Opportunity is born in people
Opportunity is born in people
Our values
We were born from the joy of giving.
And from the conviction that it is possible to eradicate poverty by building a more just and free world, opening opportunities for all people to develop their full potential and choose where in the world they want to be.
We share our experience
We want to share our experiences and knowledge to encourage people to think differently about tackling poverty and inequality, and to make better use of the resources we all possess.
We don't limit ourselves to one way of giving
We foster and implement alternative mechanisms to contribute more sustainably to social change, opting for hybrid funding models that promote freedom and enhance human dignity.
Collaboration is crucial for change
We believe that collaboration is crucial for change, that alliances between different sectors and entities multiply impact, and that together we go further.
An approach based on learning
Our approach is to experiment, make mistakes and learn in order to identify more effective strategies for improving the development prospects of the most vulnerable people. While we value rigour, we are also grounded in trust in the individual.
Work and patience
We know it's not easy, that it requires time and work, patience and perseverance, and we are on the path, with humility and generosity, always open.
Our values
Our values
Our story
Open Value stems from a long-term commitment to impact from its founders, María Ángeles León and Francisco García Paramés.
For over 25 years, they have dedicated part of their personal fortune to initiatives that improve the lives of vulnerable communities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
Initially, through traditional philanthropy, they later adopted more sustainable approaches, inspired by pioneers like Acumen and Yunus Social Business. That journey gave rise to the Open Value Foundation (OVF) in 2017.
Our story
Open Value was born out of the social commitment of its founders, María Ángeles León and Francisco García Paramés, who for over 25 years have dedicated part of their family assets to initiatives that improve the lives of vulnerable communities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
Initially through traditional philanthropy, they later adopted more sustainable approaches aligned with their professional trajectory, inspired by pioneers such as Acumen and Yunus Social Business. That journey led to the establishment of the Open Value Foundation (OVF) in 2017.
Our story
Open Value stems from a long-term commitment to impact by its founders, María Ángeles León and Francisco García Paramés. For over 25 years, they have dedicated part of their personal wealth to initiatives that improve the lives of vulnerable communities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
Initially, through traditional philanthropy, they later adopted more sustainable approaches, inspired by pioneers like Acumen and Yunus Social Business. That journey gave rise to the Open Value Foundation (OVF) in 2017.
Where do we come from
Where do we come from
A family ecosystem where knowledge, values and impact converge
Open Value is part of Santa Comba, a family ecosystem founded by María Ángeles León and Francisco García Paramés, where each initiative operates independently, but all the teams share the same philosophy and long-term vision.
This intentional collaboration creates synergies that amplify financial and social impact, multiplying the value of each party.
Where we come from: a family ecosystem where knowledge, values and impact converge
Open Value is part of Santa Comba, a family ecosystem founded by María Ángeles León and Francisco García Paramés, where each initiative operates independently, but all the teams share the same philosophy and long-term vision.
The financial and social impacts of this collaboration are amplified by the synergies created. The value of each party is increased by these synergies.
Santa Comba Ecosystem
Selected:
Capital flows
- From Cobas AM to Santa Comba and from Santa Comba to OVF, GSI, and Value School. From GSI to OVF.
Knowledge flows
- Internal exchange of expertise, know-how, and insights.
- Bidirectional flows, particularly Cobas → GSI and OVF → GSI.
Ecosystem impact flows
- Knowledge sharing (external contribution).
- From all entities towards Santa Comba or outwards.
Selected:
Capital flows
- From Cobas AM to Santa Comba and from Santa Comba to OVF, GSI, and Value School. From GSI to OVF.
Knowledge flows
- Internal exchange of expertise, know-how, and insights.
- Bidirectional flows, particularly Cobas → GSI and OVF → GSI.
Ecosystem impact flows
- Knowledge sharing (external contribution).
- From all entities towards Santa Comba or outwards.
