How can local NGOs increase their financial sustainability amid growing volatility among international funders?
Question submitted by: Bartolomeu Milton, Associação Pro Bono Angola, Angola
Many NGOs feel this pressure of financial uncertainty, especially after the US Government funding cuts in 2026. However, it might interest you to know that according to the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, charitable giving in the US alone reached a record $592.5 billion. The study projected that giving from individuals and households would account for approximately 62.8% of 2025 charitable giving.
The importance of this study, in the US alone, is that resources are certain; the fundraising process is not.
Resources, not necessarily or specifically financial, follow results. A credible NGO can raise resources at any point in time if it demonstrates impact and scalability. Remember, donors fund what works, and not the work.
Small NGOs should develop a practical and admissible NGO fundraising policy, complete with an implementation plan. The policy should be realistic and cognisant of the changing global funding dynamics.
The fundraising policy should focus on CSR, visibility, impact, and strategic communication, and aim for quick wins.
This will provide a predictable pathway for resource mobilisation, especially if it is assessed every three months and feedback is incorporated.
(This answer was provided by Wycliffe Nyafuanga, a Kenyan resource mobilisation expert and grant funding strategist)
