Beyond Foreign Aid: Reimagining Resource Mobilization for Kenyan Non-Profits

Beyond Foreign Aid: Reimagining Resource Mobilization for Kenyan Non-Profits

On Thursday, 29th January 2026, over 100 participants gathered virtually for a transformative webinar titled “Local Resource Mobilization: Moving Beyond Foreign Aid in Kenya.” The event was a collaborative effort between the Strathmore University Non-Profit, Social Enterprise and Philanthropy (SUNSEP) Hub at Strathmore Business School and the NGO Management Association in Geneva, Switzerland, under the Impact Forum for Sustainable Development. The session, moderated by Ms Pauline Madiro and Ms Philippa Sackett, addressed a critical challenge: how can Kenyan organizations build financial resilience in an era of dwindling international donor funding?

A New Era of Self-Reliance

The session featured three speakers: Mike Muchilwa, Founder of the Kenya Association of Funding Professionals and its first chairperson until 2020, and a leading resource mobilisation consultant; Ronald Odhiambo, Co-founder and Programs Coordinator at EcoRising Alliance; and Ms Donnah Macharia, Lead, Resource Development, at Habitat for Humanity Kenya.

During the introduction, the modertaors emphasized that “local resource mobilization” was not just a buzzword, but it had become a survival strategy. As foreign aid priorities shift globally, Kenyan NGOs must look inward to ensure the longevity of their missions. The webinar highlighted that the local ecosystem is ripe with untapped potential. From high-net-worth individuals and corporate partnerships to the power of “crowdfunding” within local communities, resources are available; the challenge lies in how to access them.

Diversifying the Toolkit: Strategies for Success

Mike Muchilwa, a leading development and fundraising strategist, outlined a diverse array of strategies that organizations can adopt to build a “resilience portfolio.” These included,

• Social Enterprise & Consultancy: Treating the organization’s expertise as a product to generate earned income.
• Asset-Based Mobilization: Utilizing real estate, endowment funds, and financial instruments to create long-term stability.
• Corporate Partnerships & Cause Marketing: Moving beyond simple “CSR” to strategic alignment with the private sector.
• Community Engagement: Leveraging “Friends of the Organization,” membership programs, and digital crowdfunding to build a broad base of local supporters.

Real-World Insights

The panel, featuring Mr Ronald Odhiambo from Eco-Rising Alliance and Ms Donnah Macharia from Habitat for Humanity Kenya, stressed that local fundraising required a mindset shift. It was no longer about “begging” for grants, but about value creation and radical transparency. The presenters explored the Impact Philanthropy Report (2024), which noted that while many Kenyan companies were eager to contribute, they look for organizations that demonstrate clear impact data and professional governance.

Both Ms Madiro and Ms Sackett ensured a vibrant and engaged audience, with questions regarding how organizations could benefit from local resource mobilization as foreign aid continued to decrease.

The Path Forward

The webinar concluded with a call to action: Kenyan non-profits must invest in professionalizing their fundraising departments. By blending traditional philanthropy with innovative financial models like raffles, special events, and cross-subsidies, local organizations can reclaim their agency and drive sustainable development from within.

As the Impact Forum continues to foster this community of practice, the message is clear: the future of Kenyan development is local, sustainable, and powered by home-grown resources.

Written by: Victoria Gichuki, SUNSEP Hub

To reach out to the SUNSEP Hub at Strathmore Business School, write to sunsep@strathmore.edu.