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Big Win Philanthropy (US)
Big Win Philanthropy was established in 2021 by Jamie Cooper, who previously co-founded the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) with her then-husband...
Big Win Philanthropy (US)
Big Win Philanthropy was established in 2021 by Jamie Cooper, who previously co-founded the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) with her then-husband Sir Christopher Hohn. The new foundation's initial endowment was drawn from the financial settlement of their divorce. From its base in Greens Farms, Connecticut, the organization pursues a model refined during Cooper's tenure at CIFF: high-trust partnerships with senior African political leaders, funding scalable programs that target measurable improvements in child and youth welfare. Big Win deploys grant capital into African-led initiatives spanning public health, education, early childhood development, and youth employment. The foundation structures its commitments as direct partnerships with national and city governments rather than through multilateral agencies or large implementing NGOs. Confirmed program countries include Ethiopia, where CEO Dr. Kesete Admasu — the country's former Minister of Health — brings deep operational knowledge of government delivery systems. The foundation also maintains a short-term investment fund to manage its endowment capital while grantmaking continues. Operating with a deliberately small team, Big Win relies on principal-level relationships rather than large program staff. CEO Admasu leads day-to-day operations alongside COO Christopher J. Klatell, with Cooper remaining active as President. Cooper holds additional governance roles aligned to the foundation's focus, including trustee positions at The Africa Center and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and membership on the Harvard Kennedy School Dean's Council. The foundation also maintains a related UK entity, Big Win Philanthropy (UK), expanding its operational footprint. Big Win's structural differentiator is its direct-to-government grantmaking architecture, which effectively treats partner nations as the implementing agency rather than layering external contractors onto government systems. This design — carried forward from Cooper's tenure at CIFF — aims to strengthen domestic delivery capacity while tying disbursements to population-level outcomes negotiated directly with presidents and ministers.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2021
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Greens Farms
Corporate office
Greens Farms, CT, United States
Principals
Jamie Cooper
Founder and President
Dr. Kesete Admasu
Chief Executive Officer
Christopher J. Klatell
Chief Operating Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment and grantmaking decisions at Big Win Philanthropy?
Jamie Cooper is Founder and President, setting overall strategy. Dr. Kesete Admasu serves as CEO, leading day-to-day operations and program execution. Cooper and Admasu's combined experience — she as CIFF co-founder, he as Ethiopia's former Minister of Health — centralizes grantmaking authority in a small leadership team without a large program-officer layer.
Where does Big Win Philanthropy's endowment come from?
The foundation's endowment originated from Jamie Cooper's divorce settlement with Sir Christopher Hohn, the founder of The Children's Investment Fund (TCI) and co-founder of CIFF. The settlement transferred significant assets to Cooper, a portion of which seeded Big Win Philanthropy in 2021.
How is Big Win Philanthropy related to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)?
Big Win is a separate foundation, but its founder Jamie Cooper co-founded CIFF with Sir Christopher Hohn. Cooper brings the same direct-partnership approach she developed at CIFF to Big Win, though the new foundation operates with a distinct endowment and governance structure independent of CIFF.
Which countries does Big Win Philanthropy currently operate in?
Confirmed engagement includes Ethiopia, where CEO Admasu's prior government role provides deep access. The foundation's model targets African nations with leaders willing to commit to measurable youth-development outcomes, with additional partnerships structured at both national and city-government levels across the continent.
Is Big Win Philanthropy structured as a US foundation or does it operate multiple entities?
Big Win maintains its primary US foundation based in Greens Farms, Connecticut, and also operates a linked UK entity, Big Win Philanthropy (UK). The dual structure supports cross-border grantmaking and may provide operational flexibility across different regulatory environments.
What investment stages or funding types does Big Win Philanthropy use?
Big Win does not operate as a venture investor in the traditional sense. Grantmaking takes the form of direct program funding tied to government delivery systems. The foundation maintains its endowment partially in short-term investment vehicles to preserve capital for ongoing disbursements while grant commitments are executed.
What is Jamie Cooper's role beyond Big Win Philanthropy?
Cooper serves on the Board of Trustees of The Africa Center, the Board of International Friends of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Harvard Kennedy School Dean's Council, and is a High-Level Council Member of the Aspen Institute's Leadership & Management for Development initiative. These roles reinforce the foundation's access to policy networks aligned to its African youth-development mandate.
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