NAIROBI, Kenya — A new executive-level training program aims to help African nonprofits develop sustainable fundraising strategies as traditional donor funding becomes increasingly uncertain, writes Winston Mwale.
The three-day "Fundraising for African Nonprofits" course will run Aug. 26-28 at Villa Rosa Kempinski in Nairobi, targeting small- and medium-sized organizations across the continent.
"We are not just offering skills; we are building institutional resilience," said Dr. Edward Mungai, lead consultant at Impact Africa Consulting Limited, which is spearheading the initiative.
"African nonprofits must move from reaction to strategy, from chasing grants to designing fundraising models that are sustainable, data-driven, and fit for purpose."
The program responds to growing challenges facing African civil society organizations as foreign aid contracts shift and donor priorities change globally.
Impact Africa Consulting has partnered with Bloodlink Foundation, Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment, Wits Business School and United Muslim Relief to deliver the training.
Faculty includes Dr. Shariq Siddiqui, director of the Muslim Philanthropy Initiative at Indiana University; Dr. Abed Ayoub, president and CEO of United Muslim Relief; and Joseph Wang'endo, senior technical officer at Africa CDC and founder of Bloodlink Foundation.
"African nonprofits are often expected to deliver world-class results with limited resources and unstable funding," Wang'endo said.
"This training addresses that imbalance by giving organizations the tools and structure they need to build reliable, long-term support."
Participants will receive professional development certificates from Indiana University, 13 CFRE education points and access to donor behavior reports, fundraising templates and data guides.
The course targets nonprofit leaders, development officers, grant makers and policy experts.
A free informational webinar is scheduled for Aug. 1, with registration available through Impact Africa Consulting's website.
The training includes simulations, group sessions and networking opportunities with philanthropic leaders from across Africa.