The top 12 tips that will help NGOs in building sustainability are mentioned below:
1. Review your current practices
Before discussing sustainability with an existing or potential recipient of funding, review your current practices and make improvements. Does your (online) application form include anything on sustainability? Are you clearly communicating what it is you expect in this area? Did you ever ask for feedback from earlier recipients and make improvements based on this feedback? A proper review of your practices will enable you to book results going forward.
2. Update your budget template
Many donors do not include or discourage adequate line-items covering sustainability. NGOs should be specifically requested to add budget to cover proper office space, quality computers and tools, staff training, staffing, including fundraising staff time, and communications. While it may seem these line items will be at the expense of short-term project impact, the opposite is actually the case. High capacity, well resourced NGOs will be able to plan and deliver the highest impact over time. They will also be much less reliant for their survival on a single donor.
3. Require a sustainability plan
Once you have decided to fund an NGO, ask them to prepare an action-oriented sustainability plan. A short plan with specific goals, that assign tasks to certain staff and earmarks budget to do so will move it in the right direction. Make sure you have a basic template and instructions available. or be ready to support the NGO in developing such a plan. Read More
