A continental fundraising course has been opened in Nairobi to address one of the most pressing concerns for civil society organizations across Africa: how to finance their work sustainably in the face of declining foreign aid and changing donor priorities. The program, Fundraising for African Nonprofits, has drawn participants from several African countries, including leaders of civil society organizations, fundraising professionals, grant makers, and policy experts. Its purpose is to strengthen the capacity of nonprofits to move beyond traditional dependency on external grants and instead develop homegrown, practical strategies for long-term financial resilience.
The three-day course has been convened 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 at Wits Business School, and United Muslim Relief. It has been scheduled to run from 26 to 28 August 2025, with two intensive training days followed by a seminar and fundraising conference on the third day.
At the opening session, Dr. Shariq Siddiqui, Director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University and Lead Trainer, underscored the importance of the initiative as a step toward repositioning African nonprofits for the future. He noted that the program has been deliberately designed to combine international evidence with the realities of African philanthropy, helping organizations to design approaches that are informed by data, rooted in their communities, and able to withstand volatile funding environments.
His sentiments were echoed by Dr. Edward Mungai, Lead Consultant at IACL, who emphasized that the course was intended not only to transfer knowledge but also to foster institutional resilience. According to him, African nonprofits must shift their focus from short-term grant-seeking to establishing resource mobilization systems that allow for growth and impact over the long term.
The challenges confronting nonprofits on the continent have been growing sharper. Many organizations remain under-resourced, smaller in scale, and reliant on crisis-driven fundraising. Competition for donor funding has intensified as aid budgets shrink and global philanthropic priorities shift elsewhere. At the same time, funders demand greater accountability, with requirements for measurable impact and rigorous reporting standards. These trends have heightened pressure on African nonprofits, which are increasingly expected to deliver essential services in education, health, livelihoods, and climate resilience where governments fall short, but often without secure or sufficient financial support.
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The Nairobi course has therefore been structured to provide pragmatic solutions tailored to these realities. Training sessions combine simulations, case studies, and interactive exercises designed to reflect the fundraising challenges nonprofits encounter daily. Participants are being guided through practical tools for donor mapping, leadership alignment, and revenue diversification, ensuring that the knowledge gained can be directly applied within their institutions. The program also emphasizes ethical fundraising, communication with donors, and the development of comprehensive fundraising plans that incorporate both traditional and emerging sources of finance, from local philanthropy to private sector partnerships.
Testimonies from participants highlight the urgency and relevance of the course. Oscar Kimaro of the Private Agricultural Sector Support Trust in Tanzania observed that competition for donor funding has become so severe that even strong initiatives are left without support. He expressed confidence that the training would equip organizations with practical strategies to strengthen their chances of securing the resources they need. Similarly, Joseph Wang’endo, Senior Technical Officer at Africa CDC and Founder of Bloodlink Foundation, pointed to the structural disadvantage that African nonprofits face when expected to deliver global-standard outcomes with limited means. For him, the Nairobi initiative offers tools and systems that can provide a fairer foundation for long-term support.
The concerns raised by Joseph and others are shared across the continent. Nonprofits in Africa face the dual challenge of shrinking external resources and rising social demands. They are increasingly being asked to close gaps in service delivery left by governments while also adapting to donor conditions that often stretch their already limited capacity. This has created a critical need for adaptable fundraising models that make use of both domestic and international opportunities.
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For participants such as Daniel Oluwasola of One Life Initiative in Nigeria, the training is not only theoretical but also practical, with immediate application to ongoing organizational work. He noted that the course is already equipping his team with strategies to remain competitive in grant applications and to secure resources needed to keep their programs active and growing.
The program will conclude on 28 August with a fundraising conference featuring regional insights, case studies, and panel discussions led by Dr. Edward Mungai. At the close of the training, participants will be awarded a Professional Development Certificate from Indiana University, alongside thirteen CFRE education points. They will also receive access to a comprehensive study guide, reports on donor behavior, and templates designed to assist in ongoing fundraising efforts. Networking opportunities and practical donor engagement training form part of the package, ensuring that participants leave with both knowledge and actionable tools.
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While the broader aid environment remains uncertain, the Nairobi course represents a deliberate attempt to prepare African nonprofits to chart their own financing agendas. By moving away from reliance on short-term grants and toward models rooted in evidence, context, and sustainability, the program seeks to strengthen the financial resilience of institutions that continue to play a central role in advancing Africa’s social and developmental goals.
