LFI Round Two Funding Call for South African Civil Society Organizations
Program Overview
The Local Fund Initiative (LFI) invites applications from community-rooted civil society actors working to strengthen collective resilience, community capacity and systems change.
The funding supports organizations and networks that build and sustain local relationships, shared infrastructure, community leadership and collective action.
LFI recognizes that communities already possess the knowledge, relationships and structures needed to drive change and seeks to strengthen these existing capacities.
Round Two focuses on supporting networks and ecosystems rather than isolated projects or one-time interventions.
What the Funding Will Support
Funding may be used for:
Network and ecosystem strengthening.
Organizational resilience and sustainability.
Community capacity development.
Collective action initiatives.
Coordination and convening activities.
Shared infrastructure and resources.
Core operational costs.
Staffing and organizational support.
Community organizing and mobilization.
Leadership development.
Advocacy and civic engagement.
Peer learning and knowledge exchange.
Referral pathways and support systems.
Livelihood initiatives.
Community-led alternatives and solutions.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
Be a South African civil society organization, formation or non-profit actor.
Apply within one province.
Demonstrate substantive work across at least three districts within that province.
Demonstrate ongoing and accountable relationships with communities.
Show meaningful community participation in setting priorities and activities.
Present a credible plan to strengthen organizational and community capacity.
Maintain appropriate governance and financial stewardship arrangements.
Participate in LFI learning activities, peer exchanges and light-touch reporting.
Anchor Organization Applications
An anchor organization may apply on behalf of a wider network, coalition or ecosystem.
Applicants should describe:
Participating organizations and partners.
Shared purpose and goals.
Decision-making structures.
Resource and knowledge-sharing arrangements.
Accountability and mutual support mechanisms.
A formal consortium agreement is not required.
Evidence of Community Footprint
Applicants should provide verifiable evidence of community reach and engagement, including:
Membership records.
Client or beneficiary records.
Attendance records.
Referral statistics.
Case records.
Organizer networks.
Campaign records.
Trusted references.
Other evidence demonstrating active and accountable community engagement.
Network and Ecosystem Strengthening
LFI defines ecosystem strengthening as improving relationships and collaboration among community actors through:
Stronger referral pathways.
Shared spaces and infrastructure.
Coordinated action.
Peer support networks.
Mutual aid structures.
Movement-building initiatives.
Cooperatives.
Faith-based and community partnerships.
Collective advocacy and organizing.
Provincial Requirements
Applicants must select one province.
Applicants must demonstrate substantive work across at least three districts within the selected province.
Preference will be given to organizations headquartered or primarily operating within the selected province.
Activities Not Supported
LFI will not fund:
Individuals.
Commercial businesses.
Organizations lacking substantive activity across three districts.
One-off events that do not strengthen long-term capacity.
Projects without meaningful community accountability.
Political party campaigning or direct candidate support.
False, misleading or unverifiable applications.
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be evaluated based on:
Community Legitimacy and Reach
Trust, accountability and credible community engagement.
Provincial Rootedness
Demonstrated work across at least three districts.
Network and Ecosystem Strength
Coordination, collaboration and collective influence.
Systems Transformation
Addressing structural inequality and exclusion.
Stewardship
Governance, safeguarding and financial management.
Learning and Collaboration
Willingness to share experience and learn with peers.
Application Information Required
Applicants will be asked to explain:
Province and districts where they operate.
Communities served and issues addressed.
Core activities and programs.
Evidence of reach and engagement.
Key network relationships and partners.
How resources, referrals and knowledge flow across the network.
Community participation and accountability mechanisms.
Funding needs and intended use of funds.
Requested grant amount and major expenditure categories.
Applicants may also submit video or voice-recorded evidence for selected questions.
Funding Period and Grant Size
Funding Period: March 2027 – February 2029
Grant Size: R700,000 – R975,000
Funding levels will be determined based on organizational footprint, ecosystem role, demonstrated needs and the credibility of proposed activities.
Ideal Applicant Profile
Community-rooted civil society organizations with established local trust and legitimacy.
Organizations working across multiple districts within a province.
Networks, coalitions and ecosystem builders supporting collective action.
Groups addressing systemic social and economic challenges through community-led approaches.
Organizations committed to long-term resilience, collaboration and transformational change.
How to Apply
For More Information and Application Details, See; LFI Round Two Funding Call for South African Civil Society Organizations
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