Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) is an independent Tanzanian non-profit organization that provides grants and capacity building services to civil society organizations (CSOs) so as to enhance their effectiveness in enabling engagement of citizens in development processes. It was established by development stakeholders in Tanzania. FCS was established and registered in September 2002 and started operations in January 2003.   

FCS aspires to maintain its position as leading financing mechanism for CSOs in Tanzania; and to effectively complement government and Development Partners efforts towards poverty reduction as set out amongst others in Tanzania’s main development frameworks: the Vision 2025 and the Five Years Development Plan 2016-2020.

The FCS enables citizens to become a strong driving force for change in improving the democratic governance of Tanzania, in fighting poverty and in achieving a better quality life for all. The FCS has indeed grown from an idea to a strong institution. Its size and value of grants portfolio has relatively grown overtime. In 2003 the size of grants portfolio stood at 52 grants, worth USD 831,908 up to March 2017, the Foundation has supported over 4,000 Civil Society Organizations with grants worth more than 60 Million Dollars.  

FCS coverage in the country has grown from covering only 14 regions in the year 2003 - to covering all 31 regions of the country - starting from the year 2013 onwards. The outreach to the rural areas has also increased over time with an increasing percentage of our projects being implemented by organizations in the rural areas or focusing on the rural areas. In the year 2003, only about 15% of projects focused in the rural areas while until recent the trend has been averaging to over 75%.  

Vision
A Tanzania where citizens are empowered to realise their social justice and engage responsibly in change processes that enhance their quality of life.

Mission
To empower citizens through the provision of grants, facilitating linkages and enabling a culture of on-going learning in civil society in Tanzania.