The Idea

The story behind the Malian Foundation is one of tireless dedication, innovation, and a genuine desire to make the world a better place. The spark of how to transition that desire into reality presented itself to Simon Malian in January 2003 while on an assignment with IBM Business Consulting Services. He identified that support services were virtually exclusively geared towards commercial organisations, and that non-profits—without the financial backing and resources of the corporate world, were being left largely to their own devices.

This inequitable situation played on Simon’s social conscience, and ignited the spark of an idea as he saw the possibilities of creating an endeavour targeted solely to the work of charities. His vision was that this organisation could provide crucial technology and business solutions while circumventing the often extravagant costs put forth by for-profit consulting firms to cash-strapped non-profit organisations.

Simon carefully studied published academic literature and held interviews with non-profit organisations to identify the core issues they faced. Armed with this knowledge, Simon aimed to design a series of strategic and practical solutions, easily adapted to the needs of both large and small organisations. An internet-based structure, he deemed, would have the most significant impact, allowing organisations—no matter what their size, infrastructure, or location, access to knowledge.

This lead to the birth to Simon’s vision—an initiative entitled the Empowering Communities Program designed to allow non-profit organisations globally gain access to same level of expertise as corporate heavyweights, while at the same time developing, sharing, and growing the initiative into a priceless knowledge base that would advance humanitarian efforts through improved operational efficiencies.

Transitioning an idea into a reality is a time when many dreams are lost. Grand plans have been known to be frustrated, yet Simon overcame the hurdles, steaming forward to secure audiences and pitch his vision to local charities, non-government associations, management consulting firms, and government departments.

Receiving a positive, encouraging response from those he sought advice, Simon faced the rigours of sourcing a non-copyright or trademark-infringing name for the organisation that could be used in all countries and regions. After extensive research, Simon appeared to have exhausted all possibilities until a friend raised the spelling of his surname as being unique, and therefore potentially available worldwide. Simon later discovered registration was possible in all countries as well as all domain types. Simon’s vision now had a name: The Malian Foundation.

Over a number of months, built up a team, navigated the legalities, and personally bore the cost of establishment. The Malian Foundation was born.



The Early Days
Nothing worthwhile is ever easy and the formative days and months of The Malian Foundation were no exception. A lack of brand awareness in the marketplace made spreading the word to organisations of the Foundation’s free services a distinctly uphill battle. Thinly-veiled scepticism permeated meetings with decision-makers, where doubt was cast that an industry newcomer could partner successfully with a non-profit, understand the complexities of the venture, and still offer value.

Simon’s integrity, determination, and capacity to never-take-no for an answer served as the motivators he needed to maintain momentum and convince the decision-makers that he was as good as his word.

With no funds to cover expensive advertising or PR campaigns, Simon pinpointed word-of-mouth advertising as being the most effective way to ensure charities were aware of the free benefits offered within the Empowering Communities Program. Within months, early adopters of the service were reporting their delight, beginning a word-of-mouth campaign that quickly spread to others.

 

Steering the Growth
Despite Simon’s entrepreneurial attitude, commonsense dictated that for the Foundation to grow, experienced business heads needed to be added to the management mix that would complement Simon’s vision and provide the mentorship and business savvy crucial to responsible growth.

As a result, Simon hand-picked a team of advisors to fine-tune the Empowering Communities Program, bringing with them the industry credibility, authority, and experience the non-profit fraternity considered lacking.

Doubtful decision-makers in the non-profit industry slowly came on board—misgivings and scepticism making way for grudging respect, and eventually enthusiastic support.

Buoyed by new ideas and changes in industry perception prompted by prominent advisors joining the Empowering Communities Program, Simon expanded external involvement by assembling a high-profile Board of Directors for the Malian Foundation procured from the corporate world, academia, and the community4.

A wave of acceptance was building with recommendations of the Malian Foundation appearing in Craft Victoria’s Craft Almanac, the Grants and Funding Sources Guide by Victoria’s peak body for general practice, and later spreading overseas in Michigan State University’s Non Profit Resource Guide, Aspen Institute’s Grant Making and Philanthropy Guide, and more. Coverage was not limited to associations. Think-tanks such as the Eurological Centre for Democracy in Romania recognised the power and influence of the Empowering Communities Program in a comprehensive profile.

Growing international interest captured the interest of the media, with the Foundation gaining increasing attention in features and cover stories across print and electronic media—including India’s most widely distributed technology publication, Express Computer India, and Armenia’s NGO Gazette.

Worldwide recognition prompted the “establishment” to pay attention, with the Australian National Council on Drugs listing the Foundation alongside large Australian philanthropic initiatives of Microsoft and the Macquarie Bank.

With the Empowering Communities Program now capturing the attention of non-profits around the world, credibility was cemented with the United Nations Volunteers Program endorsing the Foundation’s work.

The newfound prominence of the Empowering Communities Program lead several non-profit organisations to approach the Foundation with a view to partnering on key projects—some of which required expertise beyond the Foundation’s capabilities. These requests pinpointed an additional need that contributed to the Foundation’s evolution—prompting the development of the Consulting Services Program in November 2004.

Simon’s initial vision for the Consulting Services Program—preparing fundraising proposals for charities, was surpassed beyond expectations as the program took on a life of its own, transitioning into full-service business consultancy products in response to customer demand. An example of the Consulting Services Program's work relates to a joint project established under the Consulting Services Program with India-based Goodwill Social Work Centre to establish Rural Community Technology Centres focusing on disadvantaged young women.
 

Today
Now providing management consulting and technology support services, Malian Foundation Consulting Services has attracted a large number of international partners providing in-person support. International partners of the Consulting Services Program, such as DeWitt & Associates, are very enthusiastic about the Program. As Brian DeWitt, the company’s president, recently said “It is a privilege to be affiliated with this pre-eminent Foundation that concerns itself with the health of non-profit organizations world-wide. We look forward to a long and productive relationship in providing counsel in fund-raising and marketing/communications to those organizations referred to us”. The Foundation now boasts partner offices around the world, with the list continuing to grow.

The groundbreaking Empowering Communities Program is known worldwide, and is featured across the internet globally. The program boasts more than 650 clients across 55 countries—a testament to the team’s indelible spirit, generosity of time, and an inbuilt social conscience that strives to help charitable organisations by implementing the Foundation’s core philosophy of “sharing our hopes and living our dreams”.

The Malian Foundation’s work led the World Association for Non-Government Organisations—the leading independent body for non-profit organisations, to award the Foundation its highest level of membership. Senior membership status, a highly prestigious designation, recognises non-profit organisations having a significant and positive impact on the international community. Misook Kim, Membership Director of WANGO, noted “We are delighted to recognize the Malian Foundation with the highest membership class in our Association. We know that the Malian Foundation shares in the concern of WANGO members to help charitable organizations globally to be more effective in accomplishing their missions and contributing to the betterment of our world”.
 

The Future

With a background of implementing new ideas that revitalise, challenge, and grow the operational capabilities of community organisations worldwide, the Malian Foundation provides free products and services that without a doubt touch and enrich the lives of people across the world daily.

The Malian Foundation will continue to plan, strategise and deliver community-focused solutions that provide the supportive framework for non-profits to enhance services to those in need through new partnerships and the strength of its existing clients, volunteers, staff members, and advisory boards.

Simon Malian’s selfless and tireless efforts to deliver on his personal dream, has been the catalyst that allows others across the world to live theirs.