Why Capacity Funding Matters More Than Ever
Running a charity isn't always easy, especially when you find yourself staring at a nearly empty bank account. At Cameras For Girls, we've always been resourceful, maximizing every dollar and doing our best to deliver impactful programs. But there are moments when even our passion and dedication can't shield us from financial reality: when we struggle to cover basic operational costs like paying staff or delivering vital programming.
This is one of those times….
The Stark Reality of Reduced Donor Funding
In recent years, we’ve seen a significant reduction in donor funding across the nonprofit sector. While donors are still generous, the number of charities vying for their support has increased, and economic uncertainty means giving can be more selective. For us, this has meant tightening our belts, doing more with less, and sometimes making hard decisions about where we can cut back.
But when you're committed to empowering young women in Africa—equipping them with the skills, tools, and confidence to enter male-dominated media spaces—scaling back means putting dreams on hold. It means fewer girls trained, fewer opportunities created, and fewer voices being heard.
The Impact on Our Team and Programs
At Cameras For Girls, we are a one-person-led organization, which means our team is lean due to restricted funding. While we rely heavily on the incredible dedication of volunteers to keep us going, the reality is that volunteer support can only take us so far. These volunteers are the backbone of our work, especially in Africa, where the challenges are immense, and the need for on-the-ground support is crucial.
In many cases, these volunteers are not just helping us out—they are stepping into roles typically paid in any well-funded organization. They give their time, energy, and expertise to ensure that young women can access our programs. However, we firmly believe their work deserves compensation, particularly in Africa, where the socio-economic realities make it even more important to provide fair pay for their vital work.
But with limited funding, we can't pay them as we want. This puts a strain on our volunteers and also on the effectiveness and sustainability of our programs. While their passion is unmatched, we know that paying for supportive work in Africa would ensure even greater impact, allowing us to scale, reach more girls, and provide even higher-quality programming.
Why Capacity Funding Is Crucial
This is why we’re calling on our community and potential partners to support us with capacity funding. Capacity funding is not about the next big project or shiny initiative. It's about ensuring that we, as an organization, have the infrastructure to keep going. The behind—the—scenes work makes everything possible—paying staff salaries, maintaining operations, and building the stability needed to weather financial storms.
Without capacity funding, our ability to grow and fulfill our mission is at risk. But with it, we can continue to provide critical opportunities to young women across Africa, enabling them to break through gender barriers and create lasting change in their communities.
Now, More Than Ever
As the world continues to face economic uncertainty, we know we aren’t the only charity feeling the pinch. But the work we do is more important now than ever. Every young woman who gains the skills and confidence to become a journalist, photographer, or storyteller is one more voice speaking truth to power.
To continue our work, we need capacity funding to sustain the essential functions that make everything else possible. Together, we can ensure that Cameras For Girls doesn't just survive but thrives—empowering the next generation of women to tell their stories and change the world.