Initially when the CAN project was conceived in 2007 and, in 2008, developed in partnership with the Governments, NGOs (Non-Government Organisations) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in Lesotho, Eswatini, Uganda and Kenya, the founder funded her own visits to Africa in her annual leave from her employment in the UK. She was greatly assisted, however, by all concerned in Africa. This included those in government positions and NGOs and CBOs, as well as friends who invited her to stay, lent her a car and assisted in many other ways.

However, as the research into some of the best projects in these countries between 2009 and 2012 necessitated six-week visits in each country, it became evident some sources of outside funding would be required. Some of this funding initially provided money for selected small income-generating projects in the countries concerned, which enabled families to be self-sufficient in providing for the needs of their orphans and other children in need for the future. So the Charity (which was to become Care Africa Network (CAN)) was founded and was later registered with the UK Charity Commission in 2011. One of its functions was to raise funds to support the work to research and disseminate best practice ideas to benefit children in need elsewhere.

Everyone in CAN has always donated all their time and expertise free of charge, and often some of their expenses as well, so only small amounts of other funding were required. Many CAN committee members have also made many other donations in funding or kind including logo and website design, editing documents, CAN T-shirts, organising and participating in fundraising events, including concerts, fashion sales and especially the annual CAN sponsored walk, which was generously supported by many.

Donations and fund-raising events and Gift Aid were the only source of finance until Festival Medical Services (FMS) approached CAN about the possibility of funding the work. Since then, FMS has viewed all funding applications to them from CAN favourably and has funded much of the expenses incurred in delivering training courses in Africa. In addition to funding small income-generating projects, such generosity has enabled CAN to develop, research and disseminate effective methods of enabling good community-supported family care and also train CAN Extension Workers to treat children suffering from PTSD.

This has been achieved by developing its two training courses which have been delivered in Lesotho and Eswatini and have now trained over 550 CAN Extension Workers in these countries to start projects to enable good community-supported family care of orphans and children in need for the future and to treat children with PTSD. It has also handed over the main course and all the necessary training manuals and PowerPoint presentations to The National Universities in the countries concerned, so that CAN's work can continue to regenerate the African extended family to meet the needs of future generations.

CAN is immensely grateful for all the funding it has received and all the donations of time and expertise.