The Global Majority Fund convened an event at the Africa Centre in Waterloo, London, bringing together ten of its “led by and for” funded partners and twelve funders to discuss making charitable giving fairer, more just, and equitable for organisations led by Global Majority communities. The timing and location were poignant, occurring just days after nearby streets had been affected by racist, anti-migrant, and Islamophobic marches. The event built on the foundations of a previous December 2024 gathering, where a Call to Action was launched urging funders to collaborate and reimagine equitable funding practices. Poonam D’Cruze, Head of Poverty & Injustice at Comic Relief, welcomed participants and highlighted the urgency of structural change amidst rising tensions, hate speech, and socio-economic crises disproportionately impacting Global Majority communities.
Funded partners such as the African Health Policy Network and Anti-Tribalism Movement shared how the Global Majority Fund had provided temporary relief from the relentless cycle of fundraising, allowing them to focus on systemic change beyond service delivery. However, they also stressed the limitations of short-term funding, noting that the end of the three-year funding cycle would force many organisations back into time-consuming fundraising efforts. Their insights underscored the need for long-term, reliable funding to strengthen organisations and address the impacts of historic racism.
Discussions around core flexible funding revealed that so-called “unrestricted” support often comes with limitations. Participants highlighted how a lack of funding can push smaller organisations into partnerships that dilute their identity, and how reliance on short-term or crisis funding undermines long-term impact. Despite these challenges, funders showed willingness to explore truly unrestricted support and pilot new approaches to overcome barriers such as risk aversion, measurement cultures, and siloed practices.
The session on prioritising participation emphasized that organisations led by Global Majority communities hold critical expertise and trust but face systemic obstacles. Funded partners advocated for diverse boards, inclusive staffing, and participatory approaches that extend beyond financial support to include sharing networks, platforms, and skills. Genuine partnerships, they stressed, require longer timelines and non-extractive processes to achieve meaningful and lasting impact.
The event concluded with reflection and recognition of the depth of discussions, providing a rare space for organisations to feel seen and valued. Participants left with a sense of hope and agency, while funders demonstrated commitment to the Call to Action through practical steps such as pledging support on a ‘discussion-to-action’ poster. Looking ahead, the Global Majority Fund aims to nurture these relationships, create more collaborative spaces, and work with funders to transform inequitable funding systems in solidarity with Global Majority-led organisations.
