African Collaborative is dedicated to one mission: advancing sustainable African development led by African leaders and organizations. The initiative partners exclusively with African-founded, African-led, and African-based nonprofits that are deeply rooted in their communities and driving long-term, locally owned impact.
Since 2020, African Collaborative has invested in visionary African organizations through multi-year, unrestricted funding. These investments strengthen local leadership, enable organizational growth, and amplify the voices of communities working toward solutions in education, health, livelihoods, climate resilience, technology, human rights, and gender equity.
Despite this progress, a major challenge remains: less than 5% of global humanitarian assistance reaches locally rooted organizations. Of the funds directed by U.S. foundations to Sub-Saharan Africa, only 25% directly supports African-based nonprofits. By addressing this imbalance, African Collaborative aims to shift resources, trust, and decision-making power to those best positioned to lead sustainable development on the continent.
📌 Applications for the 2025 funding cycle are now open. Deadline: 17 September 2025, 11:59 PM (UTC–1).
African Collaborative supports a diverse portfolio of community-driven initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa. The portfolios are named in indigenous African languages, reflecting the values and priorities of local communities:
Education (Sani – “Wisdom” in Hausa): Expanding access to quality education at all levels and building future-ready skills.
Health (Afya – “Health” in Swahili): Strengthening healthcare systems, maternal and mental health, and disease prevention.
Livelihoods (Lokumu – “Dignity” in Lingala): Creating economic opportunities, reducing barriers to employment, and connecting producers to markets.
Technology & Digital Futures (Kusasa – “Tomorrow” in Zulu): Driving innovation in e-learning, fintech, agriculture, and digital inclusion.
Climate & Environment (Asase – “Earth” in Akan): Supporting climate adaptation, environmental protection, and sustainable community practices.
Human Rights (Idajo – “Justice” in Yoruba): Promoting equality, amplifying marginalized voices, and advancing inclusive societies.
Gender Equity (Sanki – “Equity” in Pulaar): Addressing barriers faced by women, girls, and other marginalized groups.
To qualify for African Collaborative grants, organizations must meet the following basic eligibility requirements:
African-founded, African-led, and African-based
Registered nonprofit in the country of operation
Founding board of directors in place
Partial staff compensation (with leadership or senior staff on payroll)
Minimum 3 years of operation
At least 2 consecutive years of external audits
Effective financial management systems (budgeting, accounting, reporting)
Annual budget of $150,000 or more
📍 Eligibility is limited to nonprofits operating in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Funding is provided through two tracks that support organizations at different stages of growth:
Founding board in place
Strategic direction in progress
Partial staff compensation
Annual budget: $150,000–$500,000 (indicator)
Governance board beyond the founding stage
Clear and established strategic plan
Full staff compensation (all staff on payroll)
Annual budget: $500,000+ (indicator)
Across both tracks, organizations are expected to demonstrate:
A clear and impactful model
A strong mission and purpose
Proven community-centered outcomes
Successful partner organizations receive comprehensive support designed to ensure long-term impact:
Multi-Year, Unrestricted Core Funding – Flexible financial resources that allow organizations to strengthen operations and scale solutions.
Organizational Development Grants – Annual support for capacity building, leadership training, staff well-being, or strategic communications.
Bespoke Portfolio Services – Tailored technical assistance and strategic support aligned with each partner’s needs.
Networking and Visibility – Opportunities to connect with peer organizations and global funders.
Participatory Grantmaking – Funding decisions guided by African leaders, sector experts, and board members through an inclusive voting process.
Funding Connections – With applicant consent, applications may be shared with peer funders to increase visibility and access to additional resources.
This approach ensures that partners not only access funding but also build resilience, sustainability, and stronger leadership capacity.
The Open Application System ensures greater accessibility and transparency by removing referral requirements. Applicants are encouraged to use existing organizational materials to simplify the process.
Review the Grantmaking Process – Learn about the approach and explore the FAQ section.
Check Eligibility – Confirm your organization meets all criteria.
Prepare Early – Gather audits, budgets, and governance documentation.
Apply Online – Submit your application through the Open Application Portal.
Consent to Share (Optional) – Indicate if your organization’s profile can be shared with other interested funders.
Application Deadline: 17 September 2025, 11:59 PM (UTC–1).
Organizations must be African-founded, African-led, and African-based, registered in their country of operation, with a founding board, partial staff compensation, at least 3 years of operation, two consecutive external audits, and a minimum annual budget of $150,000.
Yes. The application form is available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. Submissions can be made in any of these languages.
Yes. Applicants can log back into the portal and update their submission until the deadline.
The system saves progress automatically, allowing applicants to resume later.
No. Applications must be submitted through the Open Application Portal.
No. All eligible applications submitted before the deadline are reviewed.
Placement is based on indicators such as governance stage, staffing, strategic planning, and budget size.
The number varies depending on available resources and portfolio balance across regions and sectors.
Selected partners receive multi-year, unrestricted core funding plus annual Organizational Development grants for capacity strengthening.
Shortlisted applicants participate in online sessions to share more about their mission, team, and community impact, while also learning about the funding approach.
Grants are awarded after the Participatory Grantmaking Committee completes the review and selection process.
African Collaborative demonstrates that the most effective solutions for Africa already exist within its communities. By channeling resources, trust, and decision-making power directly to African-led organizations, this initiative is reshaping global philanthropy and fostering sustainable, inclusive development.
👉 Applications are open until 17 September 2025 (UTC–1). Submit your proposal today.
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