The New Africa Fund (NAF) has opened applications for the Africa Fundraising Incubator (AFI) 2026.

The ability to secure sustainable funding remains one of the greatest challenges facing nonprofit organizations, charities, social enterprises, and community-based organizations across Africa. While many organizations are delivering transformative solutions to pressing social, economic, environmental, and humanitarian challenges, limited fundraising capacity often prevents them from scaling their impact and achieving long-term sustainability.

To address this challenge, the New Africa Fund (NAF) has opened applications for the Africa Fundraising Incubator (AFI) 2026, a comprehensive multi-stage capacity-building program designed to strengthen fundraising skills among African organizations.

Previously known as the Africa Impact Fundraising Grant (AIFG), the Africa Fundraising Incubator has evolved into a robust program that combines practical fundraising education, institutional support, fiscal sponsorship, matching funds, and leadership development opportunities to help organizations establish sustainable funding pipelines.

Organizations selected for the program will gain access to expert-led fundraising training, participate in a live fundraising challenge with opportunities to receive matching funds of up to $5,000 USD, benefit from 12 months of free fiscal sponsorship, and potentially earn an invitation to an all-expenses-paid, week-long fundraising and leadership boot camp in Kigali, Rwanda.

Application Deadline

Applications close on:

14 August 2026 at 5:00 PM UTC

Late applications may not be considered, so interested organizations are encouraged to prepare their documents and submit their applications before the deadline.

 

About the Africa Fundraising Incubator (AFI)

The Africa Fundraising Incubator (AFI) is a structured fundraising development initiative created by the New Africa Fund (NAF) to strengthen the fundraising capacity of African organizations.

Rather than offering only financial support, AFI focuses on building long-term institutional sustainability by equipping participating organizations with practical fundraising knowledge, donor engagement strategies, and organizational development skills.

The program enables participating organizations to diversify their funding sources, improve donor relationships, strengthen internal systems, and increase their ability to attract sustainable financial support.

By combining education, mentorship, practical fundraising experience, and institutional backing, AFI aims to help African organizations become more resilient and financially sustainable.

 

What the AFI Program Includes

The Africa Fundraising Incubator consists of several carefully designed stages that help organizations move from learning fundraising principles to applying them successfully.

1. Online Fundraising Training

Selected organizations will begin the program with comprehensive online training sessions focused on the core principles of successful fundraising.

Participants will learn practical fundraising techniques and strategies needed to launch and manage successful small-donor fundraising campaigns.

The online sessions are designed to help organizations build strong fundraising foundations while developing sustainable donor engagement strategies.

 

2. 30-Day Fundraising Challenge

After completing the training, participating organizations will immediately apply their newly acquired skills during a live 30-day fundraising campaign.

During this challenge, organizations will:

• Launch real fundraising campaigns.
• Engage supporters and donors.
• Practice donor communication strategies.
• Build fundraising confidence through practical implementation.

Organizations participating in this stage may receive up to $5,000 USD in matching funds from the New Africa Fund based on program guidelines and performance.

This practical fundraising experience allows participants to move beyond theory and develop real-world fundraising capacity.

 

3. Twelve Months of Free Fiscal Sponsorship

One of the major highlights of the AFI program is the provision of 12 months of free fiscal sponsorship to all participating organizations.

Fiscal sponsorship helps reduce administrative and operational barriers that organizations may face while strengthening their fundraising operations.

The sponsorship may also be extended depending on organizational performance and program considerations.

 

4. All-Expenses-Paid Leadership Boot Camp in Kigali

Top-performing organizations throughout the program will receive invitations to participate in a fully funded, week-long fundraising and leadership training in Kigali, Rwanda.

The intensive in-person boot camp is designed to deepen participants’ fundraising expertise while strengthening organizational leadership and management capacity.

Participants will receive advanced training in areas including:

• Financial management.
• Marketing strategies.
• Organizational communications.
• Grant writing.
• Donor research.
• Donor cultivation.
• Donor retention.
• Individual donor fundraising campaigns.
• Local fundraising strategies.
• Leadership development.

The boot camp also provides opportunities for networking, collaboration, and learning from fundraising experts and fellow African organizations.

 

Benefits of the Africa Fundraising Incubator

Organizations selected for AFI will enjoy numerous benefits throughout the program.

These include:

• Comprehensive fundraising capacity-building training.
• Specialized instruction on individual donor fundraising campaigns.
• Practical fundraising experience through a live 30-day fundraising challenge.
• Opportunity to receive up to $5,000 USD in matching funds.
• Twelve months of free fiscal sponsorship.
• Possible extension of fiscal sponsorship based on performance.
• Opportunity to attend an all-expenses-paid leadership and fundraising workshop in Kigali, Rwanda.
• Advanced fundraising and organizational leadership development.
• Additional performance-based fundraising opportunities as the program expands.
• Improved institutional sustainability.
• Stronger fundraising systems and donor engagement capacity.
• Access to experienced fundraising professionals and mentors.
• Opportunities to collaborate with organizations across Africa.

 

Who Can Apply?

Applications are open exclusively to organizations that meet the eligibility requirements established by the New Africa Fund.

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be a legally registered organization.
• Be registered in one of the 54 African Union member states.
• Be prepared to participate fully in all stages of the program if selected.

Organizations that are not registered in an African Union member state are not eligible to apply.

 

Required Application Documents

Before beginning the application, organizations should prepare the following documents in PDF format.

Applicants will need:

1. Organization Registration Document.
2. Most Recent External Audit Report.
3. If no external audit is available, applicants should upload:
   • Five months of financial statements covering all organizational accounts.

Preparing these documents in advance can help ensure a smooth application process.

 

Important Information for Applicants

The New Africa Fund has emphasized that:

• Applications to AFI are completely free.
• No application fee is charged.
• Applicants should never pay anyone claiming to guarantee selection into the program.

If anyone requests payment while claiming to represent the New Africa Fund or any of its grant programs, this should be treated as fraud.

Applicants are advised:

• Do not make any payment.
• Report fraudulent requests directly to the New Africa Fund.

 

Learn More Before Applying

Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to watch the official AFI informational webinar before completing their application.

The webinar explains:

• Program structure.
• Eligibility requirements.
• Application process.
• Expectations for selected organizations.
• Frequently asked questions.

Watching the webinar can help applicants submit stronger and more complete applications.

Click Here for more information.

 

Why Organizations Should Consider Applying

Many nonprofit organizations struggle not because their missions lack impact, but because they lack sustainable fundraising systems.

The Africa Fundraising Incubator goes beyond traditional funding opportunities by helping organizations develop long-term fundraising capacity instead of relying solely on one-time grants.

Participants gain practical experience, professional training, institutional support, and opportunities to build stronger relationships with donors while improving their organizational sustainability.

For organizations seeking to strengthen their fundraising capabilities and expand their impact across Africa, the AFI program offers a valuable opportunity to develop the knowledge, systems, and confidence needed for long-term success.

 

Conclusion

The Africa Fundraising Incubator (AFI) 2026 provides African organizations with a unique opportunity to strengthen their fundraising capacity through expert training, practical fundraising experience, fiscal sponsorship, leadership development, and access to matching funds.

Rather than focusing only on short-term financial assistance, the program equips organizations with sustainable fundraising skills that can continue generating support long after the program ends. With online training, a live fundraising challenge, up to $5,000 USD in matching funds, 12 months of free fiscal sponsorship, and an opportunity to attend an all-expenses-paid leadership boot camp in Kigali, AFI represents a significant investment in the long-term success of African organizations.

Eligible organizations registered in African Union member states are encouraged to submit their applications before the 14 August 2026 (5:00 PM UTC) deadline and ensure all required documents are ready before beginning the application process.

Ready to Apply? Click Here.

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