KILNS Fund

KILNS Fund was established in 2013 by Claudia Damon to help local women-led community groups in western Kenya increase the manufacturing and sales of energy efficient fuel stoves. These stoves-known as "quick stoves" are made of readily available local clay and burn 40% less wood than traditional 3-stone cooking fires.  

The use of quick stoves helps communities conserve the remarkable Kakamega rainforest, reduces carbon emissions, reduces smoke inhalation from cooking fires and helps villagers spend less money purchasing firewood or charcoal.

Claudia is a retired attorney from New Hampshire who saw firsthand the challenges of local villagers living near the Kakamega Forest during a summer spent visiting her sister, a biology professor at Columbia University, who has been conducting research in the Kakamega Forest for many years.

After meeting with and spending time understanding how local groups already making and selling quick stoves work, Claudia decided she could help them scale their manufacturing capabilities and businesses through access to micro loans.

Our  focus is on increasing economic and social mobility for rural women and their communities and on supporting forest conservation and sustainability. We aim to do "real and permanent good," to quote Andrew Carnegie.

KILNS Fund operates in Kenya through the Kilns Community based Organization (CBO). Please visit our website to learn more about our story, see photos of completed projects and meet our teams.  Kilns CBO vets all community group partners and trains them to develop a business plan and a loan repayment plan. We are proud to have a 100% loan repayment rate. 

We have completed over 16 projects since inception. The projects range from clay stove liner production to kiln construction, clay mold 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.

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.