Sustainability

Building Resilient Organizations for Lasting Impact

We empower African NGOs, social enterprises, and donor partners to transition from funding dependency to sustainable self-reliance through our proprietary assessment tools and capacity-building frameworks.

Our Sustainability Solutions

1. Sustainability Readiness Assessments

Data-driven diagnostics for organizational health

• Featured Engagement: Conducted 360° sustainability audit for a 20-year-old Kenyan NGO, identifying $250K in untapped revenue streams and governance gaps.

• Our Tool:

  • SDS Sustainability Index™: Scores 8 pillars (financial, governance, ecosystem, etc.)

  • Heatmap Visualization: Prioritizes intervention areas

2. Financial Diversification Strategies

From grants to earned income

• Case Study: Designed social enterprise spin-off for a health NGO that now covers 35% of core costs.

• Approach:

  • Market scans for mission-aligned revenue

  • Investment readiness preparation

  • Donor transition roadmaps

3. Institutional Strengthening

Future-proofing your operations

• Sample Project: Developed 5-year sustainability plan with 47 local CSOs post-donor exit, with 82% still operational after 3 years.

• Focus Areas:

  • Board development

  • Strategic partnerships

  • Policy/SOP modernization

4. Ecosystem Building

Creating enabling environments

• Initiative: Facilitated first East African NGO Sustainability Coalition (62 members sharing resources).

• Services:

  • Peer learning platforms

  • Local donor matchmaking

  • Advocacy for fiscal reforms

Why Organizations Choose SDS

✅ Proven Framework: 11+ years refining our Sustainability Tool™
✅ African Context: Solutions for restrictive funding environments
✅ Hands-On Implementation: We stay until results are achieved

Impact at a Glance