Bridging the Gap for Grassroots Changemakers
As philanthropy continues to evolve in 2025, more attention is being given to progressive and inclusive funding practices. However, small and emerging grassroots initiatives and community-based organisations (CBOs) often find themselves excluded from these conversations. Many lack the access, knowledge or resources to fully engage with new funding mechanisms.
At FRC, we believe this gap must be closed. We work to catalyse systemic change by offering flexible funding and targeted capacity development, particularly focused on:
- Grassroots initiatives and CBOs under 10 years old
- Organisations operating with small budgets
- Youth-led or youth-focused entities Groups working with children and young people
Our commitment lies in supporting those closest to the issues they aim to solve.
The Power of Connection: Community Connect Workshop
On 11th June, we hosted the Community Connect Workshop – a vibrant gathering designed to support grassroots organisations with practical skills and a trust-based learning environment. The response was overwhelming: we received four times more applications than expected, underscoring the high demand for meaningful, accessible capacity-building spaces.
Ultimately, 12 organisations and 2 individual changemakers from across India participated. Some were just a year into their journey. Each brought unique experiences and needs, united by a shared goa, building stronger, more effective organisations that serve communities from the ground up.
The day-long workshop combined masterclasses and interactive sessions, covering core themes:
- Fundraising Fundamentals
- Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Essentials
- Marketing and Communications (MarComms) Basics
These foundational areas were just the start. Participants left not only with new skills, but with a deeper understanding of their potential paths forward.
Trust in Practice
Perhaps the most powerful aspect of the workshop was the lived experience of trust-based resourcing. At FRC, we don’t impose requirements or rigid frameworks. We partner with organisations, respecting their autonomy and lived expertise.
When one participant asked, “What assignment do you expect us to submit?” our response was simple: “None”. We trust our partners to take the learnings and apply them in ways that serve their unique missions.
And they did. Every participant shared how they would integrate what they’d learned – refining their strategy, clarifying their goals and feeling more confident in their work. For many, the workshop offered something rare: a sense of direction, and the reassurance that they were no longer “shooting in the dark”.
What our participants had to say:
“I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for the amazing workshop. It was engaging, informative and provided valuable insights that will greatly benefit our programmes. The learnings will definitely be implemented, and we’re excited to see the impact. Your team’s dedication is commendable.” – Shivangi Tripathy, Teamup for Transformation
“Our organisation was formed just a year ago, and this workshop was incredibly important. We learnt about the importance of improving LinkedIn and our website, and have already started working on it. The facilitators explained everything brilliantly. Thank you, FRC.”
– Mohammad Rizwan, Inspiring Youth Foundation
What Comes Next
This workshop reaffirmed our belief that equitable, trust-based support is key to unlocking potential in grassroots organisations. At FRC, we’re committed to walking alongside changemakers – offering the resources, encouragement and space they need to grow. Because real systems change doesn’t happen overnight. It happens step by step, story by story, connection by connection.
