Focus Central America Foundation (FCA) was established in 2021 to support grassroots organisations across Central America addressing the root causes of forced migration. Working across seven countries, FCA prioritises organisations that have historically been underserved by philanthropy, particularly those led by women, Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities.
FCA’s approach to equitable grant making is built around shifting power from funder to grantee. Grant making is led entirely by a Central American programme team with deep roots in the communities they serve, recognising that local knowledge is essential to identifying organisations that traditional funding processes often overlook. Rather than relying on lengthy written applications, funding decisions are informed through conversations and site visits, deliberately placing the burden of due diligence on the funder rather than applicants.
As FCA expanded its work, it recognised that trust-based philanthropy also needed to be adapted to the local context. Some organisations were initially wary of flexible funding because of local regulatory requirements and previous experiences with donors. In response, FCA invested in long-term relationship building, adapted its language and processes, and developed clear partner guidance that reduced administrative barriers while maintaining a trust-based approach. Partners receive multi-year general operating grants with minimal reporting requirements, and organisations define their own goals rather than working to externally imposed measures of success.
FCA also invests beyond grants by strengthening connections between partners. Annual gatherings, peer networks and facilitated introductions were introduced to address an early challenge: many organisations viewed one another as competitors for scarce funding. By creating opportunities for collaboration rather than competition, FCA has helped build a stronger regional ecosystem alongside its grant making.
The approach has produced tangible results. FCA now supports 120 grassroots organisations, 98% of which are locally led, 60% women led, and 10% Indigenous led. In 2024 it distributed US$2.3 million, almost entirely as flexible general operating funding. More than half of partners reported forming new strategic alliances through FCA’s network, while 20% secured additional funding through connections facilitated by the Foundation.
What practitioners can take from this
FCA’s experience shows that funding decisions are better made by people who know the local context and communities best. By putting decision-making closer to grassroots organisations, funders may be more likely to reach groups that are doing important work but are often missed by traditional funding processes. FCA also shows the value of investing in relationships between organisations, not just in grants. Creating opportunities for them to connect and work together can help build stronger local networks and increase their impact.