The impetus for advancing solutions towards local leadership, dispelling the risk narrative, and as a result increasing L/NNGOs’ access to unrestricted institutional funding has never been greater. Despite this, research and evidence in this area is limited. In direct response to this, Save the Children Denmark, in partnership with Street Child, piloted a study in 2020 aimed at improving knowledge and the evidence base for how L/NNGOs use unrestricted funds when available.

This study, which was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark, focused on three research aims:

Advance understanding of how L/NNGOs spend unrestricted funding;

Explore in what ways unrestricted funding influences access to further funding;

Draw on findings to share recommendations for funding L/NNGOs The project provided unrestricted grants of $15,000 USD to six randomly selected national organizations, without previous connection to or relationship with Save or Street Child.