USAID RFP: Institutional Capacity Building for Fundraising and Resource Mobilization in Developing Country NGOs

This USAID RFP represents a pivotal opportunity for developing country NGOs to enhance their financial sustainability through institutional capacity building in fundraising and resource mobilization. The donor recognizes that many local organizations are heavily reliant on a single source of funding, often USAID itself, which creates fragility. By investing in capacity building, USAID aims to create a more resilient civil society that can adapt to changing donor landscapes. The RFP is part of a broader trend in international development towards localization, as outlined in the USAID Localization Vision and the Journey to Self-Reliance. The total anticipated funding is substantial, with individual grants expected to range from $1 million to $5 million, covering a period of 3 to 5 years. The RFP invites proposals from NGOs, consortia, and networks to design and implement programs that include training, technical assistance, mentoring, and peer learning. Key components include developing fundraising strategies, strengthening financial management and internal controls, improving donor reporting and compliance, and creating a learning community among grantees. The proposal must also address cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, youth inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Applicants should demonstrate a deep understanding of the local context and propose contextually appropriate interventions. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2026, giving organizations ample time to prepare a robust proposal. Early engagement with GSLI training courses can significantly enhance the quality of the proposal by demonstrating a commitment to capacity building and providing evidence of improved skills. Furthermore, the RFP emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluation, requiring applicants to establish clear baselines and targets for capacity development. This means that organizations must not only propose activities but also articulate how they will measure success. Inductively, this requires familiarity with M&E frameworks, which GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course can provide. The RFP also encourages partnerships with local universities or training institutions to ensure sustainability beyond the grant period. GSLI fits perfectly as a partner, offering certified online courses that can be scaled across multiple organizations. The geographic scope includes all countries where USAID operates, but priority will be given to countries with high levels of poverty and fragility. Organizations from Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and parts of Latin America are particularly encouraged. The application process involves a two-stage review: first, a technical evaluation based on criteria such as organizational capacity, proposed approach, and budget; second, a financial review. GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course can be instrumental in structuring a compelling technical narrative. In summary, this RFP is a high-value opportunity for local NGOs to build long-term resilience, and strategic integration of GSLI training can make a proposal stand out.

Strategic Overview

This USAID RFP represents a pivotal opportunity for developing country NGOs to enhance their financial sustainability through institutional capacity building in fundraising and resource mobilization. The donor recognizes that many local organizations are heavily reliant on a single source of funding, often USAID itself, which creates fragility. By investing in capacity building, USAID aims to create a more resilient civil society that can adapt to changing donor landscapes. The RFP is part of a broader trend in international development towards localization, as outlined in the USAID Localization Vision and the Journey to Self-Reliance. The total anticipated funding is substantial, with individual grants expected to range from $1 million to $5 million, covering a period of 3 to 5 years. The RFP invites proposals from NGOs, consortia, and networks to design and implement programs that include training, technical assistance, mentoring, and peer learning. Key components include developing fundraising strategies, strengthening financial management and internal controls, improving donor reporting and compliance, and creating a learning community among grantees. The proposal must also address cross-cutting themes such as gender equality, youth inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Applicants should demonstrate a deep understanding of the local context and propose contextually appropriate interventions. The deadline for submissions is September 1, 2026, giving organizations ample time to prepare a robust proposal. Early engagement with GSLI training courses can significantly enhance the quality of the proposal by demonstrating a commitment to capacity building and providing evidence of improved skills. Furthermore, the RFP emphasizes the importance of monitoring and evaluation, requiring applicants to establish clear baselines and targets for capacity development. This means that organizations must not only propose activities but also articulate how they will measure success. Inductively, this requires familiarity with M&E frameworks, which GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course can provide. The RFP also encourages partnerships with local universities or training institutions to ensure sustainability beyond the grant period. GSLI fits perfectly as a partner, offering certified online courses that can be scaled across multiple organizations. The geographic scope includes all countries where USAID operates, but priority will be given to countries with high levels of poverty and fragility. Organizations from Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and parts of Latin America are particularly encouraged. The application process involves a two-stage review: first, a technical evaluation based on criteria such as organizational capacity, proposed approach, and budget; second, a financial review. GSLI's 'Writing Winning Proposals' course can be instrumental in structuring a compelling technical narrative. In summary, this RFP is a high-value opportunity for local NGOs to build long-term resilience, and strategic integration of GSLI training can make a proposal stand out.

Who is it For?

The RFP is specifically designed for developing country non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are registered and operational in countries eligible for USAID foreign assistance. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a track record of at least three years in community development, with a focus on sectors such as health, education, economic growth, or governance. Priority will be given to organizations that have not previously benefited from large-scale institutional capacity building support, as the goal is to expand the base of resilient local actors. Additionally, consortia of NGOs, networks, or umbrella organizations may apply, provided the lead applicant has fiduciary responsibility. Women-led organizations and those representing marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. Organizations must have an established legal status, a physical office, and a bank account in the country of operation. They must also possess basic financial management systems, including audited financial statements for the past two years. The RFP explicitly excludes government entities, for-profit companies, and international NGOs headquartered outside the target region, unless they are partnering with a local NGO as a subcontractor. Organizations with a history of fraud, corruption, or non-compliance with USAID regulations are ineligible. This eligibility criteria ensures that funds are directed to entities that are both local and capable of absorption and scale.

Priorities

USAID's global priorities for this RFP are rooted in the localization agenda, aiming to shift power and resources to local actors. The primary objective is to strengthen the fundraising and resource mobilization capacities of local NGOs so they can diversify their funding sources beyond traditional donors. Key performance indicators (KPIs) include: (1) increase in the number of unrestricted funding sources accessed by each partner NGO within 12 months; (2) improvement in financial management scores based on a standardized assessment tool; (3) increase in the amount of funds raised locally (from individuals, corporations, foundations) as a percentage of total budget; (4) reduction in dependency on a single donor; and (5) establishment of a written fundraising strategy and dedicated resource mobilization team. The donor also prioritizes sustainability, requiring that capacity building leads to measurable outcomes that persist beyond the project period. Cross-cutting priorities include gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), requiring that at least 40% of beneficiaries are women or from marginalized groups. Additionally, USAID emphasizes data-driven decision-making and adaptive management, so proposals must include a robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework. Environmentally, the RFP encourages green fundraising practices and resilience to climate shocks. Finally, USAID seeks innovative approaches, such as digital fundraising, social enterprise models, and public-private partnerships, to reduce reliance on traditional grant funding.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this RFP is subject to a comprehensive audit of financial, spatial, and corporate legal criteria. Financially, applicants must demonstrate annual operating budgets of at least $100,000 but not exceeding $10 million in the last two fiscal years, ensuring they are sufficiently established yet not overly large. They must provide audited financial statements, organizational policies on procurement, anti-fraud, and conflict of interest, and evidence of a functional accounting system (e.g., QuickBooks or similar). Spatially, the organization must be legally registered in a country classified as a low- or lower-middle-income economy by the World Bank and have a physical office with full-time staff; virtual organizations are ineligible. Corporate legal audits require submission of registration certificate, articles of incorporation, tax identification number, and evidence of good standing with local regulatory bodies. Additionally, the organization must not be designated as a terrorist organization or have individuals on sanctions lists. For partnerships, consortium agreements must be notarized. Organizations that have previously received USAID funding must provide a past performance report, highlighting compliance and results. Failure to meet any of these criteria may result in disqualification. It is advisable for applicants to conduct a pre-audit using a checklist aligned with USAID’s Automated Directives System (ADS) Chapter 303 to ensure all requirements are met before submission.

Path to Success

To succeed in this RFP, organizations should follow a strategic roadmap that integrates GSLI training courses to build institutional capacity. Step 1: Conduct a self-assessment using GSLI's 'Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)' course to evaluate current fundraising capabilities, financial management systems, and organizational readiness. Identify gaps in donor diversification, grant compliance, and reporting. Document findings in a capacity development plan that aligns with USAID's desired outcomes. Step 2: Enroll key staff in GSLI's 'Fundraising & Resource Mobilization' course to learn best practices in donor mapping, proposal writing, and stewardship. Simultaneously, complete the 'Financial Management for NGOs' course to strengthen budgeting, internal controls, and audit readiness. This dual training ensures that both programmatic and financial capacities are addressed. Step 3: Develop a comprehensive proposal that includes a detailed work plan, with milestones for training delivery, mentoring, and follow-up assessments. Use the skills learned from GSLI to design a monitoring framework with indicators that match USAID's KPIs, such as percentage increase in local funding. Include a risk mitigation plan addressing staff turnover and political instability. Step 4: Submit the proposal with supporting documents, such as GSLI course certificates, to demonstrate investment in capacity building. After submission, continue building staff skills by enrolling them in complementary courses like 'Project Management for Development' and 'Writing Winning Proposals' to prepare for implementation. Post-award, use GSLI's 'Grants Management' course to ensure compliance with USAID regulations. This approach not only strengthens the proposal but also positions the organization as a credible, learning-oriented partner committed to sustainable development.

Recommended GSLI Courses

Deadline: 2026-09-01

Persona: General

Urgency: Normal