Philanthropy highlights blog

Should we start preparing “mass graves” for CSOs? Funding is drying up, policy space is tightening, and too many organizations in the Global South are being pushed to downsize or shut down. This isn’t just institutional loss, it’s the erosion of civic voice and agency. As APN’s Dr. Stigmata Tenga warns, “It’s not just the organizations that die, it’s the voice, the dignity, and the agency of the people they served.” Recent APN trainings revealed a stark reality: many CSOs wouldn’t survive beyond five years without foreign funding.

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With external support declining (including from major partners like USAID), programmes are stalling even as community needs intensify. On Spirit TV’s Truth, Lies and Politics (Aug 2025), Catherine Mugabo (CivLegacy Foundation), Moses Mulindwa (UNNGOF), and analyst Charles Rwomushana urged a reset: fiscal discipline, policy realism, and serious local resource mobilization. Catherine framed aid as a “painkiller,” not a plan, calling for leadership that demystifies “resources” to include talent, volunteerism, networks, and local knowledge.

To watch the conversation live on YouTube, CLICK HERE:

Koona DanceWorkout and the DWONA Initiative (under GivingTuesday Uganda) hosted Dance With A Purpose at Lugogo Indoor Arena in Kampala, mobilizing the community for menstrual justice and the RUMPs for Rural Girls program, which uses art and play-based learning for menstrual education and sustainable pad-making. The event drew 124 participants in the morning and 115 in the evening, raising UGX 8,365,000 to keep girls in school.

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What does it take for philanthropy to stay relevant when everything is shifting?
At #9thEAPC (Kigali, June 2025), 300+ changemakers from 32 countries agreed: agility is non-negotiable. Philanthropy must decentralize power, listen differently, finance adaptively, and measure what communities value. Key takeaways included unlocking diaspora remittances, building public-private-philanthropy partnerships, and using storytelling and flexible platforms to deepen trust and accountability.

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The Jinja convening validated more than research; it unveiled a movement. Local businesses across Uganda are stepping up as partners in development, driven by purpose, proximity, and a desire to give meaningfully. From health outreach to skills training and menstrual equity, their stories reveal a philanthropic spirit grounded in trust and community. But to scale this impact, we must move from recognition to collaboration. Now is the time to rethink how private sector actors and CSOs work together, not as separate sectors, but as co-creators of lasting change. Let’s build a future powered by local giving, rooted partnerships, and collective vision.

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This wasn’t just a game; it was a declaration: every child deserves to play, to dream, and to belong. As Watoto Wasoka prepares for an even bigger Slums Derby in 2026, we invite you to support their work, amplify the movement, and invest in joy as a tool for justice. Visit www.watotowasoka.ug or follow @WatotoWasoka on social media to get involved.

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The future of civil society might not be found in aid but in solidarity, self-trust, and local connection. As the CivLegacy Foundation continues to champion community foundations and locally driven philanthropy, we call on all development actors to deepen collaboration, engage domestic donors, and see communities not for what they lack, but for what they already hold. Join us in unlocking the radical power of giving from within.

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The future of community philanthropy is ours to shape, intentionally and collectively. As CivLegacy returns from Bucharest inspired and renewed, we invite fellow practitioners, funders, and community leaders to connect, collaborate, and build infrastructures that are people-centered, adaptive, and rooted in shared purpose. Let’s keep the momentum going, reach out, share your learning, and join the global movement toward community-driven transformation.

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Locally led development is no longer a buzzword; it’s a necessary shift. As we rethink how change happens, now is the time to engage deeply with local voices, review the position paper, and co-design sustainable solutions. Stakeholders are invited to reflect, respond, and take bold action to realize a development agenda truly led by communities.

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Shrinking foreign aid is pushing African philanthropy to rethink sustainability. At the May 2025 WINGS Africa meeting, leaders spotlighted urgent lessons from EPIC-Africaand EAPN on building resilient, locally funded systems. From bold calls to action to a renewed focus on African-led giving, the message was clear: the future is in our hands. At CivLegacy Foundation, we’re walking that talk.

Read more and join the movement for community-powered philanthropy.

CivLegacy Foundation joined stakeholders at the Makerere–CAPSI workshop, launching a 5-year research project involving 17 African universities. The study will explore how the non-profit sector contributes to youth employment across Africa, focusing on dignified and inclusive work opportunities. With input from government, academia, and civil society, the research aims to generate data that will inform policy, unlock economic potential, and better position the sector as a key driver of youth empowerment.

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In April 2025, CivLegacy Foundation joined over 100 youth leaders and stakeholders at a national policy dialogue focused on youth unemployment and Uganda’s NDP IV. The convening unpacked gaps in current youth employment programs and emphasized the urgent need for youth-centred planning, system reform, and skills development. With voices from government, research institutions, and youth-led organizations, the dialogue called for bolder strategies to turn Uganda’s youth bulge into a golden opportunity.

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In January 2025, Uganda’s Parliament approved the National Development Plan IV, emphasizing the need for stronger public-private partnerships and greater involvement of non-state actors. The 2025 Philanthropy Forum Uganda convening echoed this vision, calling for a bold shift toward collaborative, people-powered development. With reflections from key leaders, including CivSource Legacy Foundation’s Catherine Mutesi Mugabo, the forum challenged stakeholders to align resources, co-create solutions, and rethink aid and accountability for lasting impact.

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On Good Deeds Day 2025, we turned streets into stages, waste into worth, and generosity into a living, breathing force for change. From Kampala’s vibrant march to heartfelt performances and acts of kindness, we saw what happens when community rises with purpose.
This wasn’t just a celebration, it was a call to keep doing good, boldly, locally, and together.

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#GoodDeedsDay #OmutimaOmugabi #DoingGood

In February 2025, CivSource Africa, in partnership with CivLegacy Foundation and Orima & Co Advocates, hosted a three-day residential masterclass focused on legal compliance, governance, and sustainability for community foundations in Uganda. With a growing movement to formally recognize community foundations in law, this training brought together sector leaders united by a vision: to build lasting institutions rooted in trust and community.

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On October 18, 2024, CivLegacy Foundation hosted Progress and Partnerships for Community Foundations in Uganda, welcoming leaders from the Mott Foundation and Women Solidarity Initiative Uganda. The event highlighted the transformative role of community foundations in empowering grassroots movements and overcoming challenges.

Read more about our efforts to empower grassroots movements and build resilient communities.

In this webinar, experts explored how local and regional organizations can redefine funding narratives and assert their autonomy with donors. Key discussions highlighted the challenges of direct funding, the value of local intermediaries, and the need for inclusive, relationship-focused due diligence. The dialogue emphasized evolving funding practices to empower grassroots organizations and foster equitable partnerships.

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