OUR STORY
True Change Global Fund was founded more than fifteen years ago from a simple belief: meaningful change begins with direct human connection.
Founder Ralph Santora established the organization after volunteering in Lebanon during the early stages of the Syrian civil war. As hundreds of thousands of refugees crossed the border seeking safety, he witnessed both the extraordinary resilience of displaced families and the critical role played by small, community-based organizations responding to urgent needs.
While international aid often flowed through large institutions, many of the most effective organizations were local groups operating closest to the crisis. These organizations possessed deep community trust, local knowledge, and the ability to respond quickly, yet they frequently lacked access to philanthropic resources.
True Change Global Fund was created to bridge that gap.
Since its founding, TCGF has supported grassroots organizations serving vulnerable populations across six countries, investing in initiatives that provide humanitarian assistance, educational opportunities, refugee support, community development, and pathways toward long-term stability.
OUR MISSION
True Change Global Fund identifies, supports, and strengthens grassroots organizations working with communities affected by displacement, conflict, poverty, disaster, and systemic barriers to opportunity. We believe sustainable change occurs when local leaders and trusted community organizations are equipped with the resources they need to address challenges from within their own communities.
OUR APPROACH
TCGF operates on a simple principle: those closest to a problem are often closest to the solution. Rather than relying exclusively on traditional grantmaking models, our work is informed by direct engagement, field observation, and relationship-building with local organizations. Internationally, many of our partnerships originate through firsthand volunteer experiences and on-the-ground visits in communities facing humanitarian challenges. Within the United States, we conduct site visits, evaluate programs, and engage directly with nonprofit leaders to understand community needs and organizational effectiveness.
This hands-on approach allows us to identify high-impact organizations that may otherwise remain invisible to larger philanthropic institutions.
OUR IMPACT
Over the past fifteen years, True Change Global Fund has:
• Supported approximately 25 grassroots organizations
• Worked across six countries
• Helped improve the lives of more than 5,000 individuals and families
• Invested in humanitarian relief, education, refugee services, community development, and economic opportunity initiatives
• Built long-term relationships with organizations operating in some of the world's most challenging environments
While our resources have historically been modest, our impact has been amplified through strategic partnerships, volunteer engagement, and targeted investments in organizations delivering direct community benefit.
OUR FUNDING PHILOSOPHY
True Change Global Fund prioritizes organizations that demonstrate:
• Deep community trust
• Strong local leadership
• Measurable impact
• Cultural competency
• Fiscal responsibility
• Sustainable community-centered solutions
We focus primarily on grassroots organizations whose proximity to the communities they serve allows them to respond quickly, effectively, and compassionately. Within the United States, we often provide flexible support that enables organizations to strengthen operations and respond to emerging needs. Internationally, we frequently support specific programs, projects, or direct assistance efforts, ensuring that resources are aligned with clearly defined community outcomes.
OUR PRIORITIES
Today, True Change Global Fund is focused on three interconnected areas of work:
Supporting Immigrants and Refugees in the United States
Investing in organizations that provide legal assistance, language access, workforce development, health services, and community integration support for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Global Humanitarian Response
Supporting organizations working with populations affected by conflict, displacement, natural disasters, and humanitarian emergencies.
Grassroots Capacity Building
Strengthening small and emerging nonprofit organizations that deliver critical services but often lack access to sustainable philanthropic support.
OUR VISION
Over the next decade, True Change Global Fund seeks to become a recognized leader in immigrant and refugee philanthropy, a trusted rapid-response humanitarian fund, and a catalyst for grassroots organizations serving vulnerable communities around the world. We envision a future where local organizations have the resources, visibility, and support necessary to create lasting change within their communities.
By connecting donors with trusted grassroots partners, we can expand opportunity, strengthen resilience, and help communities build a more stable and hopeful future.
PARTNER WITH US
We invite foundations, corporations, donor-advised funds, and individual philanthropists to join us in advancing community-driven solutions that create meaningful and lasting impact.
Together, we can transform compassion into action and action into lasting change.