April 8, 2026 In Newsroom By WACSI
Ghana Civil Society Forum Positions Crowdfunding as a Sustainable Funding Option for CSOs
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[Accra, Ghana, 19 March 2026] – Civil society organisations across Ghana are rethinking how to sustain their work as traditional donor funding declined, with sector leaders pointing to crowdfunding and stronger community trust as critical to long-term survival.
The issue came into focus on 19 March 2026 during the second session of the CSO Sustainability Webinar Series organised by the Ghana Civil Society Forum Sustainability Subgroup, where practitioners shared practical strategies for navigating what many described as an uncertain and shifting funding landscape.
Moderating the session, Jimm Chick Fomunjong, Head, Knowledge Management and Communications at the West Africa Civil Society Institute, said the conversation reflected a growing urgency within the sector to move beyond dependence on external funding and build more resilient, locally grounded financing models.
He noted that while donor support had historically played a central role in sustaining civil society work, changing global priorities and increasing competition for funds meant organisations had to adapt more deliberately. According to him, sustainability was no longer a future concern but a present reality requiring immediate and strategic attention.
For Sam Danse, Executive Director of the Integrated Social Development Centre, the risks of inaction were clear. He cautioned that organisations built primarily on donor funding remained vulnerable to sudden financial shocks that could disrupt their operations and weaken their impact.
“Money is the lifeblood of an organisation. Without it, the mission cannot be delivered,” he said, stressing that financial stability underpinned every aspect of organisational effectiveness.
Drawing on the biblical story of Joseph, Danse urged organisations to use periods of relative stability to prepare for more difficult times. “Financial resilience was not something you thought about when the crisis came. It had to be built intentionally, over time, and from the very beginning,” he said.
He called for stronger financial discipline within CSOs, including setting aside reserves, involving governing boards more actively in financial oversight, and developing multiple income streams. He added that organisations should gradually move towards more flexible funding sources and explore revenue-generating opportunities that could support their core operations.
While these measures required time and planning, Danse said they were essential for organisations seeking to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive funding environment.
Offering a practical example of what such a shift could look like, Mohammed Awal Alhassan, Executive Director of Norsaac, shared how his organisation had successfully leveraged local crowdfunding to support its work.
Within a year, he said, Norsaac had mobilised more than 400,000 Ghana cedis through community-based fundraising efforts, a result he attributed to sustained engagement and transparency.
“People will give when they trust you, understand your purpose, and see your impact,” Alhassan said. “Crowdfunding is not just about raising money. It is about building relationships and accountability with the people you serve.”
He explained that this approach represented a broader shift towards localisation, where communities played a more active role not only in benefiting from development initiatives but also in financing them. In his view, reducing reliance on external donors strengthened both organisational independence and public trust.
Participants in the webinar echoed many of these points, sharing their own experiences with fundraising and the challenges they faced. Some cited low public awareness and scepticism as barriers to local giving, while others pointed to the difficulty of maintaining consistent engagement with supporters.
Despite these challenges, there was broad agreement that trust remained the foundation of successful fundraising efforts, particularly at the community level.
Speakers also emphasised the importance of collaboration across the sector, noting that organisations could strengthen their resilience by sharing knowledge, building partnerships, and pursuing collective approaches to sustainability.
The discussions came at a time when many CSOs in Ghana were navigating tightening budgets and increased pressure to demonstrate impact. Within this context, stakeholders said the ability to adapt, diversify funding sources, and build strong community relationships would determine which organisations were able to endure.
The Ghana Civil Society Forum said it would continue to use its webinar series to provide a platform for dialogue and learning as organisations responded to the changing funding environment.
Watch the full webinar here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbDKl6qVzxA
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