Partnership · Professional & Local Services

Canva Foundation and GiveDirectly run an unconditional cash transfer programme in Malawi.

By Startup Enthusiast · 27 July 2026

What they do

Canva Foundation runs unconditional cash transfer programmes in Malawi

The total commitment is $150 million for cash transfers in Malawi, with $50 million donated by October 2025

The October 2025 pledge of $100 million is GiveDirectly's largest single donation ever

Canva Foundation and GiveDirectly run an unconditional cash transfer programme in Malawi.
The total commitment is $150 million for cash transfers in Malawi.
A 2021 pilot gave $10 million.
An additional programme in 2023 gave $20 million.
By October 2025, cumulative donations reached $50 million.
In October 2025, Canva Foundation pledged $100 million, the largest single donation in GiveDirectly's history.
The programme has reached more than 139,000 people in Malawi.
In the Khongoni sub-district, 90% of recipients moved above the extreme poverty line within 3 months of receiving cash.

Canva cofounders Melanie Perkins and Cliff Obrecht signed the Giving Pledge in 2021.
Perkins and Obrecht each hold an estimated 18% stake in Canva, together worth about $15 billion.
They pledged to donate more than 80% of personal wealth through Canva Foundation.
Third cofounder Cameron Adams (estimated 9% stake, worth ~$3.8 billion) pledged to give away most wealth independently.

Canva Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Canva, a graphic design platform.
It runs unconditional cash transfer programmes in Malawi through GiveDirectly.
Canva has donated $2.5 billion in product value to students, teachers, and over 1 million nonprofits globally.
Canva Foundation launched the Global Goals Platform to let people suggest where future giving should go.
Canva Foundation aims to eventually donate a 30% stake in Canva.

Canva Foundation aims to eventually donate a 30% stake in Canva.
It launched the Global Goals Platform to let people suggest where future giving should go.