What The Jonathan Jackson Foundation does

The Jonathan Jackson Foundation (JJF) is a privately-held non-governmental organization founded in 2019 by Kenyan real estate developer Jonathan Jackson (founder of Lordship Group, established 1989), headquartered at 4th Ngong Avenue, Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya. JJF operates three flagship programs targeted at vulnerable populations in Nairobi's informal settlements: Jenga Bizna Mtaani, an economic-empowerment initiative providing vetted community groups with capital goods (food vending trolleys, salon kits, car wash machines), business-development training including a Mini-MBA social-entrepreneurship curriculum delivered in partnership with K-Shoes, hairdressing and beauty skills training delivered with Fresh Cuts Foundation, and ongoing mentorship; Bakee Mtaani, a sports-development program that has built four FIBA-standard basketball courts (Gatina, HGM, BP, Humama) as safe public spaces for youth; and Jenga Jirani, a humanitarian-aid initiative launched in 2020 that distributed one million meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation wholly owns Nairobi City Stars FC, a Kenya Premier League football club acquired in April 2019, which JJF uses as a community-change platform.

Name

The Jonathan Jackson Foundation

Legal name

Jonathan Jackson Foundation

Website

https://jonathanjacksonfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Jonathan Jackson Foundation is a Nairobi-based NGO founded in 2019 that delivers economic-empowerment, sports-development, and humanitarian-aid programs to youth, women, and persons with disabilities in informal settlements, also operating the affiliated Nairobi City Stars FC football club.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development Non-Profit Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits (BPAGADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Infrastructure, Housing & Community Development (BPAGABAL), Financial Inclusion & Consumer Empowerment (Banking Access, Credit Building) (BPAGALAJ)

Keywords

• Community empowerment programs
• Youth entrepreneurship training
• Informal settlement development
• Sports for development
• Humanitarian aid services

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorship: JJF operates primarily through donations from individuals, corporate partners, and development organizations. The foundation runs sponsorship programs where donors can contribute to support youth groups and build micro-enterprises.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Jonathan Jackson Foundation runs community empowerment programs in Nairobi's informal settlements, providing capital goods, business development training, and mentorship to youth groups, women groups, and persons with disabilities to build sustainable micro-enterprises. It also constructs basketball courts for safe spaces and youth engagement, sponsors the Nairobi City Stars FC football club, and delivers humanitarian aid (food hampers and hygiene supplies) to vulnerable families during crises such as COVID-19.

Product overview

The Jonathan Jackson Foundation operates as a non-profit organization offering a portfolio of community empowerment programs focused on Nairobi's informal settlements. The core offerings include Jenga Bizna Mtaani (economic empowerment through business development, seed capital, and mentorship), Bakee Mtaani (basketball court construction for sports development), and the affiliated Nairobi City Stars football club. Supporting programs include the Jenga Jirani humanitarian initiative, Mini-MBA social entrepreneurship training, hairdressing and beauty skills training, and urban farming initiatives. The foundation does not offer a technology product or SaaS platform; all offerings are grassroots community development programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jenga Bizna Mtaani: Economic empowerment program that provides capital goods, business development training, and mentorship to youth, women, and persons with disabilities in Nairobi's informal settlements to create sustainable jobs and enterprises.
• Bakee Mtaani
• Jenga Jirani

Products and services

• Jenga Bizna Mtaani Economic empowerment program that provides capital goods, business development training, and mentorship to registered youth groups, women groups, and persons with disabilities in Nairobi's informal settlements to create sustainable jobs and enterprises.
• Bakee Mtaani Sports development program that constructs full-size basketball courts in informal settlements to provide safe public spaces for youth, trains coaches and referees, and organizes basketball tournaments.
• Nairobi City Stars FC Association football club competing in the Kenya Premier League, owned by JJF and used as a platform to drive community change, with players drawn from marginalized backgrounds.
• Jenga Jirani Initiative Humanitarian initiative ('Help Your Neighbour') that provides food hampers, hygiene stations, and sanitary kits to vulnerable families in Nairobi's informal settlements during crises.
• Mini-MBA Training (Social Entrepreneurship) Two-month social entrepreneurship training program co-created with K-Shoes that equips participants with entrepreneurial, leadership, and personal development skills.
• Hairdressing & Beauty Skills Training Two-month professional training in hairdressing, barbering, and beauty therapy offered in partnership with Fresh Cuts Foundation for marginalized populations aged 15-35.
• Urban Farming (Sack Gardening) Urban farming initiative in partnership with Solovino Kenya that teaches vertical and sack gardening techniques to women for food security and income generation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 200 jobs created in Nairobi's informal communities
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KFC Kuku FoodscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKFC Kuku Foods partnered with JJF to construct a full-size FIBA standard basketball court at Humama public grounds in Kayole under the Bakee Mtaani initiative. This was the fourth court built by JJF, with KFC fully funding the construction while JJF oversaw the project. KFC employs over 1,000 youths who form part of their customer base, aligning with JJF's mission on youth unemployment and social development.
• I&M FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJJF and I&M Foundation partnered to fund local groups in Nairobi's informal communities through the Jenga Bizna Mtaani program. Donations included capital goods such as Mobile Mini Markets, Salon and Beauty Cosmetics, food vending Smokie trolleys, and Car Wash machines. Total of 126 members benefited from Kawangware donation (Feb 2024), and 118 members from Kayole donation (March 2024).
• Nairobi City Stars FCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNairobi City Stars is an association football club acquired by JJF in March 2019. Founded in 2003 as World Hope Football Club, the club competes in the Kenya Premier League. JJF sponsors the club and uses football as a tool to drive change within communities, with players coming from marginalized backgrounds.
• AMREF Health AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMREF Health Africa partnered with JJF for the Jenga Jirani Charity Festival 2020, an online fundraising festival with over 50 artists. AMREF served as the fiduciary partner receiving and accounting for donated funds. They aim to increase sustainable health access to communities in Africa.
• Kubamba TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKubamba Trust partnered with JJF for the Jenga Jirani Charity Festival 2020. Kubamba is a youth organization dedicated to inspiring positive values through urban gospel music and outreach programs. They rallied the gospel music fraternity and continue to lead mentorship of youths in informal settlements.
• Aga Khan FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAga Khan Foundation East Africa partnered with JJF for the Jenga Jirani Charity Festival 2020. AKF brings together human, financial, and technical resources to address challenges faced by the poorest and most marginalized communities.
• K-ShoescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJJF partners with K-Shoes in co-creating and running the Social Entrepreneurship (Mini MBA) training provided to youth and women groups. K-Shoes is a footwear brand leveraging local talents and resources to produce quality shoes sold in Kenya and internationally.
• Fresh Cuts FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJJF partners with Fresh Cuts Foundation in delivering hairdressing and beauty skills training to youth and women groups. Fresh Cuts Foundation was established in 2018 with the aim of giving back through youth and women empowerment programs, focusing on barbering and beauty services.
• Laja TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaja Trust partnered with JJF in the Jenga Jirani Initiative distribution of sanitary hampers in 2020. Laja Trust focuses on developing leadership in children and youth to contribute to positive community development.
• Spread TruthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpread Truth partnered with JJF in the Jenga Jirani Initiative food distribution drives in 2020. Spread Truth reaches the world with God's Story by providing Christians opportunities to be equipped and give to see everyone connected to God.
• World HopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld Hope provided JJF with access to secure storage and packaging space during the Jenga Jirani Initiative food distribution drives in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Hope Centre, through Hope Church, teaches leadership training and discipleship programs.
• Mentors Without BordersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMentors Without Borders offers mentorship to mentees under JJF to help them become passionate and efficient computer programmers. They are a group of passionate professionals teaching young people goal-setting and steps toward achieving their goals.
• Solovino KenyaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJJF partnered with Solovino Kenya for the urban farming initiative through the Jenga Bizna Mtaani program. The partnership equips women from the Far East Basketball Association (FEBA) with skills, resources, and support for vertical farming and sack gardening.
• Light For The WorldminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLight For The World partnered with JJF in the Jenga Jirani Initiative food distribution drives in 2020. Light for the World is a global disability and development organization enabling eye health services and empowering people with disabilities.
• British Chamber of Commerce KenyaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJJF is a proud member of the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya, a platform for British and Kenyan organisations to network, learn and explore business opportunities. BCCK offers networking, market information, and business support services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Habitat for Humanity Kenya: Affordable housing and community development NGO operating in Kenya's informal settlements. Comparable to JJF on community-level infrastructure delivery in low-income Kenyan communities, though focused on housing rather than youth enterprise.
• BRAC: World's largest development NGO operating microfinance, education, health, and youth enterprise programs across multiple African countries. Comparable to JJF in holistic community empowerment approach but at vastly greater geographic and operational scale.
• Kiva: Global microfinance platform enabling crowdfunded loans to underbanked entrepreneurs, including many in Kenya. Comparable to JJF in targeting capital access for low-income entrepreneurs, though via digital lending marketplace rather than direct grant + training.
• Mercy Corps: Major international humanitarian and development organization with longstanding Kenya operations including economic recovery, youth engagement, and humanitarian response. Comparable to JJF in programming pillars (economic, youth, humanitarian) but with global mandate.

Direct peers

• GiveDirectly: Pioneer of unconditional cash transfers to extremely poor households, with significant Kenya operations including Homa Bay, Kisumu, and informal urban settlements. Comparable to JJF in target beneficiary (impoverished Kenyans) and focus on economic empowerment, though operating via cash rather than goods and training.
• Acumen: Impact investor and social-enterprise builder with deep East Africa presence, focused on poverty alleviation through enterprise support. Comparable to JJF in mission framing around dignified jobs for underserved populations and partnership-driven delivery model.
• Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO): Kenya-based nonprofit operating community empowerment programs (education, health, economic inclusion) in Nairobi's Kibera and Mathare informal settlements. Closest direct peer to JJF given shared geography, beneficiary profile (youth and women in informal settlements), and integrated service model.
• Generation Kenya: Global nonprofit operating employment programs for youth in Kenya, providing skills training and job placement for NEET youth — the same primary segment JJF serves. Both organizations target employer demand signals and partner with corporates to place graduates.
• Carolina for Kibera (CfK): Community-based youth empowerment organization operating in Nairobi's Kibera informal settlement, providing leadership training, sports programs, and economic opportunities. Comparable to JJF in geography (Nairobi informal settlements), youth focus, and combination of sports and enterprise programming.

Emerging players

• Ananda Social Enterprise Foundation: Kenya-based nonprofit running youth skills training and entrepreneurship programs in informal settlements, including a focus on women entrepreneurs. Overlaps with JJF's Mini-MBA and women's economic empowerment work but at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jjfoundationke
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgKguZVPUUGZbgkxIPJPDjw
• Facebookfacebook.com/JonathanJacksonFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jonathan-jackson-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/jonathanjacksonfoundation
• TikToktiktok.com/@jjfkenya

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Jonathan Jackson Foundation