Eleuthera Island Development Fund
Empowering Eleuthera: Private-Sector Solutions for Sustainable Growth
The Eleuthera Island Development Foundation (EIDF) is a strategic economic authority dedicated to bridging the gap between international philanthropic capital and local economic resilience.
Our Purpose, Mission and Symbiotic Partnership
The purpose of the Corporation is to promote economic empowerment and community development throughout The Bahamas, including but not limited to initiatives within Eleuthera, through strategic charitable and educational programs. The Corporation shall raise and distribute funds to support a broad range of community-based efforts, including workforce development, small business support, and sustainable economic growth initiatives designed to enhance the overall well-being of residents.
In furtherance of these purposes, the Corporation may collaborate with and support local organizations, including the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce (ECC), as well as other qualified entities, provided that all activities remain consistent with the Corporation’s independent charitable mission within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The EIDF is a strategic offshoot of the Eleuthera Chamber of Commerce (ECC). While the ECC remains the trusted, "boots on the ground" lead, focusing on daily member services and managing the thriving Eleuthera Business Hub (EBH), the EIDF handles macro-level strategy, large-scale grant writing, and international compliance. Together, this unique division of labor supercharges local business development without duplicating efforts or depleting island resources.
The Roadmap to Repeatable Impact
We don't build on assumptions. The EIDF operates on a rigorous, phased rollout designed to establish institutional legitimacy and deliver long-term community benefits:
Phase 1: Legal Infrastructure
We are finalizing our US-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. This crucial legal framework unlocks essential, tax-advantaged funding streams from international and US donors, making the Foundation a viable vehicle for large-scale philanthropic investment. Eleuthera Island Development Foundation (EIDF) is a strategic economic authority dedicated to bridging the gap between international philanthropic capital and local economic resilience. We are finalizing our US-based 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. This crucial legal framework unlocks essential, tax-advantaged funding streams from international and US donors, making the Foundation a viable vehicle for large-scale philanthropic investment.
Phase 2: Data & Governance
To ensure absolute transparency and investor trust, we are executing island-wide needs assessments. This foundational data collection maps current socio-economic conditions, isolates regional opportunity gaps, and directly informs a comprehensive 3-to-5-year Eleuthera Economic Development Plan.
Phase 3: Implementation
Moving from planning to action, Phase 3 launches our first annual visible initiatives, securing targeted project funding and establishing a predictable, repeatable cycle of community impact and reporting.
Potential Areas of Focus
Informed by direct feedback from recent business community forums, the EIDF will explore the viability of specific high-priority projects that drive immediate economic relief and sustainable growth. These include:
Managed Growth Roadmaps
Rapid development must not outpace natural and infrastructural limits. We gather rigorous data on the island’s carrying capacity—including water, power, and waste management limits—to provide investors with a predictable roadmap for stable, long-term capital investment that protects community interests and beach access.
Infrastructure Accountability Reporting
Poor infrastructure acts as an invisible tax on local businesses. The EIDF converts qualitative community frustrations into empirical, hard metrics. By quantifying the exact financial and operational loss caused by utility outages and administrative delays, we build an objective evidence base to hold service providers and entities accountable.
Workforce Development & Apprenticeships
To lift the ceiling on Eleuthera’s economic potential, we treat human capital as vital social infrastructure. The EIDF pinpoints exact localized skills gaps to facilitate agile, private-sector apprenticeship programs and vocational training modules.
Private Enterprise Partnerships (PEPs)
Execution is our primary currency. The EIDF establishes innovative Private Enterprise Partnerships to fully decouple urgent community needs—such as localized vocational training and waste management services—from government budget dependencies, ensuring critical projects move forward swiftly and efficiently.
MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chandra Sands
President
Terry Munroe
Vice President
Joseph Gaskins Jr.
Treasurer
Candice Turnquest
Secretary
John A C Benjamin
Board Member
Partner with Us for a Resilient Eleuthera
Whether you are an international donor looking for a transparent, tax-advantaged vehicle to support the island, or a local business owner ready to participate in our upcoming needs assessment, your voice and capital are vital to Eleuthera's future.
Contact: info@eleutherachamberofcommerce.com
Located at The Market Place Plaza, Rock Sound, Eleuthera