Tutaweza, a Swahili term roughly translated as "confidence in the future", was founded by a group of friends and family who were impacted by the need in Tanzania and saw small opportunities to assist its people. Through contacts developed while traveling and volunteering in Tanzania, the founders set up a system to select students and administer funds.

All board members and officers of Tutaweza, as well as the in-country representative, are volunteers and receive no financial compensation for their participation. In fact, the founders' contributions cover all administrative costs. As a result, 100% of the money collected is spent exactly as the donors intend - helping Tanzanians in need!