Our Story
Born from a decade
of watching ideas
fail to scale.
We exist because remarkable local organisations in developing countries consistently run out of runway — not ideas.
We exist because remarkable local organisations in developing countries consistently run out of runway — not ideas.
Over the past decade, the global funding community has poured billions of dollars into social change initiatives across developing countries. And yet, a persistent pattern emerged: organisations doing the most credible, community-rooted work were consistently underfunded, over-reported, and under-trusted.
The Changemakers Initiative was founded by the Global Funding Alliance in response to a fundamental misalignment — international funders setting agendas that local organisations had to contort their work to match, while the real solutions were already being developed by people who understood the problems from the inside.
As our Chair, Maria Gonzalez, observed: "Countless innovative solutions emerge in developing countries, but very few sustain and create systemic impact. The core issue isn't a lack of creativity, but a shortage of flexible, long-term funding that respects local wisdom."
The Changemakers Initiative was built precisely to fill that gap — providing unconditional, long-term core funding that trusts local organisations to use it where it matters most.
We believe that communities experiencing a problem are best positioned to design, implement, and adapt the solutions. External expertise supplements but never supplants local knowledge.
Systemic change takes years, not months. We provide multi-year commitments so organisations can plan strategically rather than chase the next funding deadline.
The best organisations pivot, learn, and change course when evidence demands it. Rigid project frameworks punish good judgment. We fund organisations, not outputs.
The Changemakers Initiative is a collaborative initiative of the Global Funding Alliance — a coalition of leading international foundations and innovative funders who have committed a combined initial investment of $25 million over five years.
Our governance is designed to keep decision-making close to the communities we serve. Each funding cycle includes review panels with representatives from our operating regions.
We are headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland, with regional advisors and representatives across all four operating geographies.
The founding body — a coalition of international foundations united by a shared commitment to locally-led change and long-term, unrestricted funding.
Independent advisors from each operating region who evaluate applications and provide cultural and contextual expertise.
Funded organisations join a global peer network of 30 new changemakers annually, collaborating across regions, sectors, and approaches.
Our evaluation framework prioritises learning over accountability — honest reflection shared openly across the grantee community.
We trust local expertise without imposing external agendas. We provide true core funding, not project-restricted funds. We build equal partnerships, not donor-recipient relationships.— The Changemakers Initiative Founding Principles
Applications are open through September 15, 2026. The process is streamlined, free, and designed to respect your time.