Category: Inside Africa

Development leaders, funders and civil society practitioners recently gathered in Lagos for the unveiling of a book: From Grant Zero to Hero: How to Make Funders Say Yes.

It was a debut book by nonprofit executive and author, Laura Ede.

The book, which focuses on the dynamics of grant-making and equipping nonprofits with practical tools to secure funding, was launched on September 6.

Beyond the unveiling, the event evolved into a platform for sober reflection and dialogue on the realities of nonprofit financing in Africa.

Anchored around a panel session titled: “Rethinking Funding in a Limited Capital Landscape,” the gathering addressed shrinking donor pools, global policy shifts, and the urgent need for sustainability in the development sector. 

The discussion was moderated by Emmanuel Etim, a social entrepreneur and development advocate.

It featured two seasoned voices—Oje Ivagba, Programme Director at the Ishk Tolaram Foundation, who spoke from the funder’s perspective, and Oluwakemi Odedeyi, nonprofit leader and strategist, who represented the fundee viewpoint.

Ivagba stressed the importance of structure and accountability, noting that passion without clear strategies often weakens nonprofit funding applications. “Too often, nonprofits come to us with passion but without structure. Funders need to see strategy, not just heart,” he said.

From the other side of the table, Odedeyi highlighted the operational and human challenges faced by grassroots organizations, especially when donor priorities shift. 

“Every global policy change, whether it is USAID cuts or shifts in donor focus, filters down to us. Local organizations must innovate, collaborate and find ways to survive beyond traditional grants,” she observed.

Ede, whose book served as the foundation for the discussion, emphasized that readiness goes beyond having proposals. 

“Many organizations don’t realize that fund readiness is about much more than a proposal. It is about demonstrating sustainability, leadership and transparency. Donors are funding trust as much as they are funding programmes,” she explained.

The conversation later opened to the audience, with participants seeking insights on how nonprofits can balance passion with measurable impact, when to pivot towards scale, and how funding principles might apply to social enterprises and profit-making ventures.

Responding, Ede drew a distinction between passion and impact: “Passion starts the work, but it cannot sustain it. You move to impact when you can measure change beyond yourself. Passion is personal. Impact is collective.”

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The panel concluded on an optimistic note, with speakers pointing to collaboration, local philanthropy and storytelling as critical levers for future nonprofit sustainability in West Africa.

The day was also marked by lighter moments, including a spirited round of “Nonprofit Bingo,” the dramatic unveiling of the book, and a symbolic commissioning where guests pledged their support. All available copies of the book were sold out before the evening closed, underscoring its relevance.

In her closing remarks, Ede described the book as the beginning of a movement: “This book is not the end of a journey; it is the start of a conversation. Every nonprofit has a hero in them, they just need the tools to show up fund-ready.”

From Grant Zero to Hero is available online via Selar and Amazon, with nonprofit leaders, funders and changemakers encouraged to obtain copies and join the growing community reimagining sustainable impact in Africa.