Across many communities, small, locally rooted organizations are often the first to respond to crises, build long-term relationships, and remain present long after projects end. We understand local contexts, cultures, and priorities because we are part of the communities we serve. Yet many of these organizations continue to struggle for survival, relying on short-term grants while investing significant time and resources in fundraising instead of community impact.

At the same time, a substantial share of international funding continues to flow through larger national and international organizations with established systems and donor relationships. While these organizations play an important role, this imbalance can leave grassroots organizations under-resourced despite being closest to communities and often best positioned to deliver sustainable, locally led solutions.

If the international community is serious about localization, then trust must be reflected in funding decisions; not only in policy statements. This means creating more direct, accessible, and flexible funding opportunities for grassroots organizations, investing in institutional strengthening, simplifying application and compliance processes, and recognizing lived experience and community trust as forms of organizational capacity.

The future of aid should not be a competition between large and small organizations. It should be an ecosystem where each actor contributes according to its strengths, with resources distributed more equitably and power shared more intentionally.

We would like to hear from others:

Have you experienced barriers to accessing funding because your organization is small or grassroots?

How can donors better identify and invest in community-rooted organizations without creating unnecessary administrative burdens?

What practical changes would make localization a reality rather than an aspiration?

We look forward to learning from organizations across the Global South and collectively reimagining an aid system that places communities, and the organizations rooted within them, at its centre.