Trustafrica
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersDakar, Senegal
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Trustafrica firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Trustafrica
- Legal name
- TrustAfrica
- Website
- https://trustafrica.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Trustafrica industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Philanthropic Grantmaking Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)
Keywords
Where Trustafrica is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dakar
- HQ country
- Senegal
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
Trustafrica business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Grantmaking and Philanthropic Funding: TrustAfrica operates as an independent philanthropy rooted in Africa, receiving funding from institutional donors and foundations to distribute grants to African civil society organizations. Since 2006, they have awarded US$80 million through 622 grants in 34 African countries. Revenue comes from donor contributions, foundation grants, and partnerships with funding organizations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Trustafrica product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TrustAfrica is an independent philanthropic foundation that distributes grants and provides advocacy, convening, and knowledge support to African civil society organizations working on democratic governance, equitable development, and African philanthropy. Since 2006, it has awarded US$80 million through 622 grants across 34 African countries, and operates thematic initiatives including the African Social Movements Baraza, Harambee~Ubuntu Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies, Community Immunity, and the West African Philanthropy Support Ecosystem.
Product overview
TrustAfrica is an independent philanthropy organization founded in 2006, focused on promoting responsible citizenship and accountable leadership in Africa. The organization operates as a grantmaking institution with a portfolio of thematic programs including Democratic Governance, Equitable Development, and African Philanthropy. Its core offerings include a grants program (US$80 million across 622 grants in 34 countries), a Knowledge Hub with 700+ publications, and various specialized initiatives such as the Harambee~Ubuntu Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies, Community Immunity, West African Philanthropy Support Ecosystem, African Giving Narratives Project, Gender-Based Violence Prevention, Illicit Financial Flows advocacy, Discrimination Based on Work and Descent program, and the African Social Movements Baraza. These programs work together to advance the organization's mission through funding, research, convenings, and advocacy.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Harambee~Ubuntu: Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies initiative in partnership with Urgent Action Fund-Africa
- African Social Movements Baraza
- African Youth Panel
- West Africa Democracy Fund
Products and services
- Grants Program TrustAfrica's core grantmaking initiative that has awarded US$80 million through 622 grants across 34 African countries since 2006, supporting African civil society organizations working on democracy, development, and social justice.
- Knowledge Hub A repository of 700+ reports, case studies, articles, policy briefs, and conference proceedings about giving and philanthropy in Africa, equitable development, and democratic governance.
- African Philanthropy Database A database providing information on African philanthropy practices and organizations across the continent.
- Illicit Financial Flows Database A database tracking information and resources on illicit financial flows from Africa, supporting advocacy efforts to stop capital losses from the continent.
- Harambee~Ubuntu Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies A partnership initiative with Urgent Action Fund-Africa to reimagine African philanthropic narratives and build locally-owned resource infrastructure for pan-African and feminist movements, with a goal to raise over $25,000,000.
- Community Immunity A global collaboration initiated by Africa Philanthropy Network, Southern Africa Trust, and TrustAfrica during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide quick-impact relief to vulnerable African communities.
- West African Philanthropy Support Ecosystem (WAPSE) A project led by TrustAfrica and WINGS to strengthen giving and philanthropy in West Africa through research, convenings, and developing a regional philanthropy network.
- African Giving Narratives Project A collaborative project with Giving Tuesday and National Philanthropic Trust to document and celebrate African generosity traditions, currently featuring 200 preliminary articles.
- Gender-Based Violence Prevention Program A women's rights program in Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso focused on changing social norms for gender equality through community outreach, research, and coalition building. Has supported 12 organizations with grants averaging $10,000-$30,000 and distributed $300,243 total including $75,000 in COVID-19 response to 19 organizations.
- Illicit Financial Flows Initiative An advocacy movement to stop illicit financial flows from Africa, including the #StopTheBleeding campaign and work with the IFF Consortium.
- Discrimination Based on Work and Descent (DWD) Program Initiatives to combat discrimination based on work and descent and slavery in Africa, hosting the Africa Network of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent and against Slavery (ANDS), including a 150,000 Euro grant from Voice.
- African Social Movements Baraza A platform created by TrustAfrica for social movements across Africa to meet, engage, and explore ways to strengthen organizing for social transformation. Held April 14-16 in Accra, Ghana.
- Zimbabwe Alliance Program Grants, convenings, and capacity building supporting civil society in Zimbabwe to address democratic constitutional reform and community organizing.
Quantifiable outcome
- US$80 million awarded through 622 grants across 34 African countries since 2006
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Trustafrica
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Trustafrica technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Trustafrica partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Urgent Action Fund – AfricacoreDeep partnership between TrustAfrica and Urgent Action Fund-Africa to re-imagine and define African philanthropic narratives through the Harambee~Ubuntu Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies initiative. Jointly building a locally owned resource infrastructure for pan-African and feminist movements.
- Africa Philanthropy NetworkcoreAfrica Philanthropy Network co-initiated the Community Immunity global collaboration with TrustAfrica and Southern Africa Trust to provide quick-impact relief to vulnerable African communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Southern Africa TrustcoreSouthern Africa Trust partnered with TrustAfrica and Africa Philanthropy Network on the Community Immunity initiative for COVID-19 relief in Africa.
- Centre for Democracy and Development, West AfricacoreCo-organized policy forum with TrustAfrica on free trade mechanisms and reducing impact of global crises in Africa. Expert forum featuring former UN Under-Secretary-General Abdoulie Janneh.
- WINGScoreWINGS (Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support) co-leads the West African Philanthropy Support Ecosystem (WAPSE) Project with TrustAfrica to develop a robust philanthropy support ecosystem in West Africa.
- Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI)coreCAPSI co-convened the 6th African Philanthropy Conference with TrustAfrica and other partners. Professor Bhekinkosi Moyo serves as Director of CAPSI.
- African Philanthropy Forum (APF)coreAPF is a co-convenor of the 6th African Philanthropy Conference and part of the WAPSE Project Steering Committee.
- African Philanthropy Network (APN)coreAPN co-convened the 6th African Philanthropy Conference and serves on the WAPSE Project Steering Committee. TrustAfrica co-founded APN.
- East Africa Philanthropy NetworkminorEast Africa Philanthropy Network participated as co-convenor of the 6th African Philanthropy Conference.
- John D. Gerhart Centre at AUCcoreThe John D. Gerhart Centre at the American University in Cairo's Onsi Sawiris School of Business hosted the 6th African Philanthropy Conference.
- Arab Foundations ForumminorArab Foundations Forum supported the 6th African Philanthropy Conference as a local partner.
- Waqfeyat Misr FoundationminorWaqfeyat Misr Foundation supported the 6th African Philanthropy Conference as a local partner.
- Africa Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA)minorAVPA serves on the WAPSE Project Steering Committee, contributing to the development of the West African philanthropy support ecosystem.
- Global Fund for Community Foundation (GFCF)minorGFCF serves on the WAPSE Project Steering Committee. GFCF Chair Gerry Salole is associated with TrustAfrica's board.
- Tax Justice Network-AfricacoreCollaborated with Tax Justice Network-Africa on the Stop the Bleeding campaign to end illicit financial flows from Africa.
- University of Johannesburg's Centre for Social ChangecoreTrustAfrica partners with the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Social Change on the Political Economy: African Debt & Economic Justice Programme, with a 2nd cohort training programme.
- Giving TuesdaycoreTrustAfrica collaborates with Giving Tuesday on the African Giving Narratives Project to highlight and celebrate African voices, narratives, and philanthropic traditions.
- The Inclusivity Project (TIP)coreTIP collaborated with TrustAfrica to convene dialogue on Discrimination Based on Work and Descent, including community leaders from Africa and Southeast Asia.
- Amnesty InternationalminorAmnesty International participated in the 2019 Dakar convening on Discrimination Based on Work and Descent organized by TrustAfrica and TIP.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Trustafrica competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Open Society Foundations: Large global foundation with comparable focus areas in democratic governance, human rights and social justice in Africa; TrustAfrica board member Tawanda Mutasah is a former OSF Global Director of Programs.
- Hewlett Foundation: Major U.S. foundation that seeded the Harambee~Ubuntu endowment; a broad global grantmaker but a financial and strategic partner on TrustAfrica's signature endowment initiative.
- Ford Foundation: Global incumbent foundation that originally housed TrustAfrica at inception and remains its largest disclosed anchor donor; operates a much broader international grantmaking portfolio but shares a focus on democracy and equitable development.
- ELMA Philanthropies: Africa-focused international philanthropy with deep grantmaking in health, education and civil society; TrustAfrica board member Dr. Natalia Kanem is its founding president, indicating close operating overlap.
Regional players
- Dangote Foundation: Largest private foundation in Africa by endowment, based in Nigeria; TrustAfrica board member Adhiambo Odaga is its Managing Director, and it shares the Africa-rooted foundation profile with a regional focus.
Direct peers
- African Philanthropy Forum: Pan-African platform convening philanthropists, social investors and foundations; serves on the WAPSE steering committee with TrustAfrica and overlaps directly in audience and convening model.
- Southern Africa Trust: Regional foundation supporting civil society in Southern Africa; TrustAfrica's named partner on the Community Immunity COVID-19 initiative and a directly comparable grantmaking and convening organization.
- Kenya Community Development Foundation: Kenya's only public national community foundation doing grantmaking and capacity-building for civil society; TrustAfrica board member Janet Mawiyoo is its CEO, making it an operationally comparable community foundation peer.
- African Philanthropy Network: Continental membership network advancing African philanthropy, co-founded by TrustAfrica and a co-convenor of the African Philanthropy Conference; highly comparable in mission and ecosystem-building role.
- Urgent Action Fund-Africa: Africa-rooted feminist rapid-response fund; TrustAfrica's named partner on the Harambee~Ubuntu Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies initiative and the closest operational peer in feminist/movement grantmaking on the continent.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Trustafrica social profiles
Digital presenceTrustafrica financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Trustafrica leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles21 records
Trustafrica funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Trustafrica M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Trustafrica
What does Trustafrica do?
TrustAfrica is an independent philanthropic foundation that distributes grants and provides advocacy, convening, and knowledge support to African civil society organizations working on democratic governance, equitable development, and African philanthropy. Since 2006, it has awarded US$80 million through 622 grants across 34 African countries, and operates thematic initiatives including the African Social Movements Baraza, Harambee~Ubuntu Pan-African and Feminist Philanthropies, Community Immunity, and the West African Philanthropy Support Ecosystem.
Is Trustafrica a public or private company?
Trustafrica is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Trustafrica founded?
Trustafrica was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Trustafrica based?
Trustafrica is headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, in the Africa region.
How does Trustafrica make money?
One revenue line is on record: grantmaking and Philanthropic Funding.
Who are Trustafrica's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Open Society Foundations, Hewlett Foundation, Ford Foundation and ELMA Philanthropies. Dangote Foundation is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are African Philanthropy Forum, Southern Africa Trust, Kenya Community Development Foundation, African Philanthropy Network and Urgent Action Fund-Africa.
Does Trustafrica have an API?
No public API is recorded for Trustafrica.
What industry is Trustafrica in?
Trustafrica's product category is Philanthropic Grantmaking Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAH, International Grantmaking & Development Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.