The African NGO Fundraising Hub – One Month In, Much More Ahead
David Barnard & Emmanuella Imo
Today, one month ago, @AfricaNGOs and Hexa Media Africa launched the African NGO Fundraising Hub as a practical response to a reality many NGOs across the continent know all too well – fundraising is becoming increasingly difficult. Funding is more competitive, donor priorities are shifting, and African NGOs are under pressure to do more with less, often without access to relevant, context-specific support.
We created the Hub to help address this challenge, not as a static website, but as a shared, evolving platform shaped by the needs and experiences of African NGOs and those who support them.
One month in, the early signals are both encouraging and informative.
The Hub has attracted more than 50 000 visitors from across Africa and beyond, with strong engagement from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. We have published 23 insight articles and 16 expert question-and-answer responses, alongside extensive listings of funding opportunities, webinars, conferences, training courses, publications, and fellowships.
A growing group of nine African fundraising experts is actively contributing to the Hub, sharing their knowledge through both original articles and responses to real questions submitted by NGOs. Contributions from respected practitioners across the African NGO and philanthropy sectors have further strengthened the quality and relevance of the Hub’s content.
Beyond the numbers, the nature of engagement matters even more.
We are receiving a steady stream of questions from African NGOs, covering topics such as grant writing, donor engagement, communication strategies, and the challenges smaller organisations face in accessing funding. This response reinforces what we set out to address – the need for practical, grounded guidance that reflects the realities of fundraising in the African context.
At the same time, we are seeing increasing contributions from NGOs and stakeholders who are sharing funding opportunities, resources, and insights. This is exactly the kind of collective participation that will determine the Hub’s long-term value.
The feedback has also been clear. As one contributor noted, the Hub is “timely” and “resourceful”, offering a space that responds directly to the challenges many African NGOs face. This affirmation matters, but it also raises expectations.
And that brings us to the next phase.
What we have launched is only a starting point. Over the coming weeks, we will continue to expand the depth and breadth of content across all the Hub sections, particularly in response to the strong demand for funding opportunities and practical resources.
We will also introduce a new partnership that will see the Hub co-host monthly fundraising webinars. These practical sessions will support skills development and generate valuable insights and content for the Hub. At the same time, we will continue to grow our network of expert contributors and expand the range of voices and perspectives shaping the Hub.
However, the most important factor in the Hub’s success will not be what we add, but how it is used and supported by the community around it. If the African NGO Fundraising Hub is to become what we believe it can be – the go-to African fundraising knowledge platform – it will require active participation from African NGOs, fundraisers, funders, and other stakeholders.
We encourage you to:
- Use the Hub as a practical resource in your day-to-day work;
- Share your fundraising questions, challenges, and information needs;
- Contribute relevant articles, tools, and opportunities;
- Promote the Hub within your networks.
The past month has shown what is possible. The next phase will depend on how we build on this momentum, together.
The African NGO Fundraising Hub is growing, and it is still only the beginning!
Also, follow the Hub on LinkedIn.
(David Barnard & Emmanuella Imo are the co-founders of the African NGO Fundraising Hub)
