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NGOs are diverse entities and their features are mostly shaped by the socio-economic, cultural, political and legal situation of a country. However, generally speaking, we can list out the following features that are common among NGOs in most of the countries around the world. Non-Profit in functioning: An NGO is not meant for making profit… [Read More]

There are certain core expenses of your organisation, which may not be funded by any donor.  There are certain policy advocacy related activities, which donors may not be willing to fund but as an NGO it is important to undertake such activities, as it is required to achieve the mission of your organisation. In certain… [Read More]

There are a set of core values that every NGO should adopt when thinking of setting up an NGO. NGOs are voluntary organizations dedicated for a cause and it is essential that they follow a belief system that reflects their approach. Following are some of the core values, NGOs should adopt when establishing an NGO:… [Read More]

Since unrestricted funds are not bounded by an agreement, any method that does not bound the donation received by your organisation under specific expense head, is unrestricted funds for your organisation.  The first recommended step is that while making your organisation budget, estimate how much of unrestricted funds would be required by you in the… [Read More]

Transparency and accountability are core values deeply embedded in an NGO. Since NGOs exist for carrying out voluntary work, it is expected that their actions demonstrate honesty, responsibility and answerability. According to Transparency International,  “Transparency is about shedding light on rules, plans, processes and actions. It is knowing why, how, what, and how much. Transparency… [Read More]

Here are some ways in which volunteers can help you in raising funds for your organization: 1. Bringing in passion and enthusiasm:Volunteers are passionate people who are contributing their time towards a cause. This makes them special. They like to associate with your organization because of their passion, now it is up to you how… [Read More]

You can draft the proposal using this template and then customize it to suit donor guidelines. For helping you develop your proposal, suitable examples have been used to describe the content of each section. Title Page: The title page typically contains the project title, along with contact details of the organization and the donor. Remember… [Read More]

When you contact or meet a donor for the first time, what are easiest ways to ruin your shot at getting funded? First impressions count, and avoiding these mistakes will help you put your best foot forward. Mistake #1: Not introducing yourself Do not send an email to a donor without any introduction. Donors see… [Read More]

Most donors will provide core funding, but some will only pay for project cost, shifting the burden to other donors and the NGO. Some donors allow core funding to be included as specific budget lines (e.g. a portion of the rent, utilities, etc.) and on top of that add an overhead percentage (e.g. 5%, 10%… [Read More]

Significance of a great project title: It gives a glimpse of the project described in the proposal It informs the donor about the project aim, location, focus and beneficiary (or need) A great title captures the donors’ attention with its uniqueness It makes your proposal memorable and keeps it on the top of donors’/ selectors’… [Read More]