Empowering the Poor, Inc. (ETP) is a Fredericksburg, Virginia-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a regional office in Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire in the western region of Africa.

Our mission is to empower poor communities to self-reliance with dignity in the United States and sub-Saharan Africa through culturally tailored and integrated educational, healthcare, and microfinance programs.

Vision

Empowering the Poor, Inc. (ETP) envisions a world where those who are blessed become a blessing to the impoverished. ETP seeks to engage in local and global poverty alleviation efforts, empowering the poor to self-reliance from Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States, to Tonhon, Côte d’Ivoire, Africa. Using a bottom to top paradigm and working directly with the poor, ETP aims to teach the poor how to fish rather than feeding them for one day, enabling them to lead sustainable and productive lives.

Core Values

Service: ETP staff members are servants first, dedicated to engendering self-reliance through effective targeting and culturally-tailored projects.

Professionalism: ETP expects commitment, compassion, innovation, and excellence from its staff. ETP is also committed to providing a collaborative and caring work environment for its staff, volunteers, interns, and partners.

Accountability: ETP is committed to responsibility and accountability at all levels, especially to the poor communities it is serving.

Respect for Traditions: ETP deeply respects cultural identity and integrates the customs and values of each community it serves through the design, implementation, and evaluation of all projects. ETP values and recognizes that globally women are the backbone of every society and that the African woman deserves special attention because they are the engine of Africa, yet they remain the poorest and most vulnerable sub population.

Stewardship: ETP is committed to being an effective steward of its donors' resources, applying these resources in ways that will achieve maximum impact.

Partnership: ETP values and strives to develop strong partnerships and collaborations with the private and public sectors, faith-based organizations, international institutions, NGO's, and all national governments.

Leadership: ETP is committed to enhancing leadership skills in the communities it serves with the focus on women and the youth.