Local Driven Change

Our Strategy

Our Strategic focus revolves around decentralizing funding and amplifying local solutions in Uganda. Five pillars in our efforts guide us. Grant Making, Promoting Community Philanthropy, Evidence and Learning, Eco System Influence

Grant Making

Civil Collective leverages small grants as a lever for community agency. Our small grants program empowers communities to utilize their assets without requiring matching funds, thereby respecting their capacity for self-led development. We aim to shift from traditional metrics of success to measures that honor community well-being and engagement. Beyond the financial support, small grants act as catalysts for collaboration, innovation, and social cohesion, reinforcing the idea that sustainable development is most effective when driven by the communities themselves

Community Philanthropy

Focuses on shifting power to local people, recognizing that they are best positioned to understand their needs and design sustainable solutions. Community philanthropy supports the building of local institutions such as community foundations, self-help groups, and local funds, which serve as trusted vehicles for pooling and distributing resources

Evidence and Learning

We conduct research to demonstrate that community philanthropy fosters trust and social cohesion, enhances local leadership and participation, and improves the effectiveness of aid by ensuring that initiatives are rooted in local realities. Research also shows that small, flexible grants managed by community philanthropy organizations can unlock local innovation and leverage additional resources from diverse stakeholders

Eco System Influencing

Our focus here is on: Advocate for flexible funding norms: Push big donors to fund like Civil Collective. Amplify grantee voices: Credit local leaders in global spaces. Partner strategically: Co-design trust-based giving with like-minded orgs.