A special message from Board Chair Martha Arscott

Marty Arscott and Todd Schafer

I am thrilled to announce that GAIA has hired a new CEO, Todd Schafer.  He will guide GAIA’s day-to-day operations and lead the organization’s vision in working with the poorest of the poor – the orphans and rural villagers, their chiefs, and the community and faith leaders who so bravely face the daily struggles of AIDS and poverty.

Until recently Todd was the Programme Funding Manager with Christian Aid, a large British multi-million dollar organization whose mission is very similar to GAIA’s.  It works with secular and religious groups of all faiths.  Todd managed international government funding for several sectors, including HIV services, for its Central Africa region.  He and his wife and their three children were based in Kigali, Rwanda.

An abbreviated list of Todd’s professional history includes working on the senior management team of Oakland-based Sports4Kids and serving as an Associate Director of the Center for Tropical Research in San Francisco and Policy Analyst at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington DC. Read his bio here.

What most impressed us was Todd’s deep commitment to GAIA’s mission and the people of Africa, and his demonstrated leadership in large and small organizations committed to improving people’s lives.

Bill Rankin, together with the founding trustees and staff, built a strong organization.  During the recession, GAIA maintained year-over-year growth.  Our strong in-country reputation led to a USAID five-year $1.7M grant to increase the number of nursing school scholarships and in-service trainings in Malawi.

During this transition time, Bill will work pro bono for GAIA on a quarter-time basis.  Bill, the trustees, and Malawi and U.S. staff share a rich history with GAIA’s Malawi partners and U.S. donors that ensures smooth continuation of services and stewarding of relationships.

Todd inherits a strong organization with heart and fiscal fitness because of you.  GAIA was built with your tremendous support and dedication to helping people who have no safety net and live on the precipice of poverty and disease.

In the next few weeks and months you will learn more from and about Todd.  He looks forward to learning about and meeting you.

Sincerely,

Martha Arscott
Chair, Board of Trustees