Fundraising

1. Developing a Fundraising Strategy

2. Are you a Credible NGO
A clear mandate and statement of mission
An effective administrative and decision-
making structure, including Advisory Board
Policy-making & financial accountability and
transparency
Evidence of effectiveness and credibility
(reports by agency and by others)
Evidence of local/international support
outside the organization (Advisory Boards
often perform this function)

3. Questions to ask
Do you have a clear mission statement?
What makes your NGO credible?
Review your NGO’s brochures,
publications etc. Are they effective?
What needs to/could be done prior to a
fund raising task
Ask other people for feedback on this.

4. Key Stages in Developing a Strategy
Clarify organisational goals/needs
Analysis – where are we?
Generating ideas
Choosing what to focus on
Planning and resourcing
Monitoring

5. Analysis
Existing fundraising performance
Current supporters – recency/frequency/value
Financial position of organisation
Organisational strengths and weaknesses
(SWOT)
Competitors
Current trends

6. Planning and Resourcing
Activity plans
Timescales
Budgets and cash flow
Staff and volunteers
Skills
Risk analysis

7. The five critical fund-raising skills
Perseverance (personal and institutional)
Data-Management (filing of all materials,
information on past initiatives, etc.).
Human Relations and Negotiation Abilities
Excellent Writing Skills (especially proposals,
publicity materials and reports).
Accountability and Predictability on the part of
the NGO

8.  Integrity
 Commitment to and knowledge of the
cause
 Good judgment & intuition
 Knowledge of constituencies
 Fund-raising expertise
 Oral communication
Desired Competencies for a Fund
Raising Personnel

9. Founders role
 Positive, active leadership;
 An understanding of fundraising and
philanthropy;
 Adequate budget;
 Reasonable availability for consultation,
public appearances and fundraising;
 Strategic planning embracing all policies
and programs (before fundraising efforts
are started).

10. Have Your Act Together
 Know your Organisation’s mission, strengths &
weaknesses
 Know the feelings & aspiration of your
constituencies
 Have a plan
 Secure the backing of your advisory board &
executive officers
 Get out among the people; and
 Be able to tell your story

11. First Axiom of Fundraising
 Don’t ask; don’t get!!!
 Learn how to ask
 Don’t apologize and don’t joke about it.
 Make it positive – ground in the respect for what
you are doing and whom you are doing it for.
 Make it a matter of honor and duty.
 Time it right – but don’t waste time

12. Second Axiom of Fundraising
 Donors give to meet their objectives, not
simply to give money away.
 Donors give to well managed organization
whose aspirations they share – NOT to
needy causes.
 So eliminate the word “need” from your
vocabulary.

13. Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth
Axiom
 Don’t fundraise for anything your team or you will not
commit to do (or support).
 Don’t accept “Trojan Horses” (these interfere with
what you want to do).
 Never accept “gifts that eat.”
 Existing donors are your best prospects

14. Four Mistakes in Fundraising
 Asking for too little
 Asking for too much
 Asking for wrong gift purpose
 Asking at the wrong time