Global Fund for Children’s 2025 Grantee Perception Report
What happens when community-based organizations evaluate their funders?
Building a world where all children are safe, strong, and valued depends on the community-based organizations they rely on every day.
New findings from the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s 2025 Grantee Perception Report provide independent evidence that Global Fund for Children’s trust-based, community-based approach is helping partners remain resilient and deliver lasting impact for children and young people.
Why this matters
Children and young people experience change through the local organizations, leaders, and movements working alongside them every day. For more than 30 years, these are the community-based organizations that Global Fund for Children (GFC) has partnered with around the world.
Because these organizations are closest to the communities they serve, they are often best placed to understand local challenges and respond to emerging needs. Yet many are operating under increasing pressure. Funding instability, shrinking civic space, and rising demand for support are making it harder to sustain and grow their work.
As community-based organizations navigate these challenges, the experiences of GFC’s partners offer important insight into what effective support looks like in practice:
Partners reported that GFC strengthens their organizations and helps them achieve their goals, placing GFC among the top 10% of comparable funders.
Partners rated GFC’s openness to their ideas and feedback among the top 1% of comparable funders.
97% of partners reported receiving support beyond the grant, reflecting GFC’s commitment to providing more than funding alone.
At GFC, we believe that effective philanthropy starts with trust. Our approach combines flexible funding, long-term partnerships, and support beyond the grant to help community-based organizations adapt, grow, and respond to the needs of their communities. By investing in local leadership and community-led solutions, we aim to provide the kind of support that enables organizations to remain effective and resilient over time.
But does our approach work?
The 2025 Grantee Perception Report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) helps us answer that question.
Through confidential partner feedback and independent benchmarking, the report provides insight into how GFC’s funding, relationships, and support are experienced by partner organizations – and whether our approach is helping them remain effective, resilient, and able to create lasting change.
A glance at what partners told us
Before exploring the full findings, three headline insights stand out from the 2025 Grantee Perception Report. Together, they indicate that GFC's approach is helping partner organizations strengthen their capacity, contribute to broader systems-level change, and deliver meaningful outcomes for children, young people, and their communities.
GFC helps strengthen partner organizations
Partners reported that GFC strengthens their organizations' ability to achieve their goals, build resilience, and create lasting change for children and young people.
This placed GFC among the highest-performing funders for organizational impact (91st percentile).
GFC listens to and learns from partners
Partners reported that GFC is highly receptive to their ideas, perspectives, and feedback, creating relationships built on trust and mutual learning.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 99th percentile for openness to partner ideas.
GFC contributes to change beyond individual organizations
Partners reported that GFC contributes to progress across wider movements, networks, and fields working to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 87th percentile for field impact.
These findings are based on confidential feedback from 194 GFC partner organizations collected by the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP). CEP then compared GFC’s results with those of hundreds of other philanthropic funders through its Grantee Perception Report benchmark.
Throughout this page, results are presented as percentile rankings. For example, a score in the 91st percentile means GFC performed better than 91% of participating funders on that measure.
Children and young people are at the heart of everything we do. That’s why one of the most important questions we ask is whether our support is helping grassroots organizations create meaningful change in the communities they serve.
According to feedback from across organizations, communities, and movements, the answer is “yes”, GFC is driving deep and measurable impact.
Partners reported that:
GFC helps strengthen partner organizations
Partners reported that GFC strengthens their organizations' ability to achieve their goals, build resilience, and create lasting change for children and young people.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 91st percentile for organizational impact.
GFC contributes to change beyond individual organizations
Partners reported that GFC contributes to progress across wider movements, networks, and fields working to improve outcomes for children and young people.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 87th percentile for field impact.
GFC helps create positive change in communities
Partners reported that GFC helps create positive change in the communities where children and young people live, learn, and grow.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 72nd percentile for community impact.
Key takeaway: Even as grassroots organizations face increasing pressure, partners report that GFC’s support is helping them strengthen their organizations, deepen their impact, and create lasting change in their communities. Partner ratings of GFC’s impact have increased since 2021.
Ultimately, GFC doesn’t just support our work – it transforms, amplifies and connects it to a broader network of knowledge, actors and possibilities. Its presence as a strategic ally has been key to our institutional development and to strengthening the ecosystem of organizations that work for the wellbeing of communities.
A GFC grantee partner surveyed by CEP
2. GFC is succeeding because of how we fund, not just what we fund
What is driving these results? Partners consistently pointed to the elements at the heart of GFC’s approach: flexible funding, trusted relationships, support beyond the grant, and a strong understanding of their work and communities.
Partners reported on:
Flexible funding (Funding that is not limited to a specific use):
GFC provides unrestricted funding
Partners reported receiving flexible funding that enables them to respond to changing needs and priorities.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 93rd percentile for unrestricted funding.
GFC provides long-term support
Partners reported receiving multi-year unrestricted funding that helps them plan, adapt, and invest in their organizations over time.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 87th percentile for multi-year unrestricted grants.
Relationships built on trust:
GFC is transparent with partners
Partners reported that GFC communicates openly and transparently throughout the funding relationship.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 99th percentile for transparency with grantee partners.
GFC listens to and learns from partners
Partners reported that GFC is highly receptive to their ideas, perspectives, and feedback.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 99th percentile for openness to partner ideas.
We were at risk of reducing staff, losing our office, and being suffocated by pressure to urgently attract new funding. GFC helped us cushion the crisis and secure additional resources.
A GFC grantee partner surveyed by CEP
Support beyond funding:
Partners receive support beyond funding
Partners reported receiving additional support beyond the grant itself, including opportunities for learning, connections, and organizational strengthening.
97% of partners reported receiving support beyond the grant, placing GFC in the 98th percentile among participating funders.
GFC goes beyond just providing grants by investing in our capacity and strengthening us as a team. They guide us in making the right decisions without compromising our values while serving our beneficiaries. What I appreciate most is their passion for building us as an organization.
A GFC grantee partner surveyed by CEP
Understanding of the community and local context:
GFC understands the communities partners serve
Partners reported that GFC demonstrates a strong understanding of the social, cultural, and economic contexts that shape their work.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 91st percentile for understanding the social, cultural, and socioeconomic factors affecting partners' work.
GFC understands community needs
Partners reported that GFC understands the needs and priorities of the people and communities they serve.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 93rd percentile for understanding the needs of the people and communities served.
Beyond the grant itself, GFC plays a transformative role in shaping our field, community, and organization. For our community, GFC’s influence has created a stronger culture of collaboration and solidarity, showing rural girls and youth leaders that their ideas matter and can drive real change.
A GFC grantee partner surveyed by CEP
Key takeaway: Findings suggest that GFC’s impact is driven not only by what it funds, but by how it funds. Flexible support, strong relationships, and a deep understanding of local communities help grassroots organizations do their best work—and, in turn, better support children and young people.
3. GFC's support matters more than ever
Community-based organizations are under growing pressure. Partners describe an increasingly difficult operating environment for community-based organizations around the world, impacted by:
Organizations reported significant losses in funding from major institutional sources:
42% lost funding from foreign governments or agencies
37% lost funding from USAID or other U.S. government sources
At the same time, many community-based organizations are being asked to do more with less:
73% reported increased demand for their services
47% reported reductions in staffing
58% expressed concerns about community wellbeing and safety
45% expressed concerns about staff wellbeing and safety
For organizations supporting children and young people, these pressures have real consequences. As funding becomes less predictable, organizations are being challenged to sustain essential services while responding to growing needs in their communities.
What helps organizations navigate these challenges? Trusted partnerships.
Despite the challenges they’re facing, partners reported exceptionally high levels of confidence that GFC understands the realities they face and can be approached when problems arise.
Partners reported that:
GFC understands the challenges organizations face
Partners reported that GFC has a strong awareness of the challenges affecting their organizations and their ability to deliver impact.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 98th percentile for awareness of partner challenges.
Partners feel comfortable raising issues when they arise
Partners reported feeling able to approach GFC openly when challenges emerge, supporting honest communication and problem-solving.
Compared with other funders, GFC ranked in the 96th percentile for comfort approaching GFC when issues arise.
Interactions with GFC staff are consistently professional, respectful, and collaborative, creating a sense of true partnership. Communication is timely, transparent, and responsive, ensuring that we feel informed and supported at every stage. Overall, GFC demonstrates a strong commitment to building trust and empowering partners through effective engagement.
Grantee partner surveyed by CEP
Key takeaway: As challenges grow, so does the importance of supporting the organizations closest to children and young people. The findings suggest that trust, flexibility, and strong partnerships can help grassroots organizations remain resilient when their communities need them most.
What does this means for the future?
John Hecklinger
Co-CEO, Global Fund for Children
Press play to hear directly from John
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Now is the time to invest in what works.
The 2025 Grantee Perception Report offers more than feedback on GFC’s performance as a funder. It provides insight into the kinds of support that community-based organizations say help them succeed.
At a time when many local organizations are facing funding uncertainty, growing needs, and increasing pressure on their staff and operations, the findings point to the value of approaches rooted in trust, flexibility, and long-term partnerships.
The message from partners is clear: when organizations have the resources, relationships, and support they need, they are better equipped to respond to challenges, strengthen their communities, and create opportunities for children and young people.
For GFC, these findings reinforce the importance of continuing to invest in community-led solutions and the organizations driving change every day.
For funders, donors, and supporters, they offer an important reminder: now is the time to invest in approaches that communities themselves say are working.
Because when community-based organizations are supported to succeed, children and young people are better positioned to be safe, strong, and valued.
This independent study, commissioned by GFC, examines the long-term outcomes of investing in community-based organizations and locally led change.
Explore the webpage
The Grantee Perception Report (GPR), developed by the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), is a confidential survey that enables community-based organizations to share honest feedback about their experiences with funders.
By benchmarking responses against hundreds of philanthropic organizations, the report provides valuable insight into how funders are perceived by the organizations they support – and what approaches partners believe help them succeed.
The findings highlight the importance of trust, flexibility, and long-term partnership – and why these approaches matter more than ever as community-based organizations face growing challenges around the world.
Who we heard from
GFC partners surveyed anonymously
%
Partner response rate
Regions covered in responses
Responses were collected from GFC partners in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and Central Asia
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Grantee responses
Benchmarked against more than 300 funders
Understanding the findings
This is how the survey results have been measured and benchmarked:
The Grantee Perception Report assesses funders across a broad range of indicators, including organizational and community impact, relationships with grantees, funding practices, communication, transparency, reporting processes, and support beyond the grant.
Many of the results are presented as percentile rankings. These rankings compare GFC’s results with those of other philanthropic funders in CEP’s database. For example, a score in the 91st percentile means GFC scored higher than 91% of comparable funders on that measure.
GFC was benchmarked both against CEP’s broader dataset of more than 60,000 grantee responses from over 350 funders and against a smaller peer cohort selected to resemble GFC in scale and scope.
Together, these findings provide insight into how partner organizations experience GFC’s support—and how those experiences compare with broader practice across the philanthropic sector.
Discover how GFC’s approach – combining flexible funding, trust-based partnerships, and participatory learning – drives lasting impact for children and young people.
