Featured Articles: Fundraising, Proposal Writing & NGO Management

Proposal writing has become very demanding in view of the complexity of projects put up for funding and the stakes involved on the part of donors as well as the beneficiaries. Most donors now insist on a comprehensive and clear understanding of the projects submitted for their consideration. Theory of Change (ToC) has emerged as a key component of proposals to meet this requirement. This becomes all the more essential where the scope and impact of a project is substantial and funds being sought … [Read more...] about Essentials in Proposal Writing: Theory of Change

Global partnerships are as diverse as the themes and geographic regions are in the realm of development. In the two parts of this article, Part I brought out certain thematic areas and geographies while the current Part II covers some more areas of interest to NGOs spread out across the globe. Global partnerships are emerging everywhere and in every area of human enterprise. So, it will not be appropriate to say that the partnerships cited in the two articles are all-embracing. Nevertheless, … [Read more...] about Global Partnerships for sustainability of NGOs Part – II

Many NGOs are confronted with an uncertain future when the supporting grant nears its end. Fast changing scenario of aid becoming scarce and donors adopting new approaches of channelizing the limited resources should not lead to despondency among NGOs. It only calls for taking stock of the emerging trends and reframing strategies to outwit the challenges posed by shrinking aid flow. If you are smart enough to catch up with the emerging canvas of aid, you will win the race come what … [Read more...] about Global Partnerships for sustainability of NGOs PART – I

Governance or Corporate Governance as it is commonly called in the business world refers to a set of principles, policies and processes by which an institution is run. It defines the values with which an institution conducts itself while it goes about achieving its goals and objectives. Governance not only plays an important role in defining how a company is run, but it also helps to instil confidence among donors, participants and society at large. A good governance policy coupled with … [Read more...] about A Free Template on NGO Governance (with Samples)

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) crisis has now become a real war as NGOs, governments and private institutions have put to use massive resources to address it. What appeared to be a minor health problem in Wuhan, China just a few months ago has now turned into a global pandemic affecting every aspect of our lives. Healthcare services have been challenged and livelihoods have been destroyed. According to the World Bank, global poverty is expected to increase to 8.6% - for the first time in the last … [Read more...] about During COVID-19 times, what type of projects can NGOs propose to donors for helping the poor?

In these unprecedented times when COVID-19 continues to spread and to impact almost every individual and organization across the world directly or indirectly, non-profit organizations or non-government organizations (NGOs) are also deeply affected now and in the times to come. As it is not yet clear what the current pandemic situation holds in future, it is important to balance the scale between panic and carelessness. Preparedness is key. What this means for NGOs? This would mean: … [Read more...] about Managing your NGO in the times of COVID-19

The 14th Round of United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Call for Project Proposals is now open for Civil Society/NGOs to apply. The United Nations Democracy Fund provides financial support to projects around the world for strengthening the voice of civil society, promoting human rights and encouraging the participation of all groups in the democratic processes. The main areas of funding are Gender equality, Community activism, Rule of law and human rights, Youth engagement, Strengthening civil … [Read more...] about How to Apply: The 14th Round of United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Call for Project Proposals

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is one of the largest state-sponsored aid agency in the world. It is funded by the United States Government and it has an independent administrative body and uses its financial and human resources to assist developing nations to grow economically and technically. For the FY 2020, the President's Budget Request for the State Department and USAID is $40 billion, which includes $19.2 billion for USAID to support "stable, resilient, … [Read more...] about How to Plan, Prepare and Respond to a USAID Call for Proposals – A Free Guide for NGOs

The Office of Press Relations, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on November 18, 2019, released a press note that the USAID Administrator, Mark Green and the Advisor to the President, Ivanka Trump announced that the W-GDP Initiative Fund will now increase its funding to $100 million. So, what is this W-GDP Initiative Fund? The W-GDP Initiative Fund is the Women's Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative Fund which was established by the US President … [Read more...] about What is USAID’s W-GDP Initiative Fund that recently increased its Funding to $100 million for New Partnerships?

Proposals are lengthy documents with various components, comprising of the background information, current situation analysis and the future projections. NGOs are expected to write every part of the proposal carefully with in-depth research, knowledge and detailed planning. In this free guide, we cover information about the various elements of a standard proposal to help NGOs apply for their grant funding. Cover Page Table of Content Executive Summary Problem Statement Project … [Read more...] about How to easily Write the Various Elements of Your Project Proposal – A Free Guide for NGOs

During recent times, grant-making programs have started to witness gradual but noticeable changes in terms of giving funds to NGOs for developmental work. The conventional method of giving short-term grants for quick implementation is getting replaced by the introduction of creative partnerships between donors and NGOs to create a long-term, meaningful impact in an innovative manner. According to Claire Merchlinksky for Quartz, "Amid growing inequality and scepticism about the motives of … [Read more...] about Why NGOs should strategically collaborate with the New Billionaires’ Impactful Philanthropy Programs?

Introduction Most NGOs want to increase their core funding as it is flexible and carries fewer restrictions than project funding. While not the solution to every problem, NGOs that increase core funding can improve sustainability, flexibility, and project quality. This guide discusses concepts and provides tips to help increase your core funding. What is core funding? Core funding is usually defined as financial support that covers basic “core” organizational and administrative costs of … [Read more...] about What is Core Funding and How to Get it?

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is one of the largest state-sponsored aid agency in the world. It is funded by the United States Government and it has an independent administrative body and uses its financial and human resources to assist developing nations to grow economically and technically. For the FY 2020, the President's Budget Request for the State Department and USAID is $40 billion, which includes $19.2 billion for USAID to support "stable, resilient, … [Read more...] about How to Plan, Prepare and Respond to a USAID Call for Proposals – A Free Guide for NGOs

When looking at any proposal, the project title is the first thing the donors see. This is the reason a project title has to be very effective in capturing donors’ attention while also summarising the essence of the project. It has to convey the uniqueness of your project to the donor. Thus, it would be worthwhile to spend some time with your team to discuss to finalize a good project title before you submit your project proposal to the donors. Why a Good Project Title is important: It is … [Read more...] about What type of Project Titles impress Donors?

 With the internet becoming an integral part of everyone’s lives, online perception and reputation have taken the centre stage for any business or any organization. In this context, so many studies have been conducted and many more are underway in a quest to understand the trends, interests and the needs of various customer segments. This data is being used by organizations to implement practices in line with what people want and what can get them more customer attention and recognition. In … [Read more...] about Online Reputation Management for NGOs