6th Haiti Funders Conference

Fertile Ground: Collaborating for Impact

June 4-6, 2025
Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor

The Haiti Funders Conference is the leading convening of funders seeking the best ways to support solutions to Haiti’s deep-seated crises and advance long-term development.

More Important Than Ever

The theme “Fertile Ground” is a reminder that there are strategic investments philanthropy can make to fuel meaningful change in Haiti. Stronger collaboration was the call from participants at the last Funders Conference. Now is the time to work together to understand and address the root causes of Haiti’s crises and achieve better results.

The convening will begin with a reception and dinner on June 4, followed by two days of highly participatory conference sessions on June 5-6. We offer an early bird registration rate of $650 until April 15 and a regular rate of $750 thereafter. Details on the program will be available shortly.

This convening offers funders:

  • Connections to a strong network of experienced funders with the collective wisdom of decades of engagement in Haiti;

  • Discussions and speakers that broaden our understanding of the major forces shaping today’s context;

  • A space to network and plan ways to increase collaboration; and

  • Inspiration and opportunities to pursue collective action through significant initiatives where coordinated investments can achieve systemic impact.

More Timely Than Ever

In the last year, we have seen the deterioration of an already difficult situation in Haiti. Haitians are facing a governance vacuum and spiraling insecurity that are causing mass displacement, a contracting economy and a humanitarian crisis.

In the past few weeks, we have seen potentially huge changes to U.S. government foreign assistance that will impact Haiti greatly.

The 6th Haiti Funders Conference offers a space for donors, foundation representatives, investors and official development assistance providers to come together to strategize on how to respond to these changes and how to support more effective funding strategies for long term development progress in Haiti.

The Boston Foundation and its Haiti Development Institute have organized five bi-annual conferences that have grown in participation each time. The 5th Haiti Funders Conference attracted 123 organizations and featured 57 speakers leading and facilitating 22 plenary and breakout sessions and keynote addresses over two days.

Logistics

The event will take place at the Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor. Rooms will be available to registrants on a first come, first served basis at the group rate of $299/night.

The Haiti Funders Conference is an invitation-only event. Interested funders should reach out to HDI at coordinator@haitidevelopmentforum.org to request an invitation.

Co-organized by:

Conference Sponsors:

2025 Speakers


  • Founder

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.


  • Design Director

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.


  • Design Director

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.


  • Founder

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.


  • Design Director

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.


  • Design Director

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.


  • Founder

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.


  • Design Director

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.


  • Design Director

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

Agenda

Day One - June 13 

7:00 am Ongoing  Arrivals & Registration

7:00 am - 8:30 am  Networking Breakfast

PLENARY

9:05 am – 9:15 am Welcome 

Keynote: Honorable Michele Pierre-Louis, President, FOKAL

The Country Situation: How Can Philanthropy Contribute to the Way Forward?

Panel Discussion —Development and Humanitarian Assistance in Haiti Have Consistently Failed. How Can We Shift Course?

Honorable Michele Pierre-Louis, President, FOKAL
Lorraine Mangones, Executive Director, FOKAL
Dana Francois, Program Officer for Family Economic Security Haïti, W.K. Kellogg Foundation 
Andre Prospery Raymond, Country Director, DKH/LWF/NCA

- B R E A K -

CONCURRENT SESSIONS  Thematic Salons/Workshops 

10:30 am - 12:00 pm 

AM1-Session 1 —Thinking Differently: Exploring Viable Opportunities Where Investment Can Be Transformative Right Now

Facilitators: Patrick Dessources, Executive Director, Centre d'Appui et de Services aux Entreprises Locales et Internationales (CASELI)
Gaston Jean, Founder, Association Originaire de Grand Plaine

AM1 Session 2—Youth and Civic Engagement - How can we support viable youth opportunities and create a vision of the future for the next generation?  

Facilitators: Johnny Celestin, Deputy Director, Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE), Chair of Konbit for Haiti and member of FOHPDD
Louino ROBILLARD, Program Director, Rasin Devlopman

AM1 Session 3—Localization, Capacity Building, Systems Change: What Do These Look Like and How Do I Incorporate Them in My Work? 

Facilitators: Pierre Andre Noel, Executive Director, Haiti Development Institute
Rebecca Obounou, Network Engagement Officer, NEID Global

AM1 Session 4—Propelling Higher Education in Haiti

Facilitators: Lorraine Mangones, FOKAL
Conor Bohan, HELP
Gael Herve Pressoir, Doyen de la Faculté des Sciences de l'Agriculture et de l'Environnement, Université Quisqueya

 AM1 Session 5— Prioritizing Emotional, Spiritual, Mental Health and Well-Being Practices and Initiatives in Haiti

Facilitators: Emie Michaud Weinstock, Board Member, Haiti Development Institute
Régine Desulmé Polynice, Co-Founder, Caribbean Job Bank

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Networking Lunch

PLENARY

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Panel Discussion—Understanding the Donor Experience - Feedback and Insights from Donors

Karen Ansara, Co-Founder/Fund Advisor, Ansara Family Fund at the Boston Foundation
Pierre Imbert, Ayiti Community Trust
Bennett Rathbun, Program Officer for International Philanthropy, Pilot House Philanthropy
Jennifer Oakley, Program Partner, Imago Dei Fund

CONCURRENT SESSIONS   Sector Salons 

2:00 pm - 3:30 pm 

PM1 Session 1 —Education 

Facilitator: Linda Thelemaque, Chief Program Officer, Hope for Haiti

PM1 Session 2 —Health Care: Health System Strengthening

Facilitators: Jocelyn Bresnahan, President & CEO, Saint Rock Haiti Foundation
Gerard Georges, Director Of Architecture, Build Health International

PM1 Session 3—Agriculture and Agroecology 

Facilitators: Reginald Cean, Executive Director, Association Zanmi Agrikol
Steve Brescia, Executive Director, Groundswell International

PM1 Session 4— Water and Sanitation 

Facilitators: Olivier David, Haiti Country Director, Helvetas Haiti
Christian Steiner, CEO, Helvetas USA

PM1 Session 5—Cultural Heritage and Arts

Facilitators: Veronika Chatelain, Senior Program Officer, Open Society Foundations
Charles Jean Pierre, Artist, Charles Philippe Jean Pierre Atelier d'Art

- B R E A K -

PLENARY

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm 

Panel Discussion—Beyond Grants: Exploring Tools for Diversified Philanthropy And How They Can Work in Haiti - Impact-First Investing, DIB, PRI, Recoverable Grants  

Jean-Emmanuel Desmornes, Discovery Officer, IDB Lab, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Amie Patel, Partner, Elevar Equity
Bennett Rathbun, Program Officer for International Philanthropy, Pilot House Philanthropy
Jay Dunn, Executive Director, Dunn Family Charitable Foundation / DF Impact Capital
Dana François, Program Officer for Family Economic Security Haïti, W.K. Kellogg Foundation

4:45 pm – 5:30 pm

Panel Discussion—Unpacking Haiti Now: Insights on Current Events and the Context.

Kesner Pharel, Managing Owner, Group Croissance
Régine Desulmé Polynice, Co-Founder, Caribbean Job Bank
Emmanuela Douyon, Founder, POLICITÉ
Louis-Henri Mars, Executive Director, Lakou Lapè

5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Networking Reception 

Day Two - June 14

7:00 am - 8:30 am   Networking Breakfast 

8:45 am – 8:50 am Welcome and Reflection

Pierre Andre Noel, Executive Director, Haiti Development Institute
Yvens Rumbold, Executive Director, Ayiti Demen

PLENARY

8:50 am - 9:45 am 

Panel Discussion—Leveraging Collaboration and Partnership for Impact (Kolektif Arcadins, Haiti Food Systems Alliance, Model School Network)

Dana François, Program Officer for Family Economic Security Haïti, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Rob Johnson, CEO, Acceso
Carolyn Mellin, Managing Director, Summits Education
Amy Bracken, Communications Officer, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Pierre Andre Noel, Executive Director, Haiti Development Institute

CONCURRENT SESSIONS 

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

AM2 Session 1—Impact Investing

Facilitators: Jamie McInerney, Principal, CrossBoundary
Laurent Dalencour, Senior Investment Manager, OGEF / FDI (Fonds de Développement Industriel)

AM2 Session 2—Women and Girls Empowerment 

Facilitator: Carine Jocelyn, Founder/Managing Director, The Haitian Women's Collective 

AM2 Session 3—Public/Private Partnerships – Are They Possible Now? 

Facilitators: Kesner Pharel, Managing Owner, Group Croissance
Enomy Germain, CEO, ProEco Haiti

AM2 Session 4—Community and Civic Engagement 

Facilitators: Job Joseph, Director of Mobilization, Haiti Response Coalition
Francois Pierre-Louis, Haiti Consultant, Faith In Action
Daniel TILLIAS, Co-Founder, SAKALA

AM2 Session 5—Effective Funding of Advocacy

Facilitators: Brian Concannon, Executive Director, Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti (IJDH)
Gilbert Saint Jean, Interdisciplinary Research Development Consultant, Providentia Maarifa Consultants

- B R E A K -

PLENARY

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Panel Discussion—Disaster Mitigation and Response: Better Preparedness, Better Response 

Alex Gray, Head of International Funds, Center for Disaster Philanthropy
Jessica Hsu, Anthropologist/Researcher & Solidarity Activist, Independent Haiti-based
Etzer Emile, CEO, Haiti Efficace
Louino ROBILLARD, Program Director, Rasin Devlopman

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm—Networking Lunch

PLENARY

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Panel Discussion—Inspiring & Organizing More Effective Philanthropy from the Diaspora

Ariel Dominique, Executive Director, Haitian American Foundation for Democracy (HAFFD)
Tamara Beliard, CFO/Principal, Fatima Group
Vanessa Joseph, City of North Miami City Clerk, City of North Miami
Regine Rene Labrousse, Founder & CEO, Replenish 509

- B R E A K -

3:00 pm - 3:15 pm

Keynote—Harry Dumay, President, College of Our Lady of the Elms

How Philanthropy Can Serve to Deliver Systemic Impact for Higher Education in Haiti

3:15 pm - 4:00 pm 

Closing-Forward Together—A Call To Action

Honorable Michele Pierre-Louis, President, FOKAL
Johnny Celestin, Deputy Director, Mayor's Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE), Chair of Konbit for Haiti and member of FOHPDD
Reginald Cean, Program Director, Haiti Development Institute
Pierre Imbert, Ayiti Community Trust