One thing many mental health NGOs in Africa struggle with is funding. It is one thing to want to make an impact, to change lives, to help people. It is another thing entirely to find the finances to actually do it.
This post was inspired by a conversation with a friend who has been trying to secure funding for their mental health NGO. So I did the research to help their organisation and other mental health NGOs in Africa find and apply for funding support more easily.
Below is a list of grants for mental health NGOs in Africa that are currently open and accepting applications. Every grant on this list is one that registered mental health NGOs in Africa are eligible to apply for, though you will still need to review each one carefully to confirm you meet all specific eligibility requirements.
Tips to Help Mental Health NGOs in Africa Get Grants
1. Make sure your organisation is fully registered
This sounds basic, but it is one of the most common reasons NGOs are disqualified before their application is even read. Most funders require proof of legal registration in your country, whether that is CAC in Nigeria, NGO registration in Kenya or the equivalent in your country. If you are not registered, getting funding is almost impossible regardless of how good your work is.
2. Have your documents ready before you apply
Most grant applications require the same core documents. Your certificate of registration, organisational constitution, bank statements, tax documents and an organisational profile. Having these ready and up to date before you start applying saves time and means you will not miss a deadline scrambling to pull things together.
3. Tailor every application to the specific funder
A generic proposal sent to multiple funders rarely works. Read each grant carefully and align your proposal to their specific focus areas, language and priorities. Funders can tell when an application was written for someone else.
4. Show clear impact and measurable outcomes
Funders do not just want to know what you plan to do. They want to know how you will measure whether it worked. Include specific numbers, target beneficiaries and how you will track and report results.
5. Start small before applying for large grants
If your organisation is new or has never received external funding before, start with smaller grants first. A track record of receiving and managing smaller grants responsibly makes you a much stronger candidate for larger funding opportunities later.
If you have or work with a mental health NGO in Africa and would like to be listed on our mental health NGOs in Africa page, we would love to have you. Click here to get listed.
Grants Mental Health NGOs in Africa Can Apply for
1. Oneness Revival Team (ORT)
Oneness Revival Team funds NGOs that make a meaningful impact in their communities. They run an annual grant cycle open to registered non-profit organisations worldwide, with annual operating budgets under $50,000 USD. Mental health NGOs are eligible as long as they can demonstrate clear mission, measurable impact and financial accountability.
How much you can get: US$25,000 to US$50,000
Grant types:
SEED Grant — for NGOs applying to ORT for the first time
THRIVE Grant — for NGOs previously funded by ORT
Deadline: December 20 2026
Apply: onenessrevivalteam.info/grant-application
2. Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK Foundation)
The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation funds early-stage social impact organisations tackling the world’s most pressing problems. They are open to organisations globally, including Africa, as long as the organisation is registered, delivering direct impact and has clear plans to scale.
How much you can get: Up to US$300,000 over three years
Deadline: No deadline. Applications are accepted year-round.
Apply: drkfoundation.org/apply
3. Fund for Innovation in Development (FID)
FID funds innovative projects aimed at reducing inequality and combating poverty in low and middle-income countries. There are no sectoral restrictions, meaning mental health NGOs are fully eligible to apply.
How much you can get: €50,000 to €4 million depending on the stage of your project
Deadline: Open year-round. Applications reopen September 1 2026.
Apply: fundinnovation.dev
4. UNHCR Innovation Accelerator
The UNHCR Innovation Accelerator funds innovative solutions that improve the lives of forcibly displaced and stateless people. Mental health NGOs working in IDP camps or with refugee communities in Africa are eligible to apply.
How much you can get: Catalytic funding. Amount depends on the needs and scale of each initiative.
Important: This grant is only for organisations whose work directly serves displaced or stateless people. General mental health NGOs not working with displaced populations are not eligible.
Deadline: July 31 2026.
Apply: unhcr.org
5. Development Innovation Ventures (DIV) Fund
The DIV Fund supports innovative solutions that cost-effectively improve lives in low and middle-income countries across Africa and beyond. Mental health NGOs with innovative approaches to mental healthcare delivery are eligible to apply.
How much you can get:
Stage 1 (Pilot): Up to US$200,000
Stage 2 (Test and Scale): Up to US$500,000
Stage 3 (Scale): Up to US$1,500,000
Deadline: Rolling. Applications accepted year-round.
Note: This fund prioritises innovations with strong potential to scale and reach over one million people. Your organisation needs a clear theory of change and evidence of impact to be competitive.
Apply: divfund.org
6. Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science with Nature
The Wellcome Prize for Mental Health Science, run in partnership with Nature, champions new interventions that can transform the lives of people affected by anxiety, depression and psychosis. The prize is open to teams based at not-for-profit organisations anywhere in the world.
How much you can get:
One overall winner will receive US$1,000,000
Three runners-up will each receive US$250,000
Note: Unlike the grants listed above, this is a prize, not a grant. It rewards work your organisation has already done and can demonstrate evidence for, not a new idea or ongoing project you are seeking funding to start.
Deadline: 18 September 2026
Apply: go.nature.com/wellcomeprizementalhealth
7. Neurotorium Clinical Education Grants
Neurotorium funds non-profit educational projects that strengthen the clinical knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in psychiatry, neurology, and mental health. The grant is open to NGOs anywhere in Africa.
How much you can get: Up to DKK 100,000 (approximately US$15,000) per year for up to three years.
Important: Your project must incorporate free resources from the Neurotorium platform into your curriculum, and your application must include a letter of support from your host institution. NGOs focused solely on direct service delivery without a professional training element are unlikely to qualify.
Deadline: 2 September 2026
Apply: neurotorium.org/grants/clinical-education-grant
8. Conservation, Food and Health Foundation
The Conservation, Food and Health Foundation supports public health projects in Africa, including mental and behavioural health. Community-level mental health prevention and health promotion projects are a strong fit.
How much you can get: US$25,000 to US$50,000 per year for one or two years
Important: This foundation funds new ideas and pilot projects, not ongoing programmes already well underway. If your mental health NGO has a new initiative or approach it wants to test, this is a good fit.
Deadline:
Concept applications open October 15 to December 22 2026; next cycle opens May 1 2027
Apply: cfhfoundation.grantsmanagement08.com
9. COMO Foundation
The COMO Foundation funds NGOs focused on improving the lives of underserved women and girls globally, including Africa. Mental health NGOs whose work specifically targets women and girls, with a clear theory of change, are eligible to apply.
How much you can get: $150,000 to $2 million
Deadline: Rolling. Applications accepted year-round.
Apply: comofoundation.org
10. Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge 2026
The Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge funds young impact founders aged 18 to 30 leading projects that deliver social or environmental impact. Mental health NGOs led by young founders are eligible as long as the work contributes to at least one UN Sustainable Development Goal. SDG 3, which covers Good Health and Wellbeing, is a direct fit for mental health work.
How much you can get: Up to US$15,000
Deadline: August 31 2026, at 5 pm UTC.
Apply: socialshifters.co/global-innovation-challenge
Conclusion
Funding is not easy to find, but it is out there. This list is a starting point, not an exhaustive one. There are many more grants and funding opportunities available to mental health NGOs in Africa beyond what is listed here, and read this post about how and where to find them to make your search even easier.
In the meantime, before you apply for any grant on this list, take time to go through their eligibility requirements carefully. Look at the organisations they have previously funded to understand what they look for, and make sure your application is tailored specifically to each funder. A well tailored application will always stand a better chance than a generic one.
Author: Chinasa Lovlyn Nwachukwu has spent four years advocating for mental health across Africa. Her work focuses on empowering communities to take mental health seriously and inspiring others to become advocates in their own communities.
If you need help or know someone struggling with their mental health, please visit our resource page.
