Funders are increasingly talking about localisation and wanting to channel their resources to frontline, grassroots organisations. It makes sense – funding these groups is an undeniably effective way to shift inequitable systems, support social movements, and have tangible impact.

Yet, historically, many donors don’t fund these frontline groups effectively, if at all. Donors frequently mistrust smaller and newer organisations, making assumptions about their capacity and shying away from investments that they deem high-risk. Without access to funding, these groups do not have the opportunity to build the power and resilience they need to be truly transformative.

At the Freedom Fund, we’re working to change this issue. In our new resource Funding Frontline Impact, we unpack 12 key principles for effective frontline funding that every donor should consider, no matter where or what you support. Here are three of the 12 key principles that donors or funders must take into consideration:

Principle #5 – Fund Overheads as Impact Costs

The Principle: Funders often expect grantees to deliver results without investing in their infrastructure, team, and overall institutional capacity. The traditional differentiation between ‘project’ and ‘overhead’ costs is a false dichotomy that devalues the work of organisation building and hinders sustainability.

Principle #10 – Invest in Community

The Principle: Many funders have the benefit of a bird’s eye view across a thematic area or geography. The more you can build community around an issue, both among and beyond your grantees, the more you can help accelerate and deepen their impact.

Principle #12 – Challenge Your Mindset

The Principle: The responsibility for challenging myths about frontline organisations (such as assumptions that they’re corrupt, they misuse funds, or they don’t care about safeguarding) lies with funders. Ask: What assumptions do you bring to your philanthropy? Who do you automatically trust? How does what feels impactful compare to what is needed to drive change? What risk do you bring to your grantees?

Read the full article about funding frontline organizations by Havovi Wadia at AVPN.