Fundacion Ecuatoriana por la Equidad Neque

Fundación Ecuatoriana por la Equidad Ñeque (Fundación Ñeque) is a philanthropic and socio‑environmental organization based in Ecuador that supports community‑led solutions to inequality, environmental degradation, and climate injustice. Founded to mobilize resources, strengthen local capacities, and promote equitable development, Ñeque bridges philanthropy with grassroots action in some of Ecuador’s most vulnerable territories.

Since its inception, Ñeque has worked to address structural social and environmental inequities by supporting initiatives led by Indigenous peoples, Afro‑Ecuadorian communities, women, youth, and rural populations. The foundation was created in response to persistent gaps in access to funding, decision‑making power, and visibility for community‑based organizations advancing environmental protection, gender equity, and social justice.

Ñeque’s mission is to promote socio‑environmental equity by channeling flexible philanthropic resources to local actors, fostering collaboration, and strengthening long‑term community resilience. Its work is grounded in the understanding that environmental conservation, climate action, and social justice are deeply interconnected and must be addressed together.

The foundation’s core areas of focus include climate justice, biodiversity conservation, gender equity, community governance, and inclusive local development. Ñeque prioritizes participatory grantmaking approaches, capacity strengthening, and trust‑based philanthropy, ensuring that communities have agency over the solutions that affect their territories and livelihoods.

Past and current activities include providing financial and technical support to grassroots organizations, facilitating learning spaces and networks among local leaders, supporting advocacy and community organizing efforts, and mobilizing resources for initiatives related to conservation, sustainable livelihoods, environmental defense, and social inclusion. Ñeque also works to amplify community voices within national and international philanthropic and policy spaces.

Looking ahead, Ñeque plans to expand its grantmaking portfolio, deepen long‑term partnerships with community organizations, and grow its role as a philanthropic intermediary connecting U.S. and international donors with locally led socio‑environmental initiatives in Ecuador. Future activities include scaling support for climate adaptation and mitigation projects, advancing gender‑responsive environmental action, strengthening community governance structures, and contributing to more equitable and inclusive philanthropic practices regionally.

Through its work, Fundación Ecuatoriana por la Equidad Ñeque seeks to contribute to a more just, resilient, and sustainable Ecuador by ensuring that communities most affected by inequality and environmental change are at the center of solutions.