When you think of the most “popular” nonprofit organization in Nigeria, what name comes to mind? Before the pandemic, you might have guessed Kokun Foundation or Slum2School Africa, and you wouldn’t be wrong. But if your answer is Chess in Slums Africa (CISA), then you’re standing on the right square. What makes this organization extraordinary is not just its reach, but the bold, unconventional fundraising moves of its founder. Walk with me.

Queen’s Retreat

Adjusts my crown — hopefully I haven’t blundered this pun.

CISA, founded in 2018, rose to mainstream awareness after its Oshodi Underbridge tournament in 2021. A story of hope and transformation emerged from an area known for a different kind of tactical maneuver, the kind involving your phone. I still remember the images of young boys in blue bùbá and shókòtó, with fila. The headlines ran in variations of:

“18-Year-Old Bus Conductor Wins Chess Tournament in Oshodi — Adeoye Fawaz.”

My first thought was: Who is this man, Tunde Onakoya? Followed quickly by: Aso-ebi for a chess tournament? Now that’s an opening move.

Fun fact: I co-managed a project at a nonprofit called Executives Helping Initiative in December 2020 at Mafoluku Oshodi, tagged “The Charity 2020: Community Impact.” CISA was a partner, and Tunde himself was there teaching chess to the children. It took me two years after the headlines to realise why he had looked familiar.

No doubt, Tunde Onakoya had captured the nation’s attention, and mine too. I began to pay closer attention to this young man disrupting a space that needed new dreamers and bold ideas. Every time he posted, I stopped to read. 

Ehm that’s… an exaggeration. Have you seen how many threads that man was sewing back in the day? Enough fila to crown all the “Egbon Adugbos” in Lagos.

In The Square

ChessinSlums Africa has raised a total of…

See ehn, I tried to get exact figures for this piece. I wanted it to be accurate, but sadly, I couldn’t get anyone on the team to comment. So, Mr. Taiwo Adeyemi, if you can see this, I’m in your DM on X—I’m pleading.  I’m interested in interviewing Mr. Onakoya for a different piece.

Anyhow, I don’t know maths like that, but let’s give it a shot. After all, observation is not a crime. Don’t quote me anywhere though.

The ChessinSlums Fundraising Goal: $1,000,000

The 1st World Record Chess Marathon: Approximately $114,584, converted to ₦131 million (source: Pulse Nigeria).

The Second Marathon: No sum or target disclosed; the goal was awareness and exposure for building Nigeria’s largest tuition free school and promoting the chessboards.

Chessboard Sales:

Adire Neo Chess Set

• Units Produced: 100 sets (50 in Lagos, 50 for the diaspora) Sold Out
• Price: ₦1,000,000 (~$600 USD) each
• Total: ₦100,000,000
• Note: He pledged 50% of the profit. Figure unknown.

NeoChess × Tunde Onakoya Luxury Bronze Edition

• Units Available: Limited Edition
• Price: ₦21,187,600

How Close is CISA to Its Goal?

Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not privy to private donations made by philanthropists, peer-to-peer contributions, or corporate sponsorships.

Nigerian Philanthropists:

“But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” — The Bible 

There’s not a lot of readily available financial information from Nigeria’s philanthropy and nonprofit scene. So I asked ChatGPT: If you were to estimate how much ChessinSlums Africa has raised since inception, how much would you guess?

Even ChatGPT doesn’t know the exact numbers: “…..it could be in the ballpark of a few hundred thousand dollars to over a million….”

Small Mathematics: Approximately $733,964 (2023–2025) or ₦1,100,946,000

Disclaimer : This approximation is based on statements made by Tunde Onakoya on X, websites like NeoChess, Tiltify.com, and Chess.com as gathered by ChatGPT.

As the neighbourhood transparency enthusiast, I know we need a database for nonprofits with clear financials and other information. But this piece is not about transparency. It’s about how a nonprofit has raised hundreds of millions in unconventional ways without a single grant. There’s a lot to learn here. Shall we?

Lessons About Fundraising from Tunde Onakoya

Deliberate Moves

A veteran in the development space, Mr. Ahmed Alaga of Jobberman, once told me, “Fundraising is deliberate. You don’t just send out mails saying you have a project and your first mail is for me to donate.” Deliberate captures ChessinSlums Africa’s approach to fundraising. Every move is intentional, calculated, and part of a broader plan.

Stories Matter

In business, tech, or social development, building anything substantial requires storytelling. Founder-centric content is now essential; even PayPal has a Head of CEO Content (allegedly). Tunde Onakoya excels at this. He tells stories about his life, his journey, his purpose, the children, and his organization. Fundraising is not about personal preferences or ego, it is about persuasion. Stories are the bridge that connects potential supporters to the work being done.

Strategy is King

ChessinSlums does not make random moves. As expected from a chess player, every fundraising initiative builds on the last. The Guinness World Record chess marathon came before the exclusive chess boards. Had he tried to sell the boards after the Makoko or Oshodi tournaments, success would have been far less likely.

Seasons Matter

Timing is critical. Merchandise, like the ChessFilas or boards, may not attract buyers immediately. But with years of trust-building, international exposure, a strong online community, and strategic events like the GWR, these items become highly desirable. Before launching any idea, founders must recognize whether the market and community are ready.

Social Enterprise is the Way

It is predicted that nonprofits that would survive the changing landscape of development funding are those that can generate revenue. ChessinSlums now operates like a social enterprise. In December 2023, Tunde tweeted about parents willing to pay for chess tutoring:

“I think we just hacked an important business model for Chess in slums Africa which we’ll launch next year… This definitely helps bridge the widening gap between the haves and have nots among children… It also offers an innovative way of redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor by providing valuable services.” — Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD), December 15, 2023

Recently, Tunde said CISA is not a charity and it generated controversy online, but it highlights an important lesson: not all nonprofits are prohibited from generating income. Clarity in registration and communication is essential when pursuing social enterprise models. Maybe You Should Build A Social Enterprise.

Learn from Business Leaders

Nonprofit founders can gain much from business and finance experts. Tunde has publicly acknowledged learning from Chidinma Okoli, a Senior Associate in Mergers, Acquisitions and Investment Relations at Moniepoint, about startups, valuations, and venture capital. Understanding business strategy and financial management is critical; it complements traditional nonprofit education.

The And Mindset

ChessinSlums does not rely on a single fundraising source. Its strategy blends peer-to-peer crowdfunding, partnerships, merchandise, chess tutorials, and other initiatives. Overreliance on any one source is risky. Sustainable fundraising comes from a diverse, multifaceted approach.

ChessinSlums Fundraising Moves

• Private Donors – Contributions from individual philanthropists supporting CISA’s mission.
• Peer-to-Peer – Donations through their website, social media channels, or platforms like GoFundMe.
• Corporate Sponsorship & Partnerships – Collaborations with companies such as Goldman Sachs, Chipper Cash, Lufthansa Airlines, Chess.com etc.
• Chess Tournaments – Fundraising through Guinness World Record events, virtual tournaments, and regional/international competitions.
• Products & Merchandise – Sales of branded items, including chess fila and custom chess boards.
• Services – Chess tutorials like their ongoing summer class for kids and teens.

Do you think there’s something new brewing? 

    “Listen, can we have the Nigerian version of the Met gala, but this time as a Fundraising event for Chess in Slums Africa?!”

— Tunde Onakoya (@Tunde_OD), May 19, 2023

I wonder what happened to this plan. Would it see the light of day sometime soon? What other moves does he have under his fila? ( alright, I am done with the chess and fila puns.)

In Conclusion

Wait, you want a parting thought? If you’re a founder, stop treating fundraising like it’s a surprise event. Stop waiting for your next project to crowdfund, or one-off events. Think bold. Think long-term. Think strategy. Think and. And make sure you put transparency systems in place for your finances.

This piece was written a day before a serious academic test, with my brain threatening to give up. Support struggling writers by commenting, sharing, and spreading this piece everywhere. Thank you.