We work with philanthropic partners interested in investing in the leadership, resilience, and long-term sustainability of locally led organizations.

Foundations and Corporate Clients

The case for funding locally led organizations is being made everywhere, from the Skoll World Forum to the United Nations; however, the nuts and bolts of this shift can feel daunting. That is where Daraja Partners comes in. We are here to help donors of varying sizes increase the amount and efficacy of the support you offer to locally-led organizations.

Our services run the gamut from facilitating one or two-day board retreats to conducting an organizational deep dive, but the common thread is our ability to meet each client where you are and develop concrete solutions that reflect your values and objectives for catalyzing lasting change in the world. We recognize the power of incremental change and are happy to work with you to make small shifts in your current giving processes and approach that will have a major impact.

All of our projects are highly customizable. Whether you are brand new to this space and looking to understand the role locally led organizations could play within your portfolio or you have a robust grantmaking arm and are looking to better align your processes to meet this moment in time, we are here to work alongside you.

  • Board Retreat Facilitation

    We work with your Board of Directors and Senior Leadership to design a process that explores your values, mission, and the change you ultimately want to create in the world and helps to align your grantmaking with those larger goals. We focus on understanding the potential impact that is unlocked when you invest in locally-led organizations and exploring what this could look like in the context of your giving.

  • Grantmaking and Reporting Design

    We work with you to design or re-design your grantmaking and/ or reporting processes to make them more accessible to locally-led organizations while maintaining the priorities that matter most to you. We recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to grantmaking, and we work to ensure that the systems we co-create with you resonate with your approach to giving while also expanding the role that locally led organizations play in your portfolio.

  • Portfolio Support

    We work with you to manage and grow your portfolio to meet your needs. We help strengthen relationships, accountability, and lines of open and constructive feedback through active engagement. We have deep networks of stellar locally-led nonprofits working across multiple African sectors and are happy to work with you to build a portfolio that reflects your mission and values and accelerates the type of change you are passionate about. We can connect you with local leaders and other funders in the space and identify opportunities for you to leverage your giving and maximize your impact.

  • Organizational Deep Dive

    This is our most robust type of engagement. It includes all three of our core offerings, and takes you through a complete strategy, implementation, and reflection process that aligns with your mission, vision, values, appetite for risk, and institutional legacy. We begin by working with your Board and Leadership on your vision and strategy for supporting locally led organizations and then dive into the practical nuts and bolts of your grantmaking processes and portfolio composition.