The Funding Trap: A Grant Scam Awareness Guide for Nigerian NGOs and Social Enterprises

The Funding Trap is a free public-interest guide produced by CloseGap Y.A.L.E. Ltd, a Lagos-based social enterprise. It was developed in response to a sophisticated grant scam (UNSEAF/CBISC) that CloseGap Y.A.L.E. narrowly avoided in January 2026, and following the independent identification of a second scam operation (Oneness Revival Team/ORT). The guide equips Nigerian NGOs, social enterprises, and civil society organisations with the tools to identify, avoid, and report fraudulent grant schemes. It covers: how grant scams are structured and how they target organisations; red flags to watch for at every stage of a funding approach; how to verify legitimate funders and funding opportunities; step-by-step guidance on reporting scams to relevant platforms; and reference cards for Nigerian and international reporting channels. The guide was distributed through a partnership with FundsforNGOs following a successful real-world advocacy campaign that resulted in the removal of scam listings from five platforms. It is published free of charge as a contribution to the safety and sustainability of Nigeria's civil society funding ecosystem.