About us

In a world where more than 1 billion people live without access to light - sustainable and inclusive development remain a challenge. Life is restraint by darkness, making  studying, working, productive activities or recreation after sunset impossible. It is our mission to help end this imbalance by enabling sustainable access to light for underserved communities around the world.

To fulfill this mission, we partner with actors to enable light access for educational institution, health facilities and communities, empowering community members to be safer, active and economically productive after sunset. 

The Foundation’s Board is responsible for the strategy, policies, performance and operation of the foundation. The majority of the Board members are independent, i.e. not employed by Signify.

The Foundation is operationally managed by its Director and supported by the operations team.

Signify Group, as the primary donor of the Foundation, so far, has illuminated lives for over 125 years. The foundation is building on this legacy by empowering and providing lighting for underserved communities. The Foundation is independent in its governance, decision making functioning. However, we leverage on the company’s lighting expertise, technical and operational support and its influence in the lighting sector to enhance the Foundation’s ability to light up lives. 

Signify Group also has its own corporate social responsibility program, which focuses on lighting lives in underserved communities where the company operates. Employee volunteering is also done through this program. 

Yes. Prior to an engagement with an NGO/social enterprise (thereafter referred to as ‘applicant’), a screening process is initiated that allows the Foundation to perform an assessment of the applicant’s ethical standards and the bribery or corruption risks attached to a possible engagement.  

The process begins with an initial collection of general information and registration from the applicant. The collected information is then submitted to the Signify Internal Audit team, which supports the Foundation in performing compliance checks. 

The scope of the compliance screening includes (but is not limited to):

• Authentication of applicant’s registration information, its board of trustees/directors and managers

• Media review of the organization profile and footprint, including an assessment on the reputation and neutrality

• Examination of the principals’ backgrounds and public profiles

• Global and country specific compliance, sanctions and watch-lists databases check (including but not limited to political exposure, bribery/corruption, money-laundering, fraud, or terrorism).

The results of the screening are shared with the Foundation team. If any red flags come up, the Foundation team will be requested, if appropriate, to address any red flags by way of mitigation. After review of the addressed actions, the Internal Audit team issues a report and a positive or negative recommendation to the Foundation team. 

In addition, the Foundation’s due diligence scope also covers financial health checks and reviews of applicants’ vision, mission, strategy, resource, past projects, etc., which are conducted by the Foundation team.

Sustainability is at the heart of our approach. We enable leapfrogging of communities from fossil based lighting solutions to solar lighting powered & LED technology. We are also piloting models of circular lighting in off-grid contexts where the product remains the property of the distributor/entrepreneur and only the light is procured by the end user.

We are also actively working with GOGLA and other sector peers to stimulate grass root level solutions for solar waste management for end of use of the technology that we help to bring to a community.

Employees are invited to nominate projects within the scope of the strategic pillars.To nominate a project please contact your foundation team or local CSR champions.

Note – project selection criteria are explained under Q6.