Stephen Lewis Foundation

The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) is a Canadian nongovernmental organization focused on the HIV and AIDS response in Africa. It works primarily by raising funds in Canada and directing grants to grassroots organizations that are led by, accountable to, and embedded in the communities they serve. Its stated approach is based on the belief that community organizations are best positioned to understand local conditions and develop effective responses to HIV, AIDS, poverty, gender inequality, and related human-rights challenges. The foundation originated with an idea proposed by Stephen Lewis in a January 4, 2003 interview published in The Globe and Mail. Lewis, a former Ontario opposition leader and Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, drew attention to the scale of the AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa and suggested that Canadians should provide direct support. Readers responded with donations before the organization had been formally established. By June 2003, when the first project cheques were issued, contributions had reached $275,000, marking the beginning of the foundation's grant-making work. SLF's funding has supported organizations in 15 African countries, including Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its principal areas of work include support for children and young people affected by HIV and AIDS; assistance for grandmothers caring for orphaned children; home-based care; services and solidarity for people living with HIV; efforts to end gender-based violence; and health and human-rights initiatives for LGBTIQ communities. The foundation generally prioritizes smaller, community-rooted groups, although it has also funded larger initiatives in particular circumstances. A major public-facing initiative is the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, launched in Canada on March 7, 2006. The campaign connects Canadian grandmothers with African grandmothers who care for children orphaned or otherwise affected by AIDS. Canadian groups raise funds, educate their communities, and advocate for greater recognition of the work performed by African grandmothers. The initiative expanded rapidly, with more than 40 Canadian groups formed during its first five months, and developed into an international solidarity movement. A first large gathering in August 2006 brought together Canadian grandmothers and participants from Eastern and Southern Africa. The foundation also uses public education and advocacy to draw attention to structural inequality. In September 2013, it organized a people's tribunal in Vancouver where African grandmothers from several countries gave testimony about discrimination and the unequal burdens associated with HIV, AIDS, caregiving, and poverty. The foundation's public profile has also been associated with Stephen Lewis's speaking and advocacy work. Lewis was named Maclean's person of the year in 2003 and received the Pearson Peace Medal in 2004 for his efforts connected with the foundation and related humanitarian advocacy. Ilana Landsberg-Lewis, Stephen Lewis's daughter, served as executive director from the foundation's establishment in 2003 until 2020. Meg French became executive director in 2020; she previously worked with UNICEF and the United Nations and had longstanding ties to the foundation. The African Advisory Board is chaired by Graça Machel. By 2025, the foundation reported having raised more than $200 million for grassroots organizations at the forefront of the HIV response in Africa.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation emerged from public concern about the HIV and AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa. In an interview published by The Globe and Mail on January 4, 2003, Stephen Lewis argued that Canadians should respond to the crisis through direct support for African communities. Lewis brought substantial public credibility to the proposal. He had served as Ontario's opposition leader and as Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, and he had become a prominent international voice on HIV, AIDS, poverty, and human rights. The response was immediate. Readers sent donations before the foundation had formally been established, providing the early financial base for an organization that would concentrate on community-led action rather than building a large operating structure of its own. The first project cheques were mailed in June 2003, by which point donations had reached $275,000. From its beginning, the foundation's role was therefore principally that of a fundraiser, grant maker, and public advocate. SLF developed a funding model centered on organizations run by and for the communities affected by HIV and AIDS. Its partners have included groups serving children and young people, grandmothers and the children in their care, people living with HIV, and LGBTIQ communities. It has also supported home-based care and initiatives addressing gender-based violence. The foundation's grant-making philosophy gives particular weight to the participation of women, community members, and people living with HIV in organizational decision-making. Although it primarily supports grassroots organizations, it has sometimes provided funding for larger projects. The foundation's geographic work has extended across 15 African countries: Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its work connects HIV treatment and prevention with broader questions of caregiving, gender, stigma, sexuality, poverty, and human rights. This approach treats the epidemic as both a health crisis and a social-justice issue. In 2006, SLF launched the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign in Canada. The campaign was designed to create practical and emotional solidarity between Canadian grandmothers and African grandmothers caring for children orphaned or otherwise affected by AIDS. More than 40 Canadian groups formed within the first five months. In August of that year, the first Grandmothers to Grandmothers Gathering brought approximately 200 Canadian grandmothers together with 100 grandmothers from Eastern and Southern Africa. The campaign subsequently grew into an international solidarity movement and was later profiled in Paola Gianturco's book Grandmother Power. The foundation has also used public events to highlight voices that can be overlooked in conventional policy debates. On September 7, 2013, it hosted a people's tribunal in Vancouver, British Columbia. Six grandmothers from Eastern and Southern Africa gave personal testimony before judges including Theo Sowa, Joy Phumaphi, and Gloria Steinem. The event focused on discrimination, inequality, and the social and economic pressures facing African grandmothers supporting children and communities affected by HIV. Stephen Lewis continued to travel and speak on the foundation's behalf for many years. His work connected with the foundation was followed by recognition including Maclean's naming him person of the year in 2003 and the Pearson Peace Medal in 2004. Ilana Landsberg-Lewis served as executive director from the foundation's formation until 2020. Meg French became executive director in 2020; her previous work included roles with UNICEF and the United Nations, and she had longstanding connections with the foundation dating to her participation in the 2006 International AIDS Conference. Graça Machel chairs the African Advisory Board. By 2025, SLF reported that it had raised more than $200 million to support grassroots organizations at the forefront of the HIV response in Africa. The organization remains active as a Canadian foundation combining fundraising, grant making, community solidarity, and advocacy for health and human rights.

• 2025

  Reported fundraising surpasses $200 million

  [1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation reported having raised more than $200 million for grassroots HIV-response organizations in Africa.

• 2024

  Grandmothers campaign receives humanitarian recognition

  [1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign received the Lions Club International Humanitarian Award.

• 2020

  Meg French becomes executive director

  [1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Meg French succeeded Ilana Landsberg-Lewis as executive director.

• 2013

  People's tribunal held in Vancouver

  [1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  African grandmothers presented testimony about discrimination and inequality affecting their caregiving and community roles.

• 2006

  Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign launched

  [1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  SLF launched a Canadian campaign supporting solidarity with African grandmothers caring for children affected by AIDS.

• 2006

  First Grandmothers to Grandmothers Gathering

  [1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The first gathering brought together Canadian grandmothers and participants from Eastern and Southern Africa.

• 2003

  Stephen Lewis proposes the foundation's concept

  [1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  A January 4 interview in The Globe and Mail described the need for a Canadian response to the HIV and AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, prompting public donations.

• 2003

  Foundation established and first grants issued

  [1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation began its grant-making activity and mailed its first project cheques in June after receiving $275,000 in donations.

Canadian grant-making and advocacy foundation supporting community-led HIV, AIDS, health, and human-rights work in Africa.

• Grant program · 2003

  Community grantmaking

  The foundation provides financial support to community-led organizations across Africa. Grants are directed toward locally defined responses to HIV and AIDS, including care, prevention, treatment support, human-rights work, and services for communities that face marginalization. The model emphasizes participation by women, people living with HIV, and other community members in organizational decision-making.

• Solidarity and fundraising campaign · 2006

  Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign

  Launched in Canada in 2006, this campaign connects Canadian grandmothers with African grandmothers caring for children orphaned or otherwise affected by AIDS. Participating groups raise funds, share experiences, and increase public understanding of the social and economic responsibilities carried by African grandmothers. The campaign has developed into an international solidarity movement.

• Health and social support · 2003

  HIV and AIDS community support

  Supported initiatives address the practical and social consequences of HIV and AIDS for people living with HIV, children and young people, caregivers, and families. The foundation's portfolio includes home-based care and support for communities dealing with illness, bereavement, stigma, and disrupted livelihoods.

• Human-rights program

  Health and human-rights support for LGBTIQ communities

  SLF supports community organizations working at the intersection of HIV, health access, safety, and human rights for LGBTIQ people. The work forms part of the foundation's broader commitment to locally led responses for communities facing discrimination or exclusion.

• 2013People's Tribunal on African Grandmothers

  Canada · Africa

  SLF organized a public tribunal in Vancouver to examine discrimination and inequality affecting African grandmothers who support children and communities affected by HIV and AIDS.

  Outcome. Six grandmothers from Eastern and Southern Africa delivered personal testimony before a panel that included Theo Sowa, Joy Phumaphi, and Gloria Steinem.

  Source
• 2006Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign

  Canada · Africa · International

  The campaign builds solidarity between Canadian grandmothers and African grandmothers caring for children affected by AIDS. It combines fundraising, public education, relationship building, and advocacy.

  Outcome. More than 40 Canadian groups formed in the first five months. The initiative grew into an international solidarity movement and received the Lions Club International Humanitarian Award in 2024.

  Source

• 2020

  Change executive leadershipOther

  Background

  Ilana Landsberg-Lewis had served as executive director since the foundation's formation in 2003.

  Action taken

  Meg French became executive director.

  Aftermath

  The foundation continued its community-led HIV, health, and human-rights work under new executive leadership.

  Source

• 2006

  Launch the Grandmothers to Grandmothers CampaignStrategy

  Background

  African grandmothers were carrying major caregiving responsibilities for children orphaned or affected by AIDS.

  Action taken

  SLF created a Canadian solidarity and fundraising campaign linking Canadian grandmothers with African counterparts.

  Aftermath

  The campaign expanded rapidly and became an international movement focused on fundraising, public awareness, and recognition of African grandmothers' work.

  Source

• 2003

  Adopt a community-led grantmaking modelStrategy

  Background

  The foundation was created in response to the HIV and AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa and sought to support organizations closest to affected communities.

  Action taken

  SLF prioritized grassroots organizations run by and for their own communities, with attention to the participation of women, community members, and people living with HIV.

  Aftermath

  The model became the foundation's central operating approach across its African grantmaking portfolio.

  Source

• 2024

  Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign receives Lions Club International Humanitarian Award[1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The campaign was recognized with the Lions Club International Humanitarian Award.

• 2020

  Meg French becomes executive director[1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Meg French succeeded Ilana Landsberg-Lewis as executive director after Landsberg-Lewis's tenure from the foundation's establishment.

• 2013

  People's tribunal addresses discrimination against African grandmothers[1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign · Other

  The foundation hosted a Vancouver tribunal where African grandmothers presented testimony about inequality and the burdens of HIV-related caregiving.

• 2006

  Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign launches[1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The campaign was introduced to build solidarity between Canadian grandmothers and African grandmothers caring for children affected by AIDS.

• 2006

  First Grandmothers to Grandmothers Gathering held[1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Campaign

  The first major gathering brought together Canadian participants and grandmothers from Eastern and Southern Africa.

• 2003

  Stephen Lewis proposes a new response to the African AIDS crisis[1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  An interview with Stephen Lewis prompted donations from Canadian readers and led to the creation of the foundation.

• 2003

  Foundation issues its first project cheques[1]Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The foundation began issuing project funding in June after donations reached $275,000.

1. 1Stephen Lewis Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Stephen Lewis Foundation official websitestephenlewisfoundation.org