Our foundation exists to transform individual potential into lasting community impact. We focus on practical, evidence-based programs that remove barriers to success and create pathways to stability and growth. By investing in education, workforce development, housing stability, and mental health services, we help people move from crisis to self-sufficiency.

Key priorities

Education and skills: Fund early childhood literacy, after-school programs, vocational training, and adult education to build the skills people need for today’s economy.
Workforce pathways: Partner with employers and training providers to create apprenticeships, certification programs, and job placement services that lead to living-wage work.
Housing stability: Support emergency shelter services, rapid rehousing, and long-term affordable housing solutions to prevent homelessness and promote stable family environments.
Behavioral and mental health: Expand access to counseling, substance-use treatment, and trauma-informed care so individuals can heal and fully participate in work and community life.
Financial capability: Offer financial coaching, tax assistance, and matched-savings programs that help families build assets and withstand economic shocks.
Systems change: Advocate for policy reforms and coordinate across sectors to remove structural barriers and scale what works.

How we measure impact

Outcomes-focused metrics: Track educational attainment, employment and retention rates, housing retention, reductions in emergency service use, and improvements in mental-health indicators.
Data-driven learning: Use regular evaluation and participant feedback to refine programs and allocate resources to the most effective interventions.
Longitudinal tracking: Follow participants over time to assess durable changes in income, stability, and well-being.

Partnership approach

Community-led design: Co-create programs with local residents and service providers to ensure solutions are culturally responsive and relevant.
Cross-sector collaboration: Work with schools, employers, health systems, nonprofits, and government to coordinate services and reduce duplication.
Capacity building: Provide grants, technical assistance, and leadership development to strengthen local organizations and scale proven models.

Funding strategy

Strategic investments: Prioritize funding for evidence-based programs with clear plans for sustainability and scale.
Blended finance: Leverage public, private, and philanthropic capital, including outcome-based contracts and social-impact investments.
Transparency and stewardship: Maintain rigorous financial oversight and clear reporting to donors and partners.

Advocated for inclusive policies and collaborated with government agencies, schools, and private sector partners to scale impact.

Leadership style and vision Tokpa emphasizes participatory leadership, engaging beneficiaries, local leaders, and stakeholders in program design and implementation. Her vision centers on creating sustainable, community-led solutions that enable long-term self-sufficiency rather than short-term aid.

Recognition and impact Under Tokpa’s direction, the Foundation for Changing Lives has reached thousands through direct services, training workshops, and community outreach. The foundation’s model focuses on measurable outcomes—school retention, job placement rates, and improved household incomes—to track progress and refine interventions.

Personal background Tokpa’s commitment to social change is informed by hands-on experience in grassroots organizing and nonprofit management. She is known for building partnerships, securing funding for scalable programs, and championing initiatives that prioritize dignity and agency for participants.

Leemu K. Tokpa has dedicated her life in bringing this vision to live by forming the Foundation for Changing Lives. A nonprofit organization dedicated to improving social, educational, and economic outcomes for underserved communities. With a background in community development and social entrepreneurship, Tokpa has led programs focused on youth empowerment, skills training, and access to quality education.

Key contributions and initiatives

Founded the Foundation for Changing Lives to address systemic barriers that limit opportunity in marginalized communities.
Designed and implemented mentorship and scholarship programs that support students from primary through tertiary levels.
Launched vocational training initiatives that equip young people and adults with marketable technical and entrepreneurial skills.
Promoted community health and wellness projects, including awareness campaigns and partnerships with local clinics to improve access to basic health services

❊ About Us

Group of children gathered closely together, some sitting and others standing, with a woman in colorful traditional attire seated in front. The children are holding or reaching for food containers of rice. The background shows a crowded setting with more children and adults.

A group of children gathered around a table with foil-covered containers, some looking directly at the camera. The scene appears to be indoors with other children standing in the background.

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Our Story Begins Here