LUMINATE
Strengthening support systems to enable Kenya’s coastal civil society to thive
WHAT?
Luminate partnered with Dalberg Design to better understand how it could show up as a more effective, context-aware funder for grassroots civil society organizations (CSOs) in Coastal Kenya. The initiative focused on three grantee partners to explore their operational realities, identify non-financial support needs, and strengthen the relationship between funders and frontline actors working to advance human rights, social justice, and community development.
WHY?
Traditional funding models often overlook the day-to-day realities that shape how grassroots organizations operate—especially in contexts where civic space is constrained and resources are limited. Luminate wanted to evolve its role from funder to long-term ally by understanding what meaningful, context-aware support looks like from the perspective of CSOs and their communities.
OUTCOME
The project delivered two core outputs: (1) a cross-cutting insights and recommendations report that introduced a contextualization framework to help funders better assess and support grassroots CSOs in varied operating environments, and (2) deep-dive reports for each organization with tailored insights and growth opportunities.
Findings were shared back through facilitated sessions that allowed each CSO to engage directly with their data, reflect on their organizational journey, and define next steps on their own terms. This process helped strengthen strategic clarity and adaptability, positioning the CSOs to respond proactively when funding priorities later shifted.
DURATION
3 Months, 2023
LOCATION
Kenya
MY ROLE
Project Co-director
TEAM
Aika Matemu
Sandra Waihuini
Abidah Ferej
HOW?
We used a community-driven design approach anchored in immersive fieldwork. This included 3–4 day site visits to each organization, where we facilitated discussions with staff, partners, and community members to understand operational tensions, cultural dynamics, and decision-making patterns. Tools such as ecosystem mapping, journey storytelling, and organizational self-assessment helped surface both internal and external barriers to impact.
Building on this, the team followed a four-step process to develop the CSO Contextualization Framework:
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Synthesis & insight development: Identifying shared themes and unique patterns across the three organizations.
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Variables development: Creating a structured framework to surface key factors that shape how CSOs function, grow, and engage.
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CSO framework mapping: Positioning each organization within the framework to visualize differences in needs, maturity, and operational strengths.
This layered methodology supported both funder reflection and organizational clarity, ensuring insights could drive practical support strategies.
