Interaction with donors provides opportunities to increase and diversify income, gain early intelligence on funding opportunities, and advocate for causes. Developing pre-existing relationships with donors through regular face-to-face engagement is essential for successful fundraising and influencing donor policies. When meeting with donors, do not immediately pitch projects but rather research the donor, showcase ActionAid's local and international strengths, and discuss potential funding and advocacy partnerships. Proposals submitted to donors must meet set criteria and be of high quality, while existing grants and funding should be expertly managed and implemented. Communication with donors should continue beyond initial meetings through attending forums, reading publications, and leveraging affiliate and international fundraising networks.
2. Donor Intelligence: Why?
Interaction with donors provides opportunity
for:
• Increasing income – and increasing
diversity of income
• Early intelligence of opportunity
• Advocacy opportunities (bringing the
donor to ActionAid)
3. Donor Intelligence: The core
A pre-existing relationship with donors is
usually essential to successful
fundraising
Pre-existing partnerships with donors is
usually essential in order to influence
donor policy
4. Donor intelligence: How
Engage face to face with donors (on a
regular basis)
Opportunities include: PRRPs, invite donors
to projects, anniversary receptions,
immersions, planning processes
(and informal opportunities wherever
possible)
5. Donor intelligence: Face to face
Do NOT sell a project on the first meeting
• Research the donor
• Describe local AND the international
strength of ActionAid (donors complain we
punch below our weight). Show how AA
adds value
• Discuss funding and advocacy opportunities
And document the meeting
6. Donor intelligence: Basics
• Submit only proposals that meet any
donor set criteria
• Submit only high quality concepts and
proposals
• Manage and implement existing grants
and funding to a high standard
• Do not stop talking to the donor
7. Sources of donor intelligence
As well as in-country
- Read newspapers for tender publications
- Network! Attend forums
- Meet the donors!
Funding Affiliates
International Fundraising
IPD
Eventually on the HIVE. This year on IPD’s
own site.
