The Dotted i

22/04/2026

https://mailchi.mp/d14d2a64ede5/9i7kv1v3vu-13634230?e=5713d195b3

At The Dotted i, we empower organizations with strategic planning, grant writing/management, organizational development, and tailored training—dotting every 'i' and crossing every 't' toward your funding and impact goals.

21/04/2026

Discover how The Dotted I International helps organizations across Africa grow stronger through tailored organizational development and fundraising support. Read our founder’s journey and practical insights to transform your operations and funding strategy. https://wix.to/gb6eFVG

When I first encountered the world of organizational development and fundraising, I felt like a sailor lost at sea without a compass. Navigating the complex waters of securing funds, managing resources, and building sustainable operations seemed daunting. That’s when I discovered a beacon of hope ...

21/04/2026

We’ve learned the hard way that good grants management isn’t glamorous — it’s reliable. Here’s a simple checklist from The Dotted i to help program managers and finance leads in Kenya avoid common compliance failures: 1) Pre-award readiness: verify eligibility, document roles, and set budget controls; 2) Reporting rhythms: standardize templates, set clear deadlines, and run internal reviews before submission; 3) Audit prep: keep source documents organized, log approvals, and run mock audits quarterly. Our standardized processes have improved reporting accuracy and sped disbursements for partners — less chasing papers, more program delivery. Ready to close gaps and protect funding relationships? Visit https://wix.to/ykWOINe to get the full checklist and practical tools.

25/03/2026

The biggest headache in consortium proposal budgeting? The "Cutting" Phase. 💊

We all want ambitious projects. But when you ask partners to submit their budgets freely before seeing a total, you often end up with an amazing scope of work... and a budget 40% over the cap.

Then comes the awkward, painful, and time-consuming negotiation of cutting line items.

But is the alternative any better?

If you dictate strict budget limits to each partner upfront, do you risk stifling their proposed activities? Do you get better proposals, or just proposals that fit a box?

I'm trying to refine our consortium's budget preparation process.

My question to the network:
What is your golden rule for budget preparation in a consortium?

Free-for-all then cut? (Allows for vision, but leads to heartache).

Capped from the start? (Saves time, but might limit scope).

I’d love to hear your horror stories (or success stories!) about managing partner budgets. Please share your insights!

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👋🏽 If you are here for the first time, welcome.
📊 I'm Recadina Webi and i support organizations to strengthen resource mobilization strategies and build sustainable funding pipelines.
✉️ You can reach me at [email protected]

24/03/2026

I am pleased to share that I will be facilitating a webinar this Wednesday as part of an exciting bootcamp series.

**Topic:** Strengthening Proposal Development and Strategic Positioning for Funding Success

This session will focus on practical, high-impact approaches to developing competitive proposals, aligning with donor expectations, and positioning your organisation for sustainable resource mobilisation.

**Important to note:**
This session is exclusively available to members. Membership is free, and once registered, you will receive access to the bootcamp registration link.

To join the session:
Register as a member here: https://f.mtr.cool/hokmclfdrz

I look forward to engaging with professionals, organisations, and changemakers who are committed to elevating their fundraising and proposal development strategies.

See you on Wednesday.

19/03/2026

Tired of hearing no from donors or not knowing where to start? 😩💡

This training breaks it down in a fun, practical way 🎯📚

Learn how to approach different donors, understand what funders want, and make your idea stand out ✍🏽🚀

Join us to submit stronger applications with confidence 🙌🏽✨

16/03/2026

Donor Name: Dubai Cares
Theme/Sector: Partnership Programs for Education and Learning Initiatives
Eligibility: Organisations (local and international)
Amount: USD 1M - 25M+
Deadline: Concept notes accepted for next year
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/kkgoiapwcq

Donor Name: Minor Foundation for Major Challenges
Theme/Sector: Small & Large Grants Programme
Eligibility: Global (organisations only)
Amount: €10,000–€200,000
Deadline: Varies by funding cycle; check the foundation’s website
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/xmqtpuyzrl

Donor Name: Jersey Overseas Aid (JOA)
Theme/Sector: International Development Grants
Eligibility: Ethiopia, Malawi, Nepal, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zambia. (Selected partner organisations by invitation only)
Deadline: EOI Aug-Sep yearly
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/jtngaaqfbi

Donor Name: Dovetail Impact Foundation
Theme/Sector: International Acceleration Portfolio (open call)
Eligibility: Global
Amount: $1M and $5M+ per year
Deadline: Annual open call for International Acceleration Portfolio; other portfolios by invitation
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/qntpcordkw

Donor Name: Mulago Foundation
Theme/Sector: Funding for Scalable Solutions
Eligibility: Global organisations (by invitation only)
Amount: About USD 1M
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/ifmhbdrkjg

Donor Name: The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
Theme/Sector: Vulnerable Children in Sub-Saharan Africa Program
Eligibility: SSA
Amount: 1M -25M+ies by project)
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/sghoxyqsdp

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👋🏽 If you are here for the first time, welcome.
📊 I'm Recadina Webi and i support organizations to strengthen resource mobilization strategies and build sustainable funding pipelines.
✉️ You can reach me at [email protected]

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05/03/2026

International Awards & Prizes

Donor Name: World Habitat
Title of Call: World Habitat Awards 2027
Eligibility: Global housing projects (completed or in progress) providing practical, innovative, and sustainable solutions (e.g., homelessness prevention, climate adaptation).
Amount: Gold Winners (Two): £10,000 + trophy; Silver/Bronze: Recognition/Certificates.
Deadline: Typically mid-March (Cycle opens January 2026).
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/ymykwsznnm

Donor Name: The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) & Iceland
Title of Call: The Vigdís Prize for Women’s Empowerment 2026
Eligibility: Individuals or NGOs/Civil Society groups demonstrating significant commitment to empowering women and girls in all their diversity.
Amount: 60,000 euros + trophy.
Deadline: 27 March 2026.
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/rgdtmkjpeg

Donor Name: Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Title of Call: 2026 Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize
Eligibility: Established NGOs (legal for 5+ years) with expenditures >$750,000 in the last fiscal year; must be nominated by an external party.
Amount: US$3 million.
Deadline: 2026 cycle closed (Check link for future annual openings).
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/adpqdzjuvb

25/02/2026

Take it or leave it!

We have all been there. The pressure is on. The other side slides a proposal across the table (or into your inbox) and says, "This is the best we can do. Take it or leave it."

My advice? Always ask to think about it.

I recently found this clip that perfectly captured why the negotiation process matters just as much as the outcome. If there is genuinely "no room to think" or no space for a counter-offer, that’s not leverage—that’s a red flag.

A rushed agreement is rarely a good agreement. The act of pausing to reflect does three things:

It prevents you from making an emotional decision.
It signals that you value your own position.
It tests the other party's flexibility.

In my world of Resource Mobilization and Fundraising, this principle is non-negotiable. When we are negotiating a grant agreement or a partnership contract, or a consortium colloboration, the terms set the stage for years of working together. Taking time to review the fine print, assess the burn rate, and align on reporting requirements isn’t being difficult—it’s being professional.

Grants Management specifically relies on this rigor. Rushing to accept funding without thinking through the compliance or deliverability can lead to scope creep and underfunded projects down the line.

Don't be afraid of the pause. Silence and reflection are powerful tools. If an opportunity disappears just because you asked for 24 hours to think, it probably wasn't a stable foundation to build on anyway.

What is the best "thinking time" excuse you have used in a negotiation? 👇

Did you notice how the offer that was not a good fit gave her time to think about it!

Punch line 'mmmh that never happens' 😀

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👋🏽 If you are here for the first time, welcome.
📊 I'm Recadina Webi and i support organizations to strengthen resource mobilization strategies and build sustainable funding pipelines.
✉️ You can reach me at [email protected]

24/02/2026

The ground has shifted.

Recent aid cuts have sent shockwaves across the sector. Long held fundraising certainties no longer apply, and organisations that do not adapt are already feeling the strain.

This 5 day intensive training is designed as a strategic advantage in a tightened funding landscape. It supports organisations to move beyond chasing shrinking grants and instead proactively position themselves where funding is actually flowing.

You will build practical, real world capability across:
• Donor intelligence and understanding funding signals
• Competitive consortium building and strategic partnerships
• Proposal development that cuts through the noise and stands out

The focus is not survival mode. It is strategic positioning. You will gain hands on tools to stabilise, adapt, and capture opportunities that others are missing.

In this environment, hope is not a strategy.
A clear value proposition and a well written proposal are.

24/02/2026

Donor Name: The Mustardseed Arts and Educational Trust
Title of Call: The Mustardseed Arts and Educational Trust Funding
Eligibility: United Kingdom, Kenya, Uganda
Amount: £1,000 to £50,000
Deadline: Ongoing
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/xaokwzfizu

Donor Name: The Windfall Foundation
Title of Call: The Windfall Foundation General Funding
Eligibility: United Kingdom, Africa
Amount: £10,000 to £200,000
Deadline: No public deadline
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/jbhfpwczwe

Donor Name: AJA Foundation
Title of Call: AJA Foundation Global Grant Program
Eligibility: Global
Amount: $2,500 to $500,000
Deadline: Ongoing
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/xkcmvvsowj

Donor Name: The Cumber Family Charitable Trust
Title of Call: The Cumber Family Charitable Trust Grant Program
Eligibility: United Kingdom, Developing Countries
Amount: £5,000
Deadline: Spring, Autumn
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/snbxoijioc

Donor Name: Grand Challenges Canada
Title of Call: Funding Bold Ideas for Youth Mental Health
Eligibility: Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Vietnam
Deadline: Transition to Scale intake paused
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/lgkyjycfsz

Donor Name: International Land Coalition (ILC)
Title of Call: ILC Emergency Fund for Land Rights Defenders
Eligibility: Global
Amount: Up to $5,000
Deadline: Ongoing
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/fwmepcxhru

Donor Name: Enpact and TUI Care Foundation
Title of Call: Tourism Recovery Programme (Tunisia Extension)
Eligibility: Tunisia
Amount: Up to €9,000
Deadline: Rolling
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/zxlxrepget

Donor Name: Wallace Bell Charitable Trust
Title of Call: Wallace Bell Charitable Trust Grants
Eligibility: United Kingdom, Global
Amount: Not specified
Deadline: Ongoing
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/pkiomvjben

Donor Name: Dr Richard Solomons' Charitable Trust
Title of Call: Dr Richard Solomons' Charitable Trust Grants
Eligibility: Global
Amount: Around £3,000
Deadline: Ongoing
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/kckbcjcpgj

Donor Name: Nisa Global Foundation
Title of Call: Nisa Global Foundation Small Grants
Eligibility: United Kingdom, Global
Amount: £2,500
Deadline: Ongoing
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/vucsgsiqlw

Donor Name: The William Leech Charity (Lady Leech Fund)
Title of Call: Lady Leech Fund
Eligibility: Global (Developing World, poor countries)
Deadline: Ongoing
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/ovgfevruoc

23/02/2026

Donor Name: European Commission
Title of Call: Enhancing nutrition through mobilising investment in climate resilient nutrition-sensitive agri-food value chains in Ethiopia
Eligibility: EU States, Ethiopia, or other NDICI-eligible countries
Amount: €4,000,000
Deadline: 28/04/2026
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/fezgytfsls

Donor Name: European Commission
Title of Call: Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges in Sub-Saharan Africa
Eligibility: EU & SSA
Amount: €5,174,284
Deadline: 26 Mar 2026.
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/pcnuoidsrh

Donor Name: European Commission
Title of Call: Capacity building in VET in Sub-Saharan Africa Topic ID: ERASMUS-EDU-2026-CB-VET-SSA
Eligibility: EU & SSA
Amount: €7,500,000
Deadline: 26 Mar 2026.
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/espiomoasw

Donor Name: Google for Startups
Type of call: Accelerator Program (Equity-free)
Title of Call: Google for Startups Accelerator: Africa
Eligibility: Africa
Amount: Equity-free support + credits
Deadline: 18 Mar 2026
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/yotyffvbpb

Donor Name: Google for Startups
Type of call: Startup Perks Program (Partner Discounts & Credits)
Title of Call: Google for Startups Cloud Program Perks
Eligibility: Global
Amount: Up to $200k - $350k USD
Deadline: None specified (ongoing program)
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/vrxqfhokvt

Donor Name: The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF)
Title of Call: 2026 TEF Entrepreneurship Programme
Eligibility: Africa
Amount: $5,000
Deadline:1 Mar 2026
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/pnwmozmbmh

Donor Name: Mobile World Capital Barcelona (in partnership with GSMA Foundry and B Lab Spain)
Title of Call: Mobile World Capital Barcelona International Sustainable Technology Awards 2026
Eligibility: Global
Amount: Up to €50,000 + visibility/networking
Deadline: March 18, 2026
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/ksdrfjkkbe

Donor Name: GSMA Foundry (in partnership with IBM)
Title of Call: GSMA Foundry & IBM Gen AI Accelerator Pack
Eligibility: Global
Deadline: Rolling
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/moakjgaixp

Donor Name: Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI)
Title of Call: Addressing Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Human-Animal Interaction
Eligibility: Global.
Amount: $50,000 each.
Deadline: February 26, 2026,
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/vmfertrusc

Donor Name: Weiss Asset Management Foundation (WAM Foundation)
Title of Call: Programs and Research to Reduce Suffering
Eligibility: LMICs
Amount: Typically $50,000 to $1,500,000
Deadline: March 15, 2026 (Rolling thereafter).
Link: https://f.mtr.cool/aumfmykwkh