KILNS Fund

KILNS Fund was established in 2013 to enable the operations of  Kilns Kenya, a women-led non-profit in western Kenya that enables rural sustainable economic activities that generate income, enable social mobility for rural women and support forest conservation. We aim to do "real and permanent good," to quote Andrew Carnegie, by giving a hand up rather than a handout.

Kilns Kenya was founded by Claudia Damon to help local women-led community groups that operate potteries around Kakamega in western Kenya increase the manufacturing and sales of energy efficient fuel stove liners. Rural groups lack access to affordable capital and Kilns Kenya addresses this gap by providing micro-loans to help groups to scale their activities.

The clay stoves, known as "quick stoves" are ingenious, and affordable, made of readily available local clay. They burn 40% less wood than traditional cooking fires. The use of quick stoves helps communities reduce smoke inhalation from cooking fires and the amount of firewood and charcoal families need to buy or collect from the forest.

Since 2014 Kilns Kenya has enabled 8 women-led community groups to scale their energy-efficient clay stove liner production with over 16 projects. The projects range from clay stove liner production to kiln construction, clay mould purchases and construction of workshops and storage sheds. As climate change becomes a reality in rural communities, we also support borehole drilling and rainwater tank installations. The increased sales of stove liners have increased incomes by 10-16% for the community groups and their families.

In 2025 Kilns Kenya  launched a beekeeping project with small-scale farmers around Kakamega Forest aimed at enabling a sustainable income generating activities.

Beekeeping is also climate resilient and by using local bees the project is helping to conserve local bee species. Kilns provides hives, equipment, training, monitoring and harvesting support to farmers. Our aim to have apiaries around the forest that will act as evidence-based live “bee-fences” to deter illegal logging and poaching.

Visions Made Viable is delighted to serve KILNS Fund through fiscal sponsorship, administrative services for donations and consulting. Ninety percent of all donations goes directly to the community projects in Kenya. 

You may make a tax deductible contribution to KILNS Fund by clicking on the 'Donate' button below, or send a check payable to 'KILNS Fund' to:

Visions Made Viable

17595 Harvard Ave.

Suite C235

Irvine, CA  92614

Be sure to save the email you receive from PayPal as your receipt. Contributions made to or for KILNS Fund are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Visions made Viable will provide you a letter to document your charitable donation for tax purposes. KILNS Fund and Visions Made Viable provide no goods or services for your contribution.