Maya Makkawi

Maya Makkawi is Vice President of Partnerships and Operations at Acumen America, a leading impact focused venture capital firm backing innovative solutions to poverty in America. Maya leads fundraising and partner engagement with leading corporations, foundations, family offices and other partner organizations while managing the organization’s operations. Since joining in 2021, she has helped drive over $30M in philanthropic capital, managed complex funder relationships and overseen governance processes, budgeting and strategic initiatives.

Prior to joining Acumen America, Maya worked with Ajialouna, the women-led nonprofit committed to alleviating poverty in Lebanon by ensuring access to quality healthcare, educational opportunities, food security, and women empowerment programs. Serving as the Head of Partnerships for Special Projects, she supported fundraising efforts of more than $740k in grants and corporate funding and led partner and donor engagement and impact reporting for emergency relief and recovery initiatives following the Beirut port explosion in 2020. Her work included managing grant proposals and reporting, fostering partnerships and networks with local NGOs and international agencies, and coordinating residential and small business relief rehabilitation efforts.

Prior to pivoting to the social impact space, Maya held senior roles with the Hariri Group, a large family-owned conglomerate which she joined in 2007. She worked across project finance, restructuring and liquidations and investment banking deals in the Middle East and Europe.

Maya holds an MSc degree in Law & Accounting from The London School of Economics and Political Science, a BBA in Finance from The American University of Beirut and executive education certifications in venture capital and M&A from NYU and Columbia Business School.