The John Dau Foundation is fulfilling the dream of the former “Lost Boy” and genocide survivor John Dau to provide healthcare in the war-torn region of South Sudan by building and sustaining medical clinics and training community health workers.

The John Dau Foundation brings several unique strengths to transforming healthcare in South Sudan:

Powerful Fundraising: John Dau is an internationally recognized humanitarian and a powerful public speaker. He has been instrumental in raising over $1,000,000 since 2005 to build and sustain the Duk Lost Boys Clinic. With the concentrated efforts of the Foundation staff, the prospects for raising millions of dollars a year are excellent.

Ensuring the Money is Well Spent: During his extended visits to South Sudan, John provides advice on the operations and management of the Duk Lost Boys Clinic, suggestions for new programs and options for establishing new healthcare initiatives and clinics in South Sudan. As someone from the region, he also provides crucial advice in developing culturally appropriate policies.

Transparency Policy: The Foundation’s web site will present on a semi-annual basis the amount and sources of donations, and the amount and purposes of expenditures.

Containing Costs: The Foundation's policy is to spend no more than 20 percent of funds received on administrative and fundraising activities. In addition to John's significant volunteer service, which at today's market would be valued at $70,000 a year, JDF has received many in-kind donations:

  • The use of the Central New York United Way as a temporary office for John when he is in town
  • A free answering service to provide constant telephone contact by Finger Lakes Business Services, Inc. (www.callflas.com).
  • Organized support from Syracuse University student volunteers and part-time workers. The Foundation's Chairman of the Board, William Coplin, is a professor of public affairs in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and has been able to organize a large group of student volunteers, led by paid student managers, to do much of the fundraising work of the JDF. This includes public relations, web design and maintenance, donor relations, video design and other fundraising activities.
  • Faculty from the Maxwell School and the Newhouse School of Public Communications provide support through advising and coursework.


Transferring Support to the Government of South Sudan: John has strong ties to local governmental officials in South Sudan. His uncle, Philip Thon Leek, who was a governor of the State of Jongeli and is now a Minister of Transport in the Government of National Unity, has been instrumental in providing contacts and support from local citizens, Tribal Chiefs and the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movements and its Health Ministry. The government is now providing medical supplies and other support consistent with its limited capacity. The Duk Lost Boys Clinic is now leading coordination of medical services within Duk County, and serves as a model for success for the entire region.

Partnering with Other Efforts: The Foundation's mission is to raise funds to support new projects and monitor existing projects that it supports to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. Both John and JDF work closely with other organizations to maintain the clinic in Duk County, South Sudan. The Foundation seeks similar partnerships so that it can continue to support the projects both financially and through technical advice and advancements.