About Us
Passion Ventures is funded by the Kevin & Deborah Bartz Foundation (KDBF). KDBF is dedicated to empowering individuals to serve the poor.
Our Team
Deborah Bartz - Co-Founder
Deborah earned her master’s and doctorate in Human Development and Education from Harvard University, and her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Gordon College. While at Harvard, she met her husband, Kevin, with whom she co-founded Passion Ventures. Raised as a missionary kid in Japan after being born in Singapore, Deborah’s international upbringing sparked an early awareness of global poverty and a lifelong commitment to economic empowerment. Today, she leads daily operations at Passion Ventures, learning alongside the program's Fellows to expand the foundation's impact. Deborah and Kevin live on Long Island, New York, with their four children, and are active members of their local church.
Kevin Bartz - Co-Founder
Raised in Hawaii with a lifelong passion for mathematics, Kevin co-founded Passion Ventures alongside his wife, Deborah. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Math and Economics from Caltech, as well as a master’s and doctorate in Statistics from Harvard University. While working full-time in quantitative finance, Kevin provides analytical guidance and strategic support to Passion Ventures, and he is always thrilled to review detailed spreadsheets and financial models from Fellows. When he’s not immersed in numbers, Kevin enjoys guest preaching and serving in his local church.
Paulina Song - Administrative Assistant
Paulina is a student at Asbury Theological Seminary pursuing a Master of Arts in Theological Studies. She has a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and has worked with organizations in France, Nigeria, Japan, and Vietnam. Paulina has a heart for international development and enjoys discussing theology with her friends.
Charis Loh - Advisor
Charis provides strategic advice to Passion Ventures. In her prior work, she managed research projects on topics such as foundation effectiveness, time-limited philanthropy, and strengthening grantees. She received her B.A. in Political Science from Tufts University and her master's degree in Political Science from MIT. Based in Cambridge, MA, she enjoys spending time with her family and their church community.