Nonprofits | Philanthropy 2025: ISAM GHANIM

Ghanim returned to ChildFund International in 2022, becoming its ninth president and CEO. He previously was vice president for the Africa region, vice president of global operations and executive vice president for programs before leaving to serve as Search for Common Ground’s president in 2018.

ChildFund, previously named the Christian Children’s Fund, spent $169 million in 2024 on programs focused on basic education, nutrition, early childhood development, health and sanitation, emergencies and micro-enterprise. The 85-plus-year-old nonprofit operates in 23 countries. Its programs and services reached 24.3 million children and families in 2024.
ChildFund has taken a strong stance against online sexual abuse of children, running a national campaign in the United States called #TakeItDown to build support for legislation to force technology companies to protect children online. In May, President Donald Trump signed the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act.

Born and raised in Sudan, Ghanim earned a master’s degree from the University of Khartoum and began his international development career with CARE Sudan. He serves on the board of InterAction, a U.S.-based alliance of international NGOs and partners. .

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