The AVOCADO Foundation was founded in 2014 by Carol Akinwunmi MBE. Its mission is now to eradicate the economic inequalities experienced by Black and Ethnically Minoritised communities.

1. Their Work

   The AVOCADO Foundation was founded in 2014 by Carol Akinwunmi MBE. Carol identified issues with the ways in which Black and Ethnically Minoritised pupils were being supported, whilst a school governor. She set-up The AVOCADO Foundation to support young people’s financial literacy and entrepreneurial skillsets. Its mission is now to eradicate the economic inequalities experienced by Black and Ethnically Minoritised communities. It runs AVOCADO+, an accelerator programme, improving the capacity, resilience, and funding sustainability of Black and Ethnically Minoritised social enterprises. It also runs AVOCADO+ Lite – an 8-week summer executive programme for Black and Ethnically Minoritised-led non-profit leaders.

2. Catalysing AVOCADO: The Programme

   Do it Now Now (DiNN) and its ‘Make it Big’ programme, have worked provided financial support, as well as bespoke training and capacity-building opportunities, to AVOCADO. Indeed, the Make it Big programme –  catalysed by Pathway Fund – helps Black and Ethnically Minoritised organisations, like AVOCADO, to build their financial resilience and operational readiness, whilst raising social investment.

3. The Impact

   DiNN’s programme has helped AVOCADO to increase their ability to raise funds and manage their finances effectively. AVOCADO+ and AVOCADO+ Lite generate revenue, which, in turn, sustains the organisation. The Make it Big programme has allowed these programmes to expand, thereby allowing the organisation’s financial sustainability to be strengthened. Indeed, AVOCADO has harnessed the programme’s offering, allowing it to conceive a "Community Catalyst Initiative'' to expand its work beyond London. AVOCADO now operates in Nottingham, West Yorkshire, and Liverpool, supporting over 200 organisations, in turn. It helps them to broker new partnerships and recruit training staff, too.

4. What’s Next?

   AVOCADO is digitising its AVOCADO+ curriculum, which will consist of a series of online modules that deliver the same content as the current in-person courses. These modules will be interactive and engaging, featuring multimedia elements such as videos, quizzes, and downloadable resources. This format will allow learners to progress at their own pace and revisit materials as needed. The online learning platform will be designed to be accessible and user-friendly for all learners, regardless of technical expertise. It will be optimised for use on a variety of devices, including computers, tablets, and smartphones, allowing them to reach an ever-increasing number of people and become more financially sustainable, for those that they work to benefit.