education, media literacy, community development
- Typical partners: Schools, educational NGOs, media organizations
- Grant size: Program costs in the millions, with distribution to 183 schools
- Unique angle: Media-driven educational outreach, enhancing literacy
10 Coca-Cola Kenya
Coca-Cola focuses on water stewardship through the Replenish Africa Initiative and youth empowerment through the YES program, which uses sports to engage and develop young people, promoting community development.
- Website: Coca-Cola Kenya
- Notable focus: Water stewardship, community development, environmental sustainability
- Typical partners: Water authorities, sports organizations, community groups
- Grant size: Water projects KES 10–50 million, youth programs KES 1–5 million
- Unique angle: Water security and youth engagement through sports
11 Standard Chartered Bank Kenya
Standard Chartered supports youth through the Futuremakers initiative and promotes sustainability through its marathon events, which are designed to be environmentally friendly, focusing on community development.
- Website: Standard Chartered Kenya Sustainability
- Notable focus: Youth empowerment, environmental conservation, sustainable finance
- Typical partners: Educational institutions, environmental organizations, local communities
- Grant size: Varies, with significant investments in youth programs and sustainability projects
- Unique angle: Integrating sustainability into core business operations and client services
12 BAT Kenya
BAT focuses on afforestation with the KIJANI program and supports farmer livelihoods with THRIVE, while also working towards gender balance and carbon neutrality, contributing to environmental and social development.
- Website:
- Notable focus: Afforestation, farmer livelihoods, gender balance, carbon neutrality
- Typical partners: Farmer groups, environmental NGOs, gender organizations
- Grant size: Afforestation projects in the tens of millions, livelihood programs KES 2–10 million
- Unique angle: Large-scale environmental and farmer support, with gender focus
13 NCBA Bank
NCBA Bank partners with educational institutions and promotes green finance to support sustainable projects, focusing on community development and environmental sustainability.
- Website: NCBA Bank
- Notable focus: Climate resilience, financial inclusion, youth entrepreneurship, environmental conservation
- Typical partners: NGOs (e.g., Farm Africa), WRUAs (Water Resource Users’ Associations), government agricultural extension services
- Grant size: Annual staff-driven CSR days mobilize KES tens of millions; project grants generally range KES 2–10 million
- Unique angle: Staff volunteerism is central—employees co-design and implement projects, fostering deep ownership and visibility
14 Absa Bank Kenya
Absa Bank invests in sustainable projects and supports women-led small and medium enterprises, along with tree planting initiatives, promoting economic and environmental development.
- Website: Absa Bank Kenya
- Notable focus: Sustainable investment, women-led MSMEs, tree planting, green mortgages
- Typical partners: Women’s groups, environmental NGOs, financial institutions
- Grant size: Investment projects KES 5–20 million, MSME support KES 100,000–1 million
- Unique angle: Focus on women’s economic empowerment and green financing
15 SBM Bank Kenya
SBM Bank empowers women through the WeMove program and provides sustainable financing options for businesses, supporting gender equality and environmental sustainability.
- Website: SBM Bank Kenya
- Notable focus: Women empowerment, sustainable business financing, MSME support
- Typical partners: Women’s organizations, business associations, environmental groups
- Grant size: Financing projects KES 1–5 million, women’s programs KES 500,000–2 million
- Unique angle: Women-focused financing and sustainability integration
16 APA Insurance
APA Insurance supports health initiatives and education through sponsorships and community projects like sand dams for water conservation, contributing to community development.
- Website: APA Insurance
- Notable focus: Health, education, community development
- Typical partners: Health organizations, schools, community groups
- Grant size: Health claims and education sponsorships KES 1–5 million, sand dams KES 2–10 million
- Unique angle: Community-focused health and water projects
17 Isuzu EA
Isuzu EA engages in environmental conservation and supports education through mentorship and endowment funds, promoting sustainable development.
- Website: Isuzu EA
- Notable focus: Environmental conservation, education, sports, road safety
- Typical partners: Environmental NGOs, schools, sports organizations
- Grant size: Environmental projects KES 1–5 million, education funds KES 100,000–1 million
- Unique angle: Integration of environmental and educational outreach
18 Sarova Hotels & Resorts
Sarova Hotels support local communities and wildlife conservation, with projects including tree planting and education support, contributing to tourism and environmental sustainability.
- Website: Sarova Hotels & Resorts
- Notable focus: Community support, wildlife conservation, tree planting, education
- Typical partners: Local communities, wildlife organizations, schools
- Grant size: Conservation projects KES 1–5 million, education support KES 100,000–500,000
- Unique angle: Tourism-driven community and environmental support
19 Airtel Kenya
Airtel Kenya promotes digital education and supports women in technology, along with e-waste recycling and tree planting, focusing on digital inclusion and environmental sustainability.
- Website: Airtel Kenya
- Notable focus: Digital education, women in technology, e-waste recycling, tree planting
- Typical partners: Educational institutions, tech organizations, environmental groups
- Grant size: Digital programs KES 1–5 million, women’s tech initiatives KES 500,000–2 million
- Unique angle: Digital inclusion and tech-focused women’s empowerment
20 USIU-Africa
USIU-Africa runs the Global Scholars program for international students and focuses on women’s economic empowerment and environmental sustainability, contributing to higher education and gender equality.
- Website: USIU-Africa
- Notable focus: Global scholars, women economic empowerment, environmental sustainability
- Typical partners: International universities, women’s groups, environmental NGOs
- Grant size: Scholarship programs KES 500,000–5 million, environmental projects KES 1–3 million
- Unique angle: Higher education focus with global and gender equity outreach
Conclusion
As of May 12, 2025, the top 20 corporate CSR donors in Kenya are making significant contributions to social development, particularly in education, healthcare, and environmental conservation. These companies are filling the gap left by reduced international funding, such as the USAID freeze, by leveraging their resources to support grassroots and community-driven initiatives. For bloggers, this list provides a valuable resource to showcase the role of corporate CSR in Kenya’s social landscape, with detailed explainers offering content for engaging articles.
