The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation accounted for most of the increase in funding for Africa over the past decade. The foundation’s giving jumped from $69.1 million in 2002 to over $1 billion in 2012. The Gates Foundation ranked as the largest funder for Africa in 2012, followed by the Ford ($60.3 million), Rockefeller ($26.6 million), and Open Society foundations ($24.7 million). However, the Gates Foundation was not the only source of increased support. Excluding Gates, funding for Africa by other foundations increased more than 90 percent, from $219.7 million to $422.1 million, during this period.
Among organizations receiving 2012 Africa-focused foundation funding, 12 of the top 15 by grant dollars received were headquartered outside of Africa, led by the World Health Organization. About 26 percent of foundation funding for Africa went directly to organizations headquartered in 36 of the 54 African countries. Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, and Senegal ranked among the top five by foundation dollars received. Over the past decade, the share of overall Africa-focused foundation funding going directly to organizations headquartered in Africa has declined. Nonetheless, actual foundation grant dollars going directly to organizations headquartered in Africa have increased.
