Sustainability is a bit of a buzz word, but it is probably the most important thing to consider when developing a proposal for funding. You need to show the Funder how the project will continue after the grant has ended. Simply thinking that you will raise more money through fundraising is not enough. It is important to have realistic strategies which need to start early on in the project cycle that show a funder you have already thought about how you will sustain the project after funding ends.
One of the best ways to do this is to consider what type of strategies you might need to introduce to keep the project going after the initial funding. For example, if it is a project about women’s empowerment where you are imparting information to women about basic rights, you might also want to consider training in entrepreneurship, literacy, numeracy and a ‘train the trainer’ approach. By teaching communities to teach each other and share knowledge, it is possible to continue activities. Other examples might include volunteering or peer to peer education and training. Funders are also keen to see how you might work with other partners such as local government to sustain the project. By engaging local government, you might be able to get different departments to mobilize staff to share skills, they may contract services and embed the project activities into their own work.
It is important to ensure a funder that you have developed a project with sustainability in mind from the start. Therefore, do not just mention it in passing, in a project proposal. This needs a separate heading and section in its own right so that you can demonstrate that you will put in place from the start of the project strategies to help it continue e.g. a project steering group that includes a local Government Representative. Whilst it is unrealistic to be certain from the start how the project will continue, by engaging with the right people early on, it is likely that they can use their networks to help the project as it continues through the project cycle.
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