Scaling Our Impact Through Fiscal Sponsorship
The Financing Alliance for Health (FAH) Approach: A Streamlined Solution for Donor-Funded African Initiatives
FAH is a partnership that works with governments on all steps of financing to strengthen community health & primary healthcare systems to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by:
About the Financing Alliance for Health (FAH)
FAH is a partnership that works with governments on all steps of financing to strengthen community health & primary healthcare systems to achieve universal health coverage (UHC) by:
Partnering with Ministries of Health & Ministries of Finance to develop sustainable financing strategies enabling them to be the lead steward in their local health systems.
Developing, designing and deploying innovative financing solutions to bridge funding gaps for community health with strategic partners.
Strengthening the capacity of the ecosystem through thought leadership and knowledge dissemination, advocacy toolkits and investment cases.
Supported 22 national & subnational governments across 16 countries.
Africa Frontline First initiative to institutionalise & scale 200,000 CHWs across 10 African countries by 2030.
Community Health Financing Curriculum upskilling 1400+ learners; 10:1 ROI landmark report.
The Funding Barrier for African Initiatives.
Many Africa-based non-US development organizations face limited capacity to raise or receive funds, particularly those without formal legal structures for directly managing grant funds while providing essential services to communities.
Donors, on the other hand, often cite high perceived risk, administrative overhead, and governance gaps as reasons for avoiding direct support to these actors.
This misalignment creates a structural bottleneck:
while local organizations are closest to the issues and best positioned to lead solutions, they remain underfunded.
For example, recent reforms in US Government USAID’s US funding mechanisms have resulted in a sharp decline in support for African organizations that lack the robust financial systems and compliance frameworks required to qualify for direct grants. As a result, many impactful initiatives are stalled—not due to lack of potential, but due to systems that are not designed for their realities.
FAH’s Solution: Fiscal Sponsorship
FAH as a Fiscal Sponsor FAH serves as a fiscal sponsor, allowing organizations to receive funding under our legal and tax-exempt status, i.e., 501(c)(3).
Trustworthy Channel for Donors Provides a transparent, accountable, and efficient way for donors to support high-impact African initiatives.
Simplifying Compliance for Impact We manage funding, reporting, and compliance, reducing administrative burdens for both donors and recipients.
FAH as a Bridge FAH will create a bridge between global funders and African-led solutions, increasing equitable access to resources.
Key Benefits to the Partners
2. Efficient Fund Disbursement: Rapid, compliant, and well-tracked financial disbursements distribution. (Low transaction costs, lower staff/admin costs for donors).
3. Stronger Governance: Robust financial and programmatic oversight.
4. Scalability: Ability to fund multiple grassroots projects without the administrative burden.
5. Impact Assurance: Regular reporting, audits, and transparent fund tracking.
FAH’s Unique Value Proposition
1. African-Led & Locally Rooted: Deep understanding of the regional landscape.
2. Dual Registration: 501(c)(3) & African entity – ensuring global and local compliance. (CLG, Equivalency Determination).
3. Competitive & Flexible Fees: More cost-effective than international fiscal sponsors.
4. Regulatory Expertise: Proven track record in governance and compliance.
5. Capacity Building: Beyond fund management, we equip organizations with financial and operational skills.
6. Mission alignment: aligns with partners who share our mission to drive sustainable, locally-rooted impact.
How it Works
Donor provides funding through FAH.
Due Diligence/Vetting
FAH disburses funds to selected African organizations.
FAH provides oversight, compliance checks, and reporting.
Organizations implement projects with governance and financial support from FAH.
FAH reports back to donors with impact metrics and financial accountability.
Financial Model & Sustainability
Success Stories & Impact Projections
Grassroots Success via Fiscal Sponsorship: have enabled over 1,000 community-based organizations globally to access funding without needing 501(c)(3) status 1
Studies show that African CSOs with intermediary support (like fiscal sponsors) are 2–3 times more likely to access large-scale donor funding compared to unaffiliated grassroots actors. 2
Fiscal sponsorships improve compliance and governance, leading to greater donor trust, faster disbursements, and longer-term partnerships.