Round Two Funding Call
Supporting Community Power, Local Ecosystems and Collective Action
An invitation to community-rooted civil society actors strengthening collective power and local ecosystems.
LFI invites applications from community-rooted civil society actors advancing collective resilience and systems change by strengthening networks, shared infrastructure and accountable local ecosystems.
Why LFI is funding differently
Conventional philanthropy can treat communities as problems to solve and organisations as delivery mechanisms. LFI instead recognises that communities already hold knowledge, relationships, institutions and strategies for changing their conditions.
Communities already organise around land, housing, livelihoods, food, water, safety, education, care and access to the state. LFI aims to support this existing capacity and the relationships that sustain it.
What this round will support
Round Two will provide flexible funding for network and ecosystem strengthening, organisational resilience, community capacity and collective action. This includes coordination, convening, shared infrastructure, core costs, staffing, organising, care, leadership, advocacy, peer learning, referral pathways, livelihoods and community-led alternatives.
We are not looking for the organisations, formations or civil society actors with the most polished proposals. We are looking for those with substance, legitimacy and a credible relationship to the people and places in which they work.
Who can apply?
Applicants must:
- be a South African civil society organisation, formation or not-for-profit actor;
- apply in one province and demonstrate substantive work across at least three districts;
- show ongoing, accountable community relationships and meaningful community influence over priorities or activities;
- present a credible plan to strengthen the applicant, its relationships or community capacity;
- have proportionate governance and financial stewardship arrangements; and
- participate in LFI learning, peer exchange and light-touch reporting.
An anchor can apply on behalf of a wider group of partners
An anchor organisation, formation or civil society actor may apply for a wider network or ecosystem where it substantively coordinates, convenes, resources, connects, organises or supports partners.
Describe the participating actors, shared purpose, decision-making, resource and knowledge flows, mutual support and accountability. A formal consortium agreement is not required.
What do we mean by a demonstrated community footprint?
Provide evidence rather than claims of who you reach, organise with, serve or support. Evidence may include membership or client records, recurring attendance, referrals, cases, organiser numbers, campaign records or trusted references.
Evidence should show the nature, frequency and accountability of engagement. LFI may verify it through references, conversations or appropriate records.
What do we mean by network and ecosystem strengthening?
Network and ecosystem strengthening means improving the quality, reach and durability of relationships among community actors. It may include stronger referral pathways, shared spaces or resources, coordinated action, peer support, mutual aid, movement connections, cooperatives, faith or community structures and partnerships built around shared struggles.
LFI will assess whether relationships are active and reciprocal, whether knowledge and resources move across the network, and whether collective capacity, resilience or influence is increasing. Logos, once-off events or agreements alone do not demonstrate a sustained ecosystem.
Provincial focus
Applicants must select one province and demonstrate substantive work across at least three districts. Preference will be given to applicants headquartered or principally active in that province.
An office in every district is not required, but applicants must explain their work, partners, regularity and evidence in each place.
What we are not looking for
LFI will not support:
- individuals or commercial businesses;
- applicants without substantive work across three districts;
- once-off events that do not build organisational, community or collective capacity;
- work lacking meaningful community participation or accountability;
- party-political campaigning or direct candidate benefit; or
- materially false, misleading or unverifiable applications.
How applications will be assessed
Applications will be assessed on:
- Community legitimacy and reach: trust, accountability and credible engagement.
- Provincial rootedness: substantive work across at least three districts.
- Network and ecosystem strength: stronger relationships, shared infrastructure, coordination, mutual support and collective influence.
- Systems transformation: addressing structural exclusion and inequality.
- Stewardship: proportionate governance, finance and safeguarding.
- Learning: willingness to share practice and learn with others.
What we will ask
Applicants will briefly explain their province and districts; communities and issues; core work; evidence of reach; key network actors and relationships; how knowledge, resources and referrals move; community participation and accountability; the anchor role, if relevant; what ecosystem capacity needs strengthening; what flexible funding would enable; and the amount requested with main expenditure areas.
Where possible, applicants will be able to respond in plain language. You may attach short videos or voice submissions as evidence for selected questions.
Funding period and grant size
Funding period: March 2027 – February 2029
Grants of R700,000–R975,000 will be awarded.
Amounts will reflect footprint, scope, needs, ecosystem role and credible use of flexible funding. Budgets should identify main expenditure areas.
Application deadline: 25 November 2026
Application link:
LFI expects to fund a limited number of applicants. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.
