Introduction
The New Africa Fund, commonly known as NAF, is a United States-based public charity supporting locally led civil society organisations and social enterprises across Africa.
The organisation provides financial assistance, unrestricted funding, fundraising training, fiscal sponsorship and organisational-development support to African NGOs, community-based organisations and social enterprises. It prioritises organisations that understand their communities, have demonstrated results and require flexible resources to expand their impact.
The New Africa Fund is registered as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity in the United States. It is based in Boca Raton, Florida, and has Employer Identification Number 87-1432573. Its federal tax-exempt status dates from March 2021.
Although its name includes the word “Fund,” NAF is not a commercial investment fund or an enterprise foundation owned by a corporation. It is an independent nonprofit organisation governed by a board and financed mainly through charitable contributions, foundation support and donations.
History and Background
Establishment in 2021
The New Africa Fund was founded in 2021 by two former United States Peace Corps Volunteers. Its early work focused primarily on locally led projects in Togo, where the founders had direct experience and relationships with communities.
Steven Beck, the organisation’s president, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Togo between 2004 and 2006. He later worked in nonprofit fundraising and with the United Nations system, including assignments connected to the World Health Organization in several African countries. He left the UN system in late 2020 to establish The New Africa Fund.
Regional expansion
After beginning in Togo, NAF expanded its grantmaking and partnerships to more than a dozen African countries. Its published grantee portfolio includes organisations in countries such as:
- Benin
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
The organisation supports work across education, health, poverty reduction, disability inclusion, women’s empowerment, human rights, youth development, technology, agriculture and environmental resilience.
Development of its funding approach
NAF was created partly in response to weaknesses in conventional international grantmaking. Many African organisations receive narrowly restricted project funding that cannot be used for institutional development, staff retention, financial systems or unexpected community needs.
The New Africa Fund therefore prioritises flexible and unrestricted funding. It evaluates organisations as complete institutions rather than viewing them only as contractors implementing externally designed projects.
Mission and Purpose
Core mission
The New Africa Fund’s mission is to support local initiatives in Africa and promote sustainable, community-led change.
Its approach is based on the belief that local leaders are usually best positioned to understand the challenges facing their communities and identify workable solutions.
Supporting locally led development
The organisation seeks to strengthen the power and independence of African civil society by providing:
- Unrestricted grants
- Technical assistance
- Financial-management support
- Fundraising training
- Fiscal sponsorship
- Mentorship
- Networking opportunities
- Institutional-development assistance
Rather than designing programs externally, NAF supports organisations that already have clear missions, community relationships and evidence of results.
Reducing dependence on foreign donors
Many small African organisations depend heavily on a limited number of international institutional donors. This can make them vulnerable when donor priorities change or project funding ends.
NAF’s fundraising programs help organisations build more diverse income sources, including:
- Individual donations
- Community fundraising
- Local corporate support
- Recurring donors
- Digital fundraising campaigns
- International individual supporters
- Foundation partnerships
This emphasis on sustainable fundraising is intended to improve organisational resilience and reduce long-term dependency.
Inclusive grantmaking
The Fund states that it supports NGOs, community-based organisations and social enterprises across multiple fields. It seeks organisations with clear values, credible leadership and a strong record of serving their communities.
Funding is not available to individuals or organisations registered outside Africa. Applications are accepted only during announced competitive funding rounds.
Governance and Structure
Legal structure
The New Africa Fund Inc. is legally structured as a US nonprofit corporation and recognised as a 501(c)(3) public charity.
It is classified primarily within international development and relief services. Donations from eligible US taxpayers and organisations are tax-deductible within the limits of US law.
Ownership
The New Africa Fund has no commercial shareholders or private owners.
It is not:
- A venture-capital fund
- A private equity company
- A family-owned business
- A corporate enterprise foundation
- An African government agency
Its charitable assets must be used to advance its nonprofit purposes. The Board of Directors is responsible for strategic oversight, governance and accountability.
Board of Directors
The organisation’s official website identifies the following board members:
- Steven Beck: President and Board Member
- Evan Wolfson: Board Member
- Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye: Board Member
- Marie Baptiste: Board Member
- Winnie Tay: Board Member
The board brings experience in international development, global health, fundraising, human rights, nonprofit management, public policy and African development programs.
Management and operational team
The Fund’s published team includes professionals responsible for:
- Grant assessment
- Financial due diligence
- Monitoring grantee finances
- Scholarship administration
- Communications
- Partnership development
- Workshop logistics
- Fundraising training
- Organisational capacity building
For example, the Grants Manager assesses applicant financial statements, identifies financial-management gaps and supports financial monitoring and capacity development among grantees.
Governance reporting
The organisation files an annual Form 990 with the US Internal Revenue Service. These filings provide public information on its revenue, expenditure, assets, board members and executive compensation.
Its 2024 filing listed five directors and reported no compensation for the president, chief executive or board members.
Funding and Grants
Main funding sources
The New Africa Fund is financed mainly through charitable contributions and grants from foundations, donor-advised funds and individual supporters.
In the 2024 financial year, it reported:
- Total revenue: $1,177,282
- Contributions and grants: $1,130,036
- Investment income: $47,246
- Total expenses: $1,065,971
- Net assets: $1,362,967
- Total liabilities: $0
Approximately 96% of its 2024 revenue came from contributions. This indicates that its basic funding model depends primarily on philanthropy rather than fees, commercial sales or government service contracts.
Unrestricted funding
A defining feature of NAF’s grantmaking is its preference for unrestricted support.
Unrestricted grants may allow an organisation to allocate funding according to its most urgent needs, which could include:
- Staff salaries
- Rent and utilities
- Financial systems
- Technology
- Community outreach
- Program expansion
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Emergency needs
- Organisational planning
NAF argues that flexible funding helps community organisations adapt to changing circumstances and pursue sustainable outcomes.
Africa Fundraising Incubator
The Africa Fundraising Incubator, or AFI, is NAF’s current flagship funding and capacity-development program. It was previously known as the Africa Impact Fundraising Grant program.
AFI is designed to help African organisations develop sustainable fundraising pipelines and reduce administrative and financial barriers.
The program includes:
- Online training in small-donor fundraising
- A 30-day fundraising challenge
- Up to $5,000 in matching funds
- Twelve months of free fiscal sponsorship
- The possibility of extended fiscal sponsorship
- A fully funded, week-long workshop in Kigali for top-performing organisations
- Additional performance-based fundraising opportunities
Current 2026 application round
Applications for the 2026 Africa Fundraising Incubator opened on 14 July 2026 and are scheduled to close on 14 August 2026 at 5:00 p.m. UTC.
The official application page states that eligible applicants must be registered in one of the 54 African Union member states covered by the call. Applicants must submit:
- An organisational registration document
- Their latest external audit
- Five months of financial statements if an audit is unavailable
The Fund does not charge an application fee and warns applicants against individuals falsely requesting payments on its behalf.
Fiscal sponsorship
Fiscal sponsorship allows eligible African organisations to receive tax-deductible international donations through The New Africa Fund’s US charitable structure.
This can be particularly useful for smaller organisations that do not have:
- US charitable registration
- International banking infrastructure
- Online donation systems
- Donor-receipting capacity
- Administrative resources for international fundraising
All organisations participating in AFI receive 12 months of free fiscal sponsorship, with a possibility of extension.
Research and basic funding
The New Africa Fund is not primarily a provider of unrestricted academic research grants or scientific basic research funding.
A research organisation may be considered when it is registered in Africa, serves a clear public-benefit purpose and applies during an eligible open call. Its published portfolio includes Research and Development without Borders in Cameroon, but NAF’s principal focus remains organisational development and community impact rather than university-based basic research.
Major Programs and Initiatives
Venture philanthropy grants
NAF’s venture-philanthropy approach combines unrestricted funding with technical support, institutional guidance and long-term relationships.
Unlike commercial venture capital, this form of venture philanthropy does not normally involve taking an ownership stake in a grantee organisation. Its purpose is to strengthen social impact rather than generate financial returns for shareholders.
Africa Fundraising Incubator
AFI combines training, practical fundraising and financial support.
Participants learn about:
- Financial management
- Marketing and communications
- Grant writing
- Donor research
- Donor cultivation and retention
- Individual giving
- Local fundraising
- Leadership
- Organisational sustainability
Girls’ Scholarship Program
The Girls’ Scholarship Program was launched in Togo in 2022 in partnership with CECODRI. It supports young women from financially disadvantaged backgrounds who wish to pursue higher education.
Support includes:
- Full tuition
- Secure accommodation
- Monthly living support
- Medical insurance
- Computer training
- Mentorship
- Career guidance
- Personal-development activities
The program enrolled 28 young women across its first three cohorts. Ten students from the initial cohort graduated from university in 2026.
A smaller pilot was also established in Senegal for students studying nursing and midwifery.
Free skills webinars
NAF provides free English- and French-language webinars for NGOs and social enterprises.
Its 2025 training series covered:
- Financial management
- Networking for organisational growth
- Communications and social media
- Leadership
- Resource mobilisation
These open webinars extend the Fund’s impact beyond its direct grantees.
Organisational capacity building
The Fund’s support may include assistance with:
- Financial controls
- Strategic planning
- Donor communication
- Digital visibility
- Grant compliance
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Board development
- Program sustainability
- Fundraising systems
This approach recognises that organisations need strong internal systems as well as project funding.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
Geographic reach
The New Africa Fund began with projects in Togo and now works with grantees and partners in more than a dozen African countries.
Its grantee portfolio includes organisations addressing:
- Education
- Public health
- Gender-based violence
- Human rights
- Disability inclusion
- Poverty
- Youth livelihoods
- Technology skills
- Environmental protection
- Agriculture
- Community development
Worth a Haven
Worth a Haven in Uganda provides nursery and primary education to children between the ages of three and 15.
The organisation reports educating more than 377 children, paying secondary-school fees for 22 students and supporting over 400 young people and women through sustainable agriculture, health education and economic-empowerment programs.
Maxim Nyansa Foundation
Maxim Nyansa Foundation provides advanced computer training to underprivileged young Africans. Its programs help students develop practical technology skills and prepare for local and international employment opportunities.
KADUPEDI
KADUPEDI in Uganda supports people with disabilities and their families.
Its programs cover:
- Human-rights advocacy
- Economic empowerment
- Climate-change adaptation
- Inclusive community development
- Partnerships supporting persons with disabilities
Girls’ education in Togo
The Girls’ Scholarship Program has enabled young women to study fields that can contribute to local development. Recipients are encouraged to remain connected to Togo and contribute to their communities after completing their education.
Diverse grantee portfolio
The Fund’s published grantees include:
- KOA Education Foundation in Nigeria
- Pambazuko la Wanawake Magharibi in Kenya
- Ecobed Biotech Brand in Uganda
- Fondation Jeunesse Unie in Benin
- Faces Up in Uganda
- Hands of Mothers in Rwanda
- ENE Empower in Ghana
- Action Contre la Pauvreté in Burundi
- CWE-Tech in Kenya
- Research and Development without Borders in Cameroon
This portfolio demonstrates NAF’s emphasis on locally led organisations rather than large international NGOs.
Conclusion
The New Africa Fund is a US-registered public charity supporting civil society organisations, community groups and social enterprises across Africa.
Founded in 2021, it has expanded from an initial focus on Togo to partnerships in more than a dozen African countries. Its philanthropic activities combine unrestricted funding, fundraising support, fiscal sponsorship, scholarships and organisational capacity development.
NAF is independently governed and has no shareholders or conventional commercial ownership. It should not be classified as an enterprise foundation controlled by a company or as a commercial investment fund.
Its major initiatives include:
- Africa Fundraising Incubator
- Unrestricted venture-philanthropy grants
- Fiscal sponsorship
- Girls’ Scholarship Program
- Free NGO skills webinars
- Financial and organisational capacity building
For an intern, The New Africa Fund provides insight into:
- International grantmaking
- African civil society
- Trust-based philanthropy
- Unrestricted funding
- Grant assessment
- Financial due diligence
- Fundraising development
- Fiscal sponsorship
- Scholarship management
- Monitoring and evaluation
- Communications
- Cross-border nonprofit partnerships
The Fund’s distinctive contribution is its effort to shift power towards African organisations by financing locally designed solutions and helping community institutions build sustainable sources of income.
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