How to get funded by Co-Impact: Grantmaking for systems change

As official development assistance shrinks and global crises multiply, many executives and fundraisers are wondering: Where is philanthropy headed — and how do they get in the door? In a recent Devex Pro event, Gladys Onyango, associate director of Africa at Co-Impact, shared how the fund is navigating this moment of uncertainty — and what it takes to partner with the fund. Co-Impact, a global donor collaborative, has a systems-change approach, which focuses on improving how efficiently and effectively public services such as health and education work at scale. Combined with its emphasis on local leadership and five-year, multimillion-dollar commitments, this sets Co-Impact apart from other funders. Onyango pulled back the curtain on how Co-Impact works and where it's headed next. Here are the top takeaways for leaders and business development professionals. 1. A moment of reckoning and responsibility for philanthropy Onyango sees the current landscape as a pivotal one. Between climate instability, growing inequality, the rise of anti-rights movements, and shrinking civic space, many of the world’s most urgent challenges are converging. Add declining official aid, and the case for bold, strategic philanthropy becomes clear. For Co-Impact, this isn’t the time to pull back or reassess. It’s a moment to lean in — by funding long-term, backing local leadership, and helping strengthen public systems. The collaborative is doubling down on what it has found to work: Supporting locally rooted players working in partnership with governments or within market systems to drive change at scale. 2. Funding for systems change, not standalone projects Unlike traditional donors, Co-Impact focuses on systems-level transformation, meaning improving the way public services work — not just delivering quick results, but shifting how those services operate long-term. That’s why they fund initiatives, not just projects — broader, multiyear strategies designed to tackle problems at their roots, often by working with governments to improve policies, infrastructure, and delivery. A project might deliver tutoring to students; an initiative looks at how the education system itself can keep more girls in school. Each grant is structured around the scale and ambition of the initiative. Co-Impact typically offers $300,000 for design-phase work, followed by $3 million–$8 million over five years for implementation. Grants go to organizations ready to engage at a systemic level — often through policy influence, government partnership, or structural reform. And while the collaborative brings funding and tools, they don’t prescribe solutions. Strategy design is left in the hands of those closest to the issue, with support from Co-Impact teams based in the countries and regions they fund. 3. Rooted, feminist, collaborative partners stand out Organizations hoping to partner with Co-Impact need to bring deep local roots, feminist values, and a systems-change mindset. Onyango underscored that they prioritize organizations based in and led by people from the global south, with a strong preference for women-led and gender-equity-focused work. Other green flags? A track record of collaboration, political awareness, and an ability to iterate and adapt. 4. Don’t wait for an open call: Relationships are the real entry point Co-Impact no longer uses open calls for proposals. Instead, the collaborative sources potential grantees through regional research, referrals from existing partners, and active ecosystem engagement. Fundraisers hoping to connect should think relationally: maintain visibility in key networks, engage Co-Impact staff at conferences, and stay active on social media. Being referred by a current partner — or part of a recognized coalition — is one of the most effective ways to get on the funder’s radar. 5. Going beyond the grant While Co-Impact’s multimillion-dollar grants are headline-worthy, many grantees report that the nonfinancial support is just as critical. From the very first design phase, Co-Impact acts as a thought partner — helping organizations map strategies, troubleshoot pain points, and identify what it will take to build coalitions and shift systems. Every grant also includes dedicated funding for organizational strengthening. Importantly, Co-Impact invests in its grantees’ ability to learn and adapt. Through dedicated learning, monitoring, and evaluation support, partners gain tools to assess their progress. Partners also benefit from peer learning opportunities through regional communities of practice, where they can exchange insights with other systems-change leaders facing similar challenges. Another often-overlooked benefit is visibility: Co-Impact actively amplifies the work of its partners — boosting their profiles within philanthropic and policy networks and helping attract additional resources over time. 6. Collaborative philanthropy is rising and worth watching Onyango made a strong case for collaborative philanthropy — not just as a funding model, but as a shift in mindset. Co-Impact pools resources from a range of philanthropic players to support long-term systems change, which reduces duplicative efforts and eases reporting burdens for grantees. The benefits extend to funders too. Participating in a collaborative allows them to learn from peers, reduce due diligence overhead, and benefit from local expertise that they may not have in-house. And for the implementing partners, being backed by a collaborative often means fewer reports, longer timelines, and deeper trust. It’s an emerging model, but one that Onyango sees growing. “I've seen a significant increase in the number of funders setting up offices here within the region,” she said, “localizing their strategies, hiring local teams, being willing to take a bet in local organizations leaning into unrestricted giving.” 7. What’s next: New priorities for Africa’s portfolio Looking ahead, Co-Impact’s Africa team is deepening its engagement in three high-potential areas. First is the care economy, where women’s unpaid labor remains invisible and undersupported. This presents an opportunity to both improve livelihoods and reshape economic systems. Second, early childhood development, with a focus on foundational support that helps young children thrive and succeed later in life. And finally, Co-Impact is exploring how climate intersects with health, education, gender, and livelihoods. Rather than launching a separate climate program, the fund is looking for cross-cutting approaches that embed climate resilience into existing work. 8. Final advice: Be strategic, relational, and sharp For those hoping to partner with Co-Impact — or similar collaboratives — Onyango offered simple, but powerful advice: First, be both strategic and adaptive. In a moment defined by volatility, funders are drawn to organizations that stay grounded in their mission while showing flexibility in how they deliver. Second, double down on relationship building. Fundraising is never just transactional, Onyango said. Staying in touch with existing funders and engaging new ones requires consistent, thoughtful communication and a willingness to share how shifting dynamics are affecting your work. Finally, sharpen your case for support. Make it clear why your initiative matters — now more than ever — and how it responds to the structural challenges Co-Impact and other systems-focused funders are aiming to address. Don't miss out on future briefings. Browse our events calendar for our next live conversations.