The work of The J9 Foundation is supported by several key partners. They include:

BetterWorld Together Foundation

The California-based foundation is working with The J9 Foundation to develop the tools necessary to replicate the pilot J9 Entrepreneurs Project in Kenya.

Community Aid International

Community Aid International (www.communityaid.org) is a Nairobi, Kenya-based non-governmental organization working in the areas of poverty reduction and social justice.

CAI serves as both a strategic partner to The J9 Foundation in the development of the J9 Entrepreneurs Project and also the implementing partner of the pilot project in Bondo District, western Kenya.

Future Business Leaders of America

The J9 Foundation has partnered with the FBLA Chapter at GlynAcademyHigh School in a pilot venture capital project. The chapter invests in businesses developed and run by graduates of the J9 Entrepreneurs project in Kenya.

GlynnAcademyHigh School 

GlynnAcademy, a public high school in Brunswick, Ga., hosts the Jacob J Nyenhuis Scholarship, awarded each year to a graduating senior who articulates a passion for both entrepreneurship and compassionate service. Jacob graduated from GlynnAcademy in 2006.

Heart for Africa

Heart for Africa (www.heartforafrica.org) is a U.S.-based nonprofit, faith-based humanitarian organization that brings HOPE to Africa in the areas of Hunger, Orphans, Poverty and Education. The organization specializes in bringing people from North America to work in service projects alongside local partners in three African countries: Kenya, Malawi, and Swaziland.

In support of the J9 Entrepreneurs Project, Heart for Africa brings business leaders and entrepreneurs to the project site in Kenya to serve as trainers, mentors and encouragers for the young entrepreneurs.

Jaynine, Ltd.

A Kenyan corporation majority owned by The J9 Foundation, Jaynine Ltd. provides construction materials and services for projects in Kenya’s Lake Victoria region. The company has two primary purposes: 1) serves as a model enterprise to help train J9 Entrepreneurs, 2) a portion of the company’s profits support the entrepreneurship project.

University of Wisconsin 

The university provided an intern in 2008 to support the J9 Entrepreneurs Project in Kenya. The intern earned university credit for his work assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the pilot project. Recommendations from his paper are being incorporated into the project.