Who are we
CivFund is one of the ways through which CivSource Africa implements its strategy. The CivFund is a non-profit entity registered as a company limited by guarantee with no share capital based in Uganda. The goal of the CivFund is to strengthen civil society through flexible, responsive, and accessible funding, to ignite conversations, dreams, opportunities, and change for effective civic engagement in Africa. Operating as a ‘fund of funds’, the CivFund holds and manages several social justice funds concurrently under two core interventions: grantmaking and stewardship of resources for philanthropy through special initiatives, collaboratives, and fiscal hosting facilities.
Our Values (Represented in the Acronym DARE-TO)
Dignity: We value our common humanity and treat others with respect, guided by the Ubuntu Philosophy: I am because we are.
Audacious: We are bold original, challenge dominant narratives and are willing to take risks and chart new paths.
Reliable: We are dependable, transparent, accountable, and committed to excellence.
Equity: We believe in just and equal access to opportunities and resources, and space for civil society in its diversity.
Transparent: Our processes are clear and straight forward.
Optimistic: We are hopeful and confident about the future and in our shared abilities to shape the future.
Our Approach
Movement building perspective: The CivFund recognizes that civil society is stronger and more influential when it acts as a collective, and notes the power of movements, collaboratives, and coalitions to create change. The CivFund therefore funds at intersectionalities and facilitates opportunities and spaces for the communities it supports to come together to learn, share experiences and network.
Feminist in nature: The CivFund seeks to disrupt the status quo, supporting communities that are most affected by gender inequality and focusing our efforts on issues that matter to them. We adopt participatory decision-making processes to ensure that women and communities that are most affected by our work have a say in what happens. We also aim to build relationships based on trust and the belief that we all have something to bring to the table. We value the safety and security, health, and well-being of our partners – acknowledging that they are an invaluable resource in the development agenda. CivFund respects partner autonomy and privacy in all aspects of its work.
News Highlights
Funding Streams and Focus
The CivFund has two core interventions: Grantmaking and Stewardship of resources for donors/philanthropists.
Grant Making
The CivFund currently provides funding through different funding streams:
Zishaye is a Zulu word that means to ignite. The fund supports grassroots efforts and priorities. The priority for 2021 to 2025 is land, water and climate justice.
Kuonyesha is a Swahili word that means to show. The fund supports, promotes and celebrates art and artists in all their diversity in Uganda. It supports artists to improve the quality of arts in a way that enhances the meaningful influence and participation of art and artists around the issues shaping society and public life in Uganda today.
Usalama Fund
Usalama is a Swahili word that means safety/security. This fund seeks to support the development field to build awareness, learning and infrastructure to ensure that projects implemented by development partners do no harm to the communities they seek to serve.
Corporate Accountability Fund
Supports efforts that are aimed at enhancing understanding and supporting the corporate accountability landscape in Uganda.
Resilience Fund
A bridging fund that seeks to support organizations that were hard hit and are struggling to survive because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ujasiri Fund
Ujasiri is a Swahili word that means courage/audacity. It is a fund for and by local civil society organizations with a long-term vision of cultivating giving to support civil society sustainability. Ujasiri Fund raises resources through member contributions, investments, individual giving, donations, and fundraising events.
Adopting an intersectional approach, the CivFund provides support to civil society for Emergencies & Opportunities, Research and Documentation and Leadership Development & Capacity Building.
Stewardship and Management of Resources for Philanthropists
Acting as an intermediary, the CivFund serves as a donor of record for philanthropists. The CivFund hosts donor advised funds and collaboratives. Through the fund models of resourcing and infrastructure, the CivFund channels funding to designate groups and issue areas; mentors good stewardship of entrusted resources and provides an account of the funding. Governance Structure
Governance
CivFund is governed by an Executive Board of seven members with fiduciary powers over the fund. Collectively, the Board’s competencies include expertise in organizational development and governance; grassroots funding; grant making; philanthropy; financial literacy; risk management and a demonstrable commitment to the pursuit of social justice.
Jacqueline Asiimwe
Amy Bisno
Joan Larok
Kamuli Rose Mwesigwa
Gitahi Githuku
Richard Mugisha
Joseph Ajal