Unlocking Trust-Based Funding for Organisational Growth

​Event Description

Many social and environmental organisations—especially in the Global South—remain trapped in cycles of short-term, project-based funding. While this model can deliver discrete outputs, it often limits organisations’ ability to grow, adapt, and lead sustained change. What’s missing is not ambition or capability, but flexible, trust-based capital that supports institutions—not just initiatives.

This discussion explores how philanthropy can shift from funding projects to fueling organisations and ecosystems. What does it take for funders to provide unrestricted, long-term support that enables frontline actors to respond to real-world complexity—from conservation challenges to community development? How can funding approaches better invest in leadership, second-line capacity, and organisational culture?

Bringing together funders and practitioners, this session will examine how trust-based funding and devolved decision-making can unlock stronger partnerships, more resilient organisations, and deeper impact. Together, we will explore how to build the case—and the practice—for investing in organisations as the backbone of systems change.

Speakers

• ​Chandrika Bahadur is CRO at the Antara Foundation, advancing maternal and child health through government partnerships, technology, and community-led solutions in India.

• ​Theodore Thiebaud is Head of Private Partnerships - Philanthropy at Médecins du Monde France, aligning philanthropic partnerships to expand equitable access to healthcare.

• ​Laurel Kivuyo is Founder and Executive Director of Climate Hub Tanzania, advancing climate literacy and youth leadership across Africa.

• ​Mario Roset is Co-founder and CEO of Donar Online.

• ​Neeru Mulhotra is COO at Pravah, leading youth development initiatives focused on social change and gender equity.

​Discussion Questions
What holds funders back from providing unrestricted, long-term funding—and how can these barriers be overcome?
How does project-based funding limit organisational growth, and what becomes possible when organisations are truly trusted with flexible capital?
What does meaningful devolution of decision-making look like in practice between funders and organisations, particularly in the Global South?
If funders focused on strengthening organisations (leadership, culture, partnerships), how might this change the scale and sustainability of impact?