AUD 15M
Unrestricted funding committed
42
African-led organisations supported
AUD 6.5M
Leveraged from other donors
8
Countries
What We Do
Change is most powerful when it comes from within.
Yet most international development funding bypasses the people closest to the challenges and when it does arrive, it’s short-term and restricted, leaving organisations unable to grow or respond to what their communities truly need.
The Local Leaders Fund exists to change that. We provide outstanding African-led organisations with long-term, unrestricted funding and tailored support, giving leaders the freedom to respond, the capacity to grow, and the foundation to build institutions that endure.
We back leaders who are deeply connected to their communities, because local knowledge builds more effective and more enduring solutions.
Our Promise To You
100% of your donation reaches our partners.
Every dollar you give goes directly to the organisations we support. We do not deduct any administrative or operational costs from donor contributions. Thanks to the generosity of the Partners for Equity who cover all overhead expenses, ensuring that all your funding reaches organisations driving impact on the ground.
Featured Story
Wandikweza
From One Village to Four Districts and Counting
Mercy Kafotokoza started Wandikweza to fix what she saw every day as a nurse in Malawi’s public health system: preventable illness, and communities stretched too thin. We saw a leader who could do far more than that if given the right backing.
We backed Mercy when her budget was just $79,000. Since then, flexible funding, hands-on support, and eleven new funder connections from the Local Leaders Fund have helped Wandikweza grow by 1,654% from $79,364 to $1.39 million in 2025, expanding from one district to four. Wandikweza has a vision to serve seven districts by 2030.
Every organisation needs someone who believes in them before the rest of the world does. For Wandikweza, PFE has been that partner.
Mercy Kafotokoza
Founder, Wandikweza — Malawi
The future of philanthropy is locally led.
Communities already hold the leadership, knowledge, and vision needed to create lasting change. Our role is to move resources, trust, and opportunity closer to them.