Who we are
CivSource Kenya a Feminist-Afrocentric philanthropy support organization committed to nurturing a more sustainable, effective and connected civil society, that advances the dignity and voices of all people. We do this through promoting reflective, responsive and accountable philanthropic practice
Our Vision: “Philanthropy that Works and Civil Society that Thrives”
Our Mission: “To harness the potential of civil society in Africa through building strength, and influencing the practice of philanthropy”
Our Core Values: Dignity, Audacity, Reliability and Equity
Our People
The Inaugural Board:
Our interventions span the areas of developing and supporting grantee relationships, conducting due diligence, stewardship of resources, providing spaces for reflection, provision of shared backbone infrastructure, fostering collaboration, facilitating leadership coaching and support for civil society organizations, and technical advice for resourcing models that place a premium on the dignity of both stewards and intended beneficiaries. In so doing, we foster civil society resilience through mentorship of good stewardship of entrusted resources for civil society. We do this through four key Strategic Pillars:
Pillar 1: Knowledge & Research Hub
Interventions:
1A: Philanthropy advisory and support.
1B: Research: Feminist movement research, philanthropy landscape analysis and Context and eco-system analysis
1C: Grant Making and Fiscal Hosting
Pillar 2: Ecosystem Connectivity
Interventions:
2A: We facilitate strategic connections and collaborations for funder networking and collaborations,
2B: We convene and facilitate spaces for eco-system reflections and strategizing and Community of practice facilitation on areas and/or issues of interest
2C: We provide skill matching including: expert and consultant deployment and board recruitment.
Pillar 3: Organizational Capacity Support
Interventions:
3A: Leadership Development
We enhance the leadership of Civil Society. We provide accompaniment to enhance the capacities of Civil Society entities through leadership coaching, mentoring and wellness retreats.
3B: Shared Infrastructure Services
We support the operational efficiency and effectiveness of Civil Society through the provision of shared back bone management and operational infrastructure for human resource and payroll management services, communications services and finance to enable organisations maximise efficiency and minimise operational costs.
CivSource South Africa’s directory of African fiscal hosts is a pioneering intervention aimed at elevating the role of fiscal hosting across the continent. Designed to strengthen the sector’s impact, the directory seeks to increase visibility for African fiscal hosts, providing a centralized resource that highlights their services to both local and international audiences. By showcasing these organizations, the directory encourages transparency, fosters wider recognition, and demonstrates the critical role fiscal hosts play in supporting grassroots and community-based initiatives across Africa.
This directory also serves as a platform for knowledge generation, offering valuable insights into trends, developments, and the operational characteristics of fiscal hosts throughout Africa. CivSource South Africa’s efforts in documenting this information provide essential resources for funders, policymakers, and civil society organizations, helping them navigate the often-complex fiscal hosting landscape. The directory facilitates connections among fiscal hosts, encourages partnership-building, and broadens understanding of the fiscal hosting model as a sustainable and effective approach to supporting African-led philanthropy.
Beyond visibility and knowledge-sharing, CivSource South Africa’s directory program builds capacity within the sector by offering comprehensive support services to fiscal hosts and philanthropy support organizations (PSOs) across the continent. These services including access to research, an online learning community, and guidance on sustainable funding models help these organizations strengthen their operational capacities and adapt to shifting funding landscapes. By laying the groundwork for a connected, resourceful, and resilient philanthropic ecosystem in Africa, CivSource South Africa empowers fiscal hosts to support sustainable community development and amplifies local resources to drive transformative change.