Table of Contents
How to Use This Resource
Target Audience: Small and under-resourced nonprofit organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa with annual budgets under US$5,000, social enterprises, and community influencers seeking to enhance their digital presence.
When to Use This Guide: When your organisation needs professional website development, social media strategy, online fundraising support, or digital training but lacks the budget for these essential services.
What You’ll Learn: The complete process for accessing free digital services through First Web Foundation’s non-cash grants programme, from application to implementation.
Your nonprofit is changing lives in your community. You’re feeding the hungry, educating children, or providing healthcare to those who need it most. But here’s the challenge: your amazing work remains invisible online. Potential donors scroll past your cause. Partners can’t find you. Media outlets don’t know you exist.
This is where non-cash grants become a game-changer for African nonprofits. Through the First Web Foundation’s comprehensive support programme, your organisation can access professional digital services worth thousands of pounds – completely free.
With our non-cash grants, First Web Foundation, through its training division, the First Web Academy, can help you reach out to potential donors, partners, collaborators, researchers, media, and other stakeholders that you work with or that you serve, such as your beneficiaries.
What Are Non-Cash Grants and Why They Matter
Non-cash grants provide services instead of money. Rather than receiving cash that you must spend wisely, you receive direct access to professional expertise and tools. For small African nonprofits, this approach proves more valuable than traditional funding. You get exactly what you need without worrying about procurement, vendor selection, or budget management.
The digital divide affects African nonprofits disproportionately. Many brilliant organisations serving vulnerable communities lack basic websites. They struggle with social media. Online fundraising feels impossible. Non-cash grants bridge this gap by providing professional services that would otherwise remain out of reach.
Consider Mama Jane’s Children’s Home in rural Kenya. Before receiving non-cash grant support, they relied solely on word-of-mouth referrals. Local donors occasionally visited. But their impact remained limited to immediate neighbours. After receiving website development and social media training through a non-cash grants programme, they connected with international sponsors. Monthly donations increased by 400%. More importantly, they could document and share the stories of children they’re helping, attracting new volunteers and partners.
Comprehensive Services Available Through Our Non-Cash Grants Programme
Free Domain and Web Hosting Services
Your organisation receives a professional web address and reliable hosting service. No more lengthy Facebook URLs or confusing email addresses. Your nonprofit gets a professional identity online that builds trust with stakeholders. The hosting service ensures your website remains accessible 24/7, even during peak traffic periods.
Website Development with Expert Mentorship
A skilled volunteer works directly with your team to create a professional website. This isn’t a template-based approach. Instead, you receive custom development tailored to your organisation’s specific needs and goals. The volunteer also mentors your staff, teaching basic website management skills so you maintain independence after the project concludes.
The mentorship component proves crucial. Many nonprofits receive websites they cannot update or maintain. Our programme ensures your team gains practical skills for ongoing management. You learn to add new content, update information, and make basic changes without technical expertise.
Social Media Strategy Development and Implementation
Your volunteer partner helps create a comprehensive social media strategy aligned with your mission and audience. Together, you identify the most effective platforms for reaching your beneficiaries, donors, and partners. The volunteer teaches your team to use professional tools like Canva for graphic design, Meta Business Suite for platform management, and YouTube Studio for video content.
This service extends beyond posting content. You learn audience engagement techniques, content planning strategies, and performance measurement methods. Your team discovers how to tell compelling stories that inspire action and support.
Online Fundraising Strategy and Crowdfunding Support
Fundraising online requires different skills than traditional approaches. Your volunteer helps develop strategies for various digital platforms, from crowdfunding sites to social media campaigns. You learn to create compelling campaign materials, set realistic targets, and engage supporters throughout the fundraising process.
The support includes practical training on platforms like GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and African-specific fundraising sites. Your team learns to write persuasive campaign descriptions, create effective visuals, and maintain donor relationships through digital channels.
Premium Resources and Video Tutorials
Access to First Web Academy’s comprehensive library provides ongoing learning opportunities. These aren’t basic tutorials. Instead, you receive advanced training materials covering topics from search engine optimisation to digital marketing analytics. The resources help your team continue developing skills long after your volunteer support concludes.
Why We Charge a Small Admin Fee
All services come free of charge from our volunteers. However, successful applicants pay a one-time administrative fee of US$40. This fee serves two important purposes beyond covering operational costs.
First, it demonstrates commitment. Organisations that invest even a small amount show genuine dedication to the programme. Our experience shows significantly higher completion rates when participants make this modest investment.
Second, it helps sustain the programme. The fee covers application processing, volunteer matching, and ongoing support systems that ensure programme quality.
Importantly, you only pay this fee at the final contracting stage, after volunteer matching and initial needs assessment completion. We never request payment during the application or assessment phases.
Premium Tool Subsidies
Some third-party tools offer enhanced features through premium versions. If your project requires tools like Canva Pro, Elementor Pro, or similar premium services, First Web Foundation may contribute to licensing costs.
We also negotiate special deals with software companies, providing nonprofit partners access to premium tools at reduced rates or no cost.
Your Path to Accessing Non-Cash Grants:
Stage One: Application Submission
Begin by completing our comprehensive application form. This stage requires detailed information about your organisation, including mission statements, vision, registration documents, and community profiles. Most importantly, provide evidence of your work and achievements.
Include photographs, videos, testimonials, or any documentation showing your community impact. If you’ve helped 100 children access education, show us. If you’ve provided clean water to 500 families, provide evidence. We want to understand your genuine impact or clear potential for creating change.
Your application must demonstrate financial need. Organisations with annual budgets exceeding US$5,000 don’t qualify for this programme. We focus on truly under-resourced nonprofits that cannot afford professional digital services.
Clearly explain why you need specific services and how they’ll advance your mission. If you’re applying for multiple services, prioritise them clearly. Tell us which service would create the most immediate impact for your organisation.
Stage Two: Volunteer Matching and Needs Assessment
Successful applications advance to volunteer matching within four weeks. During this stage, we identify volunteers whose skills align with your specific needs. A software developer matches with website development requests. A social media expert pairs with organisations needing platform strategy support.
The matching process includes collaborative needs assessment between you, your assigned volunteer, and First Web Foundation team members. Together, you create a detailed support roadmap outlining specific tasks, timelines, and expected outcomes. This ensures everyone understands project scope and expectations before beginning work.
No fees are required during this stage. The focus remains on ensuring successful partnerships between nonprofits and volunteers.
Stage Three: Contracting and Project Launch
The final stage involves formal agreements between all parties. Both your organisation and assigned volunteer sign legal commitments outlining responsibilities, tasks, and expectations. These agreements also specify procedures for resolving conflicts or terminating partnerships if necessary.
Only at this stage do successful applicants process the administrative fee. Payment options include online transactions or bank transfers, depending on your preferred method and location.
Once contracts are signed and fees processed, your digital transformation begins immediately.
Why First Web Foundation Offers These Non-Cash Grants
First Web Foundation operates as a registered nonprofit organisation in South Africa. Our core mission focuses on promoting digital literacy among African nonprofits as a strategy for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. We believe technology amplifies existing community impact when applied strategically.
Our Mission-Driven Approach
We work exclusively with nonprofits already creating meaningful change or showing clear potential for community transformation. With enhanced digital tools, these organisations can reach broader audiences, attract more resources, and document their impact more effectively.
The Volunteer Connection
Our programme connects skilled volunteers worldwide with African nonprofits needing digital support. Volunteers work remotely, contributing expertise from their homes, offices, or favourite coffee shops. This model allows experienced professionals to contribute meaningfully to African development without travel requirements.
Through digital collaboration, volunteers help bring essential resources to ultra-poor communities. A web developer in London helps a Ugandan nonprofit attract funding for water projects. A social media expert in Toronto supports a Ghanaian organisation providing healthcare to rural communities. Technology bridges geographical divides to create real-world impact.
Real-World Success Stories from Non-Cash Grants Recipients
Clean Water Initiative, Tanzania
Before receiving non-cash grants support, this organisation served three villages with hand-dug wells. Their work remained unknown beyond immediate neighbours. After receiving website development and social media training, they documented their water projects with compelling photography and impact stories.
Within six months, their online presence attracted attention from international donors. They secured funding for mechanised drilling equipment. Today, they serve 15 villages with reliable water access. Their website showcases before-and-after photos that demonstrate clear community transformation.
Girls’ Education Programme, Ghana
This nonprofit provided scholarships for 20 girls annually through local fundraising efforts. Limited communication tools meant potential supporters never learned about their work. Through non-cash grants, they received comprehensive digital support including website development, social media strategy, and online fundraising training.
Their crowdfunding campaigns now reach international audiences. Monthly scholarship recipients increased to 50 girls. More importantly, they use social media to share success stories of scholarship recipients pursuing higher education and professional careers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Non-Cash Grants
Who can apply for these non-cash grants?
Small nonprofit organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa with annual budgets under US$5,000 are eligible. Social enterprises and individual social influencers creating community impact may also qualify. You must demonstrate existing community impact or clear potential for meaningful change.
Can we apply for multiple services simultaneously?
Yes, you can request multiple services in one application. However, clearly prioritise your requests from most important to least important. This helps us understand your primary needs and allocate volunteer resources effectively.
How long does the application process take?
Applications receive assessment within four weeks. If successful, volunteer matching typically takes an additional 2-3 weeks. The entire process from application to project launch usually requires 6-8 weeks.
What happens if our volunteer partnership doesn’t work well?
Our agreements include procedures for resolving conflicts or changing volunteer assignments. We work closely with both parties to ensure successful partnerships. In rare cases where partnerships cannot continue, we help identify alternative volunteers or solutions.
Do volunteers provide ongoing support after projects conclude?
Initial volunteer commitments vary by project scope, typically ranging from 3-6 months. Many volunteers choose to provide ongoing informal support, but this isn’t guaranteed. Our training approach ensures your team gains skills for independent management after formal support concludes.
Are there restrictions on how we use the digital tools and websites?
You maintain full ownership of your digital assets. However, our agreement requires using these tools to advance your nonprofit mission. Commercial use or activities outside your stated nonprofit purposes aren’t permitted.
What technical skills does our team need?
No advanced technical skills are required. Our volunteers provide training tailored to your team’s current abilities. We focus on building practical skills that anyone can learn and use effectively.
Can established nonprofits with larger budgets apply?
This programme specifically targets under-resourced organisations that cannot afford professional digital services. Established nonprofits with budgets exceeding US$5,000 annually don’t qualify for this particular programme.
Key Takeaways: Maximising Your Non-Cash Grants Success
Prepare comprehensive documentation before applying. Gather photos, videos, testimonials, and any evidence showing your community impact. Strong applications include clear evidence of existing work or realistic potential for meaningful change.
Be specific about your needs when describing required services. Instead of saying “we need a website,” explain how a website will help you reach more beneficiaries, attract donors, or coordinate with partners. Specific needs help us match you with appropriate volunteers.
Prioritise your service requests clearly. If you need website development, social media support, and fundraising strategy, rank them by importance. This helps volunteers understand where to focus initial efforts.
Commit to active participation throughout the process. Successful partnerships require regular communication, meeting attendance, and willingness to learn new skills. Passive recipients rarely achieve optimal results.
Plan for sustainability from the beginning. Consider how your team will maintain and update digital assets after volunteer support concludes. Ask questions and practice skills during the mentorship period.
Document your success as projects progress. Take screenshots, save positive feedback, and track measurable improvements in donations, volunteers, or beneficiary reach. This documentation helps you appreciate progress and supports future funding applications.
Ready to Transform Your Nonprofit’s Digital Presence?
Your organisation’s mission deserves a powerful digital presence that amplifies your community impact. Through First Web Foundation’s non-cash grants programme, professional digital services become accessible regardless of your budget constraints.
Don’t let limited resources prevent your important work from reaching broader audiences. Thousands of potential supporters, partners, and beneficiaries are searching online for organisations like yours. Make sure they can find you.
The application takes 15-20 minutes to complete. You’ll need basic organisation information, evidence of your work, and clear descriptions of your digital needs. Our team reviews applications within four weeks.
Do you have any questions about the application process? Contact our support team at partner@firstwebfoundation.org.
We’re here to help you understand requirements and prepare successful applications.
Support the First Web Foundation’s Mission
Help us continue providing life-changing digital support to under-resourced African nonprofits. Your contribution enables more organisations to access professional services that amplify their community impact.
Ways to Support & Get Involved With Our Work:
Join our interactive online community managed by our training division, the First We Academy. This is a vibrant community of nonprofit leaders, social entrepreneurs, and passionate individuals working to create positive change across Africa and beyond. JOIN NOW!
Make a donation through our secure platform at firstwebfoundation.org/donate. Every contribution directly supports nonprofit digital transformation across Africa.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel at youtube.com/@FirstWebFoundation for inspiring success stories and practical digital tips for nonprofits.
Follow our updates on Facebook at facebook.com/firstwebfoundation to see real-time project progress and community celebrations.
Connect with our professional network on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/first-web-foundation for partnership opportunities and industry insights.
Together, we’re building a digitally connected Africa where every nonprofit can amplify their mission and expand their impact through professional online presence.