The African Collaborative
The African Collaborative has launched an open application system for its multi-year funding program, providing African-led organizations with increased access to unrestricted funding and resources to support locally-rooted solutions across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The platform aims to streamline the grantmaking process and make it more transparent, applicant-centered, and accessible to organizations beyond traditional referral networks.
Shifting the Funding Model
The fund is designed to support organizations working across all social impact sectors, including education, health, livelihoods, technology and digital futures, climate and environment, human rights, and gender equity.
By offering unrestricted funding, the program allows grantees the flexibility to direct resources according to organizational priorities, rather than limiting support to specific projects.
According to the African Collaborative, less than 5% of global humanitarian assistance reaches locally-rooted organizations.
Of the money U.S. foundations direct to Sub-Saharan Africa, only 1 in 4 dollars supports local groups and initiatives.
This imbalance has been identified as a barrier to sustainable development, as it limits the resources available to African organizations best positioned to deliver impactful solutions in their communities.
The African Collaborative’s model aims to shift the focus from investing in solutions for Africa to investing in solutions from Africa.
The organization provides three-year unrestricted funding and trust-based support to all partner organizations.
The Open Application System
The new system expands access to funding, enabling applicants to showcase their work and impact early in the process.
It also serves as a tech-enabled pipeline for peer funders, who can connect with organizations that demonstrate strong community impact.
Applicants can create an account, begin their applications, pause and resume as needed, and submit once complete.
An autosave feature ensures data is preserved in case of internet interruptions or device shutdowns.
This functionality is designed to reduce barriers for organizations that may face technical or logistical challenges.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for funding, organizations must meet the following requirements:
- Be African-founded, African-led, and African-based
- Be legally registered in their country of operations
- Have a founding board in place
- Provide partial staff compensation, with at least leadership or senior staff on payroll
- Have completed external audits for consecutive years
- Maintain basic financial management systems and processes
- Have a minimum of three years of operations
- Hold a minimum annual budget of $150,000
Tracks and Focus Areas
The Collaborative funds organizations at different stages of development through two tracks: Ignite and Fuel.
Both emphasize clarity of purpose, a defined operational model, and demonstrable impact.
While the fund is multi-sector, it seeks to maintain a balanced portfolio across education, health, livelihoods, digital futures, climate and environment, human rights, and gender equity.
The deadline for submissions is 17 September 2025 at 11:59 PM (UTC+1).
Applications can be completed through the African Collaborative’s online portal. The program is open to organizations across Sub-Saharan Africa that meet the eligibility requirements.
Building a New Philanthropic Approach
The African Collaborative’s approach reflects a growing call for equitable funding practices in global philanthropy.
By providing unrestricted, multi-year support to locally-led initiatives, the fund aims to strengthen the capacity of African organizations to deliver sustainable solutions.
The open application system represents a significant step toward creating a transparent, streamlined, and equitable funding process for organizations working to drive lasting change across the continent.
About African Collaborative
The African Collaborative is a collective of locally-led grantmakers dedicated to shifting philanthropic investment toward African-led solutions.
The organisation is guided by the belief that Africans are best equipped to design and deliver impact within their own communities.
By advocating for more equitable funding practices, the Collaborative works to ensure that African leaders and institutions are positioned at the forefront of sustainable development across the continent.
