Africa faces a multitude of pressing challenges – poverty, inequality, and climate change – that demand urgent and sustained action. With a significant portion of the population living in poverty and many lacking access to basic amenities. These challenges underscore the importance of social impact initiatives in advancing sustainable development and improving lives across the continent.
Over the past decade, there has been a remarkable rise in the number of non-profit organisations working toward the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. These organisations are often the heart of innovation, local insight, and community engagement. However, despite their passion and commitment, their success often hinges on one critical element: access to sustainable funding.
Grants play a vital role in enabling these organisations to scale their work, expand reach, and deepen their impact. They provide not just capital but also credibility, capacity-building, and visibility. A well-timed grant can open doors to valuable networks, attract donor attention, and foster community trust. But while grants are invaluable, they are often finite, tied to specific project timelines or outcomes, and can leave organisations vulnerable when funding cycles end.
Read also: 12 teachers awarded N2.4m grants at GETAP’s second cohort
As a grantmaking non-profit dedicated to addressing Africa’s development challenges, Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation has impacted over four million lives in 13 African countries over the past seven years through health, environment, entrepreneurship and leadership interventions. Our approach emphasises investing in African solutions by supporting local and regional non-profits. We believe that Africans are best positioned to solve African problems, and we champion grassroots organisations as critical drivers of long-term development.
However, our experience has taught us that grants alone are not enough. To build lasting impact, non-profits must go beyond traditional funding models. They must be both mission-focused and entrepreneurial, able to adapt, innovate, and build sustainable operations.
An entrepreneurial mindset enables non-profits to catalyse impact through strategic investment. This might involve adopting a social enterprise model or exploring impact investing opportunities.
A compelling example of this mindset in action is ACT Foundation’s partnership with Nuru Nigeria, a Nigerian non-profit established in 2018. Nuru Nigeria equips farmers and their families to transition from subsistence agriculture to thriving, farmer-led agribusinesses. Their mission aligns with our vision of empowering communities to become self-reliant and prosperous.
Since 2020, ACT Foundation has supported Nuru Nigeria with both financial and non-financial resources. With our initial grant, the organisation reached 2,388 direct beneficiaries in Northern Nigeria. Fast forward to today, and Nuru Nigeria has impacted over 32,000 direct farmers and over 524,000 others, providing them with the tools, training, and support needed to enhance productivity, increase income, and build resilience.
But the story does not end with funding. Through our capacity-strengthening initiatives, we worked closely with Nuru Nigeria to improve its operational effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation systems, and fundraising capabilities. As a result, the organisation has not only scaled its programmes across Northern Nigeria but also successfully secured additional funding from international partners.
This kind of catalytic growth illustrates the power of moving “beyond the grant”. By investing in organisational development, strategic visioning, and sustainable practices, we helped Nuru Nigeria transition from a promising local initiative to a nationally recognised force for change. Their success also reinforces the importance of community-led development, where solutions are designed and driven by those most affected.
Read also: Six African startups awarded grants at SIA Startup Foundry Demo Day
What began as a mission to support smallholder farmers, particularly women in underserved communities, has blossomed into a transformative movement. Nuru Nigeria is now creating ripple effects across the agricultural sector, contributing to food security, job creation, climate-smart regenerative agriculture and inclusive economic growth.
This journey underscores the need for funders to adopt a more holistic, partnership-driven approach. By blending grantmaking with strategic investment and capacity building, we can unlock the full potential of Africa’s changemakers.
At ACT Foundation, we are proud to support partners like Nuru Nigeria who embody resilience, innovation, and the spirit of community-driven impact. Our goal is not just to fund projects but to nurture institutions that can thrive independently and scale sustainably.
To truly build sustainable nonprofits in Africa, we must look beyond transactional funding and instead focus on transformational partnerships, ones that fuel long-term growth, foster resilience, and pave the way for a self-sufficient future. By rethinking how we invest in social impact, we can catalyse change that lasts well beyond the lifespan of any single grant.
Osayi Alile is the CEO of Aspire Coronation Trust Foundation, a grantmaking non-profit that provides funding to social sector organisations focused on health, entrepreneurship, environment and leadership.
