That vantage point taught me a difficult truth: many nonprofits fail to secure funding not because their missions lack value, but because they are not fund-ready. They often struggle with systems, structures, and clarity, the very things that give funders confidence.
By Laura Ede
For more than a decade, I have worked at the intersection of philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, and funding. My journey has taken me from leading organisations such as IA Foundation and the Adewunmi Desalu Parkinson’s Foundation to managing grant-making portfolios at the Ishk Tolaram Foundation. I have seen the nonprofit world from both sides of the table: raising resources and distributing millions of dollars to organisations tackling education, health, and social challenges across Nigeria and West Africa.
That vantage point taught me a difficult truth: many nonprofits fail to secure funding not because their missions lack value, but because they are not fund-ready. They often struggle with systems, structures, and clarity, the very things that give funders confidence. Too often, this reality is left unspoken, and passionate organisations are left wondering why doors remain closed.
This realisation inspired me to write From Grant Zero to Hero: How to Make Funders Say Yes. The book distils lessons I wish I had known earlier and that every nonprofit leader deserves to understand. It breaks the funding journey into practical steps: strengthening governance, designing sustainable programmes, writing standout proposals, and understanding what funders are really looking for.
The book is not abstract theory; it is rooted in the lived experience of African nonprofits. It recognises the frustration of rejection letters, the weight of missed opportunities, and the resilience leaders bring to keep their missions alive. But it also shows what works.
For African nonprofits, the stakes are high. Funding is scarce, competition is fierce, and passion alone is no longer enough. Organisations must move beyond short-term survival to building credibility and sustainability. That shift requires structure, accountability, and clarity, qualities that attract funders and partners.
From Grant Zero to Hero seeks to meet leaders at that crossroads. It is both a roadmap and a mirror, helping organisations identify gaps, avoid hidden pitfalls, and grow into institutions capable of lasting impact.
Ultimately, this is about more than winning grants. It is about strengthening the backbone of Africa’s nonprofit sector. I want to see organisations move from being underfunded and overlooked to thriving as credible, future-ready changemakers. That begins one grant, one project, and one community at a time.
About the Author
Laura Ede is a nonprofit leader and strategist with extensive experience in grant-making, fundraising, and organisational leadership. She has led and managed organisations across Nigeria and West Africa, distributing millions in funding to drive education, health, and community development. From Grant Zero to Hero is her debut book.
