How do African NGOs fundraise? Help us find out!

Survey link: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/MJXB008o / Deadline: 16 December 2026

Every African NGO leader has a fundraising story. The grant that ended without warning, the proposal that took weeks to write and went nowhere, the local supporter who came through when no one else did.

Every African NGO leader has a fundraising story. The grant that ended without warning, the proposal that took weeks to write and went nowhere, the local supporter who came through when no one else did.

We understand who funds African civil society, but we know far less about how African NGOs raise money: who does the work, what systems they use, what it costs, and what makes a difference.

That’s the gap the African NGO Fundraising Survey sets out to fill. Run by the African NGO Fundraising Hub, in partnership with Realtime Insights and supported by fundraising experts across Africa, it is the first continent-wide survey of fundraising practice among African NGOs. It opens on 4 November and closes on 16 December 2026.

We’ll ask about the strategies and methods you use, the people and systems behind your fundraising, what you invest in it, the results you achieve, and how you see the road ahead. We’re also asking how organisations have responded to changes in international funding since January 2025.

Why now

Anyone working in the sector knows the funding environment is shifting, and that uncertainty has become part of everyday planning. Many organisations are rethinking where their money comes from and how they raise it. Some are trying new things, while others are stretched just keeping their work going. Most are making these decisions with very little insight into what other African NGOs are doing, or what works. We want to change that.

What you gain from taking part

For the first time, African NGOs will have a continent-wide reference point for their fundraising. You’ll be able to see how other organisations staff and organise it, what they invest, which methods they rely on, and how your results compare. Funders and capacity-strengthening organisations will also get a clearer picture of what helps NGOs raise funds sustainably, and where support would make the most difference.

At the end of the survey, you can use a short, optional form to request a copy of the report. It’s separate from your survey answers, which stay confidential. The report will be available on World NGO Day, 27 February 2027.

For the African NGO Fundraising Hub, this survey is a strategic step in expanding our support for the African NGO sector. Alongside the resources and guidance we already share, we want to gather evidence on African NGO fundraising that the entire sector can use.

Who can take part

The survey is for African NGOs: not-for-profit organisations registered in an African country, independent, and led and governed by Africans. It is not for international NGOs or their country offices, or for national members or affiliates of international organisations and federations.

We’re asking for one response per organisation, ideally from the CEO, Executive Director or whoever leads your fundraising. It takes about 25 to 30 minutes to complete; it’s available in English and French, and you can save your answers and come back to finish later.

How you can help

Take the survey here: https://ee.kobotoolbox.org/x/MJXB008o

Then, please pass it on to your partners and the other NGOs in your network. Every extra response makes the findings more useful for everyone.

The submission deadline is Wednesday, 16 December 2026.

Thank you for taking part.

Questions about the survey, or about whether your organisation qualifies?

Contact David Barnard at info@ngofundraising.africa or Lucy Njue at lucynjue.consulting@gmail.com.