Our founder
Francis Koroma
Founder & President
Activating the leaders of today, not tomorrow — building a foundation that invests in young changemakers across Africa and beyond.
2023 High-Level Political Forum, UN Headquarters, where Francis served as Lead Discussant on SDG 6 — clean water and sanitation.
Who Francis is
Building from the belief that every young person deserves a chance to lead
Francis Koroma is a social entrepreneur and philanthropist from Sierra Leone, now based in New York. As founder and president of the Francis Koroma Foundation, he is committed to supporting high-achieving young people who face financial barriers — equipping them with scholarships, mentorship, and global exposure to become the next generation of changemakers.
The foundation, established in 2023, reflects his own journey: a first-generation student who rose through rigorous academics, mentorship, and determination, and who now applies that same rigor to identifying and supporting the brightest minds across Africa. He is completing a BA in Political Science and Statistics at Columbia University, and his work has been recognized by the United Nations, Forbes, and leading global institutions.
The journey
From student to changemaker
Francis's journey began as a first-generation student navigating barriers that many talented young people face. Growing up in Sierra Leone and the US, he witnessed brilliant minds held back not by lack of ability, but by lack of access — mentorship, exposure, and belief.
Rather than accept this as inevitable, he began seeking out mentors, earning a place at Columbia University, and speaking publicly on youth leadership. Each step reinforced a conviction: young people don't need to wait to lead — they need to be activated now.
Speaking, advising, building networks
Over the past years, Francis has spoken at the United Nations, Forbes, Columbia, and high schools across Africa. He has advised emerging nonprofits on scaling impact, mentored young entrepreneurs across continents, and built networks connecting young leaders to global opportunities.
His work has been recognized by institutions from the UN to Common Purpose, and his voice has shaped conversations on youth empowerment, African development, and nonprofit innovation.
But speaking and advising, while meaningful, felt incomplete. He wanted to build something lasting — a structure that could scale support to hundreds of young people.
Founding the Foundation (2023)
In 2023, Francis established the Francis Koroma Foundation. It was a distillation of everything he'd learned: what young people need, how mentorship works, where the barriers lie, and how to build systems that last.
The Foundation channels his commitment into tangible support: scholarships for rigorous students, mentorship networks connecting young people to experienced leaders, and platforms for young voices to be heard on the global stage. “Activating the leaders of Today, not Tomorrow” became more than a motto — it became operational philosophy.
Impact across eight nations
Today, the Foundation's network spans Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and beyond — places where the need is greatest. We identify high-achieving students early, support them through secondary school and university, and equip them with mentorship, exposure, and belief.
Our 300+ volunteer mentors span boardrooms, universities, and social enterprises globally. Each one is committed to guiding the next generation of changemakers — not someday, but now.
On the record
Education & speaking
Education
Columbia University
Bachelor of Arts — Political Science and Statistics
Jul 2025 – May 2027
Orientation Leader for Incoming Spring 2026. Active in campus leadership and social impact initiatives.
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Associate of Arts and Sciences — Public and Nonprofit Administration
Aug 2022 – May 2025
Honors: National Society of Leadership and Success, BMCC Foundation Scholar, Dean's List, Abner B. Rosenfield Award for Outstanding Scholarship/Citizenship 2025.
Speaking engagements
Global forum · New York, NY · 2024
UN ECOSOC Youth Forum
Spoke on youth empowerment and global leadership pathways at the UN Economic and Social Council in New York.
Industry conference · Miami, FL · 2024 & 2025
ForbesBLK Summit
Panel participant discussing leadership development for underrepresented communities and philanthropic innovation.
Government & diplomacy · Washington, DC · 2024
U.S. Department of State — MSI Conference
Invited by the Department of State to join Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken for the second annual Minority Serving Institutions Conference, on connecting diversity across the spectrum of U.S. foreign policy.
Youth dialogue · Sierra Leone · 2025
Unfiltered 2.0: Say It. Ask It. Shift It.
FKF joined young leaders in Sierra Leone for dialogue with the Minister of Youth Affairs and the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs.
Nonprofit leadership · New York, NY · 2024
Forbes Nonprofit Council
Contributing author and speaker on scaling impact, youth agency, and building sustainable social enterprises.
University talk · New York, NY · 2023–2024
Columbia University
Guest lecturer on social entrepreneurship, nonprofit governance, and pathways to purpose-driven careers for students.
Media & thought leadership · Various platforms · 2023–present
Podcast & interviews
Regular guest on leadership and social impact podcasts, sharing insights on youth mentorship and African leadership.
Community engagement · NYC & Freetown · Ongoing
High School Talks
Motivational speaker at secondary schools across NYC and Sierra Leone, inspiring young people to pursue education and leadership.
Recognition
Honors & awards
African Pacesetter for Development Award
United Nations · May 2022
Awarded by the African Renaissance and Diaspora Network (ARDN) at the UN Trusteeship Council Chambers for exceptional youth leadership and development work. Recognized as one of eight young pacesetters from Africa and the diaspora for transformative impact in their communities.
25Under25 Global Legacy Award
Common Purpose · Mar 2023
Recognized as a changemaker for youth empowerment and leadership development within the global Common Purpose network.
CUNY Honors Business Hub
Macaulay Honors College · Nov 2023
Selected for the CUNY Honors Business Hub, a program strengthening the pathway from honors education to career leadership for underrepresented students.
Yale Young Global Scholars Ambassador
Yale University · Aug 2018
Selected as an alumni ambassador to advance the Yale Young Global Scholars mission of developing socially conscious leaders.
Beyond the foundation
Beyond the Foundation, Francis serves as a TEDx Facilitator, Forbes contributor, and UN Speaker. He advises emerging nonprofits on scaling impact, speaks regularly on youth empowerment and African development, and mentors young entrepreneurs across continents.
He believes that sustainable change happens when young people are trusted, resourced, and given a real seat at the table — not as beneficiaries, but as changemakers and decision-makers.
His full professional record, including certifications, is on his personal website.
Join the movement
Whether you are a young leader seeking mentorship, a mentor wanting to guide the next generation, or a partner in our mission, there's a place for you in the Francis Koroma Foundation.