In 2023, the Packard Foundation joined a global coalition of donors and international development institutions in endorsing a commitment to direct more resources to local organizations.
As part of that effort, we pledged that at least 25% of our funds spent in countries in the Global South would be directed to local organizations and leaders. That commitment reflects the essential role local organizations play within the broader ecosystem of national, regional, and global partners who must work together to address the world’s most complex challenges.
In 2025, we exceeded that commitment for the second year in a row, with 41.4% of our grantmaking within these countries supporting locally led organizations. In 2024, 46.4% went to locally based organizations. The year-over-year change reflects an evolution in the geographic mix of our grantmaking, including some shifts from country-specific strategies toward more regional approaches.
"Exceeding our 25% commitment for a second year reflects our continued focus on ensuring local leaders have the resources they need to shape and sustain change in their communities."
“Local organizations bring the knowledge, relationships, and experience that help solutions take root and endure. They are essential partners in a wider ecosystem of changemakers, yet they continue to receive only a small share of development and philanthropic funding. Exceeding our 25% commitment for a second year reflects our continued focus on ensuring local leaders have the resources they need to shape and sustain change in their communities,” said Nancy Lindborg, president and CEO of the Packard Foundation.
Why Locally Led Development Matters
Locally led development is the process through which local actors, including individuals, communities, networks, organizations, businesses, and governments, set their own agendas, develop solutions, and bring the leadership and resources needed to make those solutions a reality.
Through our work on complex global challenges, including climate change, reproductive health, and ocean conservation, we have seen that greater impact can be achieved and maintained when those closest to the issues play a leading role in shaping solutions.
“Strong civil society is essential to enabling communities and organizations achieve their goals."
“Strong civil society is essential to enabling communities and organizations achieve their goals. That’s why we invest in both local organizations and the broader networks and institutions that help ensure local leaders and organizations have the rights, resources, and relationships they need to drive and sustain change,” said Jamaica Maxwell, director of the Civil Society and Leadership initiative at the Packard Foundation.
We encourage our colleagues across philanthropy and global development to continue examining how their funding practices can strengthen local leadership. We recognize that it will take exploring different approaches, learning from each other, and evolving our practices to empower local actors and propel progress across the issues we all care about.
