Keypoints:
- Aid cuts force nonprofits to adapt
- Training builds local fundraising skills
- Shift to sustainable growth models
AFRICAN nonprofits are moving to break free from foreign aid dependence through a new high-level fundraising programme that has opened in Nairobi.
The three-day course, Fundraising for African Nonprofits, has brought together civil society leaders, fundraising experts, grantmakers and policy specialists from across the continent to confront the sector’s toughest challenge: shrinking donor budgets and the urgent need for sustainable, homegrown funding.
The initiative is led by Impact Africa Consulting Limited (IACL) in partnership with the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, Bloodlink Foundation, the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) at Wits Business School, and United Muslim Relief.
Breaking from aid reliance
African nonprofits remain vital to health, education, climate resilience and livelihoods, yet most still depend heavily on external grants. Organisers say the new training is designed to help institutions close that gap by embedding long-term financial resilience into their operations.
‘This programme is about positioning African nonprofits for the future,’ said Dr Shariq Siddiqui, Director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University and Lead Trainer. ‘It combines global evidence with regional realities to help organisations move beyond short-term fundraising and design models that are data-driven, community-rooted and sustainable.’
Dr Edward Mungai, Lead Consultant at IACL, added: ‘African nonprofits must stop chasing grants and instead craft fundraising approaches that support long-term growth and impact.’
A tougher fundraising climate
The training responds to a shifting funding landscape. Aid flows are declining, competition for grants has intensified, and donors increasingly demand proof of measurable impact.
For many organisations, traditional partnerships with international funders are no longer enough. Instead, nonprofits are being pushed to diversify revenue streams, tap into local philanthropy, and forge stronger links with the private sector.
‘Competition for grants is incredibly high, and many strong initiatives are left unfunded,’ said Oscar Kimaro from Tanzania’s Private Agricultural Sector Support Trust. ‘This programme will show us practical ways to position our organisations for success.’
Tools for resilience
The course blends interactive sessions, simulations and case studies drawn from African realities. Participants are being trained in donor mapping, leadership alignment and resource diversification, ensuring lessons can be embedded directly into organisational strategies.
‘African nonprofits are often expected to deliver world-class results with limited resources,’ said Joseph Wang’endo, Senior Technical Officer at Africa CDC and Founder of Bloodlink Foundation. ‘By providing practical systems and frameworks for fundraising, this initiative gives them a fair chance to build reliable support.’
Across Africa, nonprofits are under pressure to fill service delivery gaps left by governments while meeting strict compliance demands from international funders. Organisers say this makes adaptable fundraising models critical to survival.
Preparing for the future
For many attendees, the course is both timely and transformative. ‘This training is giving us the skills and strategies to compete for grants more effectively and secure the resources we need to keep our programmes alive and growing,’ said Daniel Oluwasola of Nigeria’s One Life Initiative.
The programme will conclude on Thursday, August 28, with a fundraising conference featuring expert panels and case studies led by Dr Mungai. Participants will graduate with a Professional Development Certificate from Indiana University, 13 CFRE education points, and access to proprietary fundraising tools and donor behaviour reports.
By the end of the week, organisers say, African nonprofits will leave Nairobi with a clear mandate: take charge of their own fundraising future and build resilience beyond aid.
