Teresa Clarke has served a wide range of philanthropies across her career, but at present, her energies are focussed on the following organizations, three of which she chairs:
- Chair, Board of Advisors, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
- Chair, Student Sponsorship Programme
- Chair, Friends of the Legal Resources Centre of South Africa
- Advisory Board, Harvard Business School Digital, Data and Design Institute
- Africa Advisory Council, Human Rights Watch
Below please find links to each of these organizations.
Institutional Leadership & Cultural Stewardship
Teresa serves as Chair of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, providing governance oversight and strategic leadership for one of the nation’s premier cultural institutions with the largest collection of African art in the world.
The museum advances scholarship, curates world-class collections, and deepens global understanding of African art and its diasporic influence.
The museum currently presents Here: Pride and Belonging in African Art, the first major exhibition dedicated to African LGBTQ artists. The exhibition expands representation within a leading global institution elevating underrepresented voices with scholarly purpose and care.
Education & Opportunity
Teresa founded the Student Sponsorship Programme (SSP) of South Africa 25 years ago. The organization expands access to high-quality secondary education for academically talented students from underserved communities. Since inception, SSP has funded over 1,500 students, having a significant impact on South Africa’s leadership pipeline.
SSP identifies high-achieving students and supports their placement in leading South African private schools, providing full scholarships, mentorship, and sustained guidance throughout their academic journey. The program’s goal is not only academic success, but leadership development and long-term opportunity.
Human Rights & Constitutional Democracy
Friends of the Legal Resources Centre (FoLRC), supports the work of South Africa’s premier public interest law organization, the Legal Resources Centre (the LRC). The LRC is now in its 46th year, and is the largest public law organization on the continent, with nearly 100 attorneys and staff.
The LRC advances constitutional democracy through litigation and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable and marginalized communities. Its work spans education rights, land rights, housing, gender equality, and access to justice.
AI & Digital Business Leadership
The Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard implements an advisory council to oversee the reinvention of the future of AI-driven and digital businesses.
The Institute’s Advisory Council is made up of top business executives with diverse expertise and global perspectives invaluable to the mission of driving the future of business. The Council members partner with Harvard faculty within the Institute as well as Institute leadership to build and scale the structures needed to translate research findings into practical business solutions and application within industry.
“Our role on the Advisory Council transcends advisory; we’re here to drive a fundamental shift in how businesses leverage AI and digital technologies. It’s about creating leaps in innovation and growth for the digital age.”
Human Rights Leadership
Teresa serves on the Advisory Council for Human Rights Watch Africa, contributing to strategic dialogue and institutional support for one of the world’s leading human rights organizations.
Human Rights Watch documents and reports on abuses, advances accountability, and works to uphold international human rights standards. Teresa’s involvement reflects her belief that strong, independent institutions are critical to protecting civic space and democratic norms.
Among Human Rights Watches hundreds of impactful achievements are the following:
- Congo Warlord Gets 30 Years
- Protecting Children’s Online Data
- Victory for People with Disabilities in Mexico
- Addressing Racist Policing in Brazil
- Canadian Provinces Abolish Immigration Detention
- Japan’s Diet Passes Pro-LGBT Law