Understanding Community-Based Fundraising: Principles, Challenges, and Strategies

Understanding Community-Based Fundraising: Principles, Challenges, and Strategies

Author: Dr. Anna Neya Kazanskaia
Publisher: NEYA Global Publishing
Article | NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies
Year: 2025
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5669-1676

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-cm-bsd-fr-02


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About the Article

Community-based fundraising offers a crucial pathway for non-profit sustainability, particularly in resource-limited contexts. By emphasizing local ownership, inclusivity, and collaboration, this approach transforms fundraising from transactional exchanges into long-term relational engagement. The article examines core principles—such as transparency, empowerment, and sustainability—while addressing challenges including financial scarcity, weak infrastructure, and distrust rooted in historical mismanagement. Strategies for overcoming these barriers include leveraging local networks, using mobile money platforms, and fostering educational outreach. A case study from rural Kenya illustrates how grassroots mobilization and transparency enabled both financial success and strengthened community solidarity. Ultimately, the article argues that community-based fundraising is both a financial mechanism and a vehicle for participatory development and resilient non-profit practice.

Key Topics

  • Principles of community-based fundraising
  • Inclusivity and transparency
  • Challenges in low-income contexts
  • Strategies for donor engagement
  • Mobile money and grassroots mobilization
  • Sustainability and resilience

Suggested Citation

Kazanskaia, A. N. (2025). Understanding Community-Based Fundraising: Principles, Challenges, and Strategies. NEYA Global Journal of Non-Profit Studies. Neya Global Publishing. https://doi.org/10.64357/neya-gjnps-cm-bsd-fr-02

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https://neyaglobal.com/journal-nonprofit/understanding-community-based-fundraising-principles-challenges-and-strategies
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September 28, 2025