PDFSouth Asian Fund Raising Group (SAFRG) is an NGO with the mission to provide state of the art resource mobilization capacity building for fundraisers and community organizations. They are building fundraising capacity in South Asia since 1989 through their training programmes. One of such training was Certificate course on fund raising and communication. The venue was New Delhi and the duration of the course was between 8th and 30th July 2010.
As a team member of Centre for Philanthropy (CFP), DHAN Foundation I underwent this course. This is very relevant as a fund raiser to undergo this course. The general donor base in India and types of donors were dealt in detail. “Fund raising is the art of getting people to give what you want and when you want for an identified charitable purpose and rests on building long term relationships between donor and recipient.”
Historically how in India donations have been sourced by civil society organizations (CSO) and successful institutions’ constant endeavour to widen the donor base were very elaborately dealt. The current scenario on multilateral agencies’ funding pattern for Indian NGOs and India ascending up in the ladder, as an economic superpower has also brought about a paradigm shift in giving pattern. In five years from now, Indian NGOs need to source all their funds from within as multilateral agencies shall withdraw from India because of its economic growth. We need to concentrate on the existing five key income sources e.g., individual donors, corporate, governmental agencies, earned income and grant making organizations.
Fund raising and communication are two sides of the coin and both complement each other. Funds are basically required for any CSO to survive and sustain its activities besides developing new programmes or expand existing ones. Regular correspondence helps to understand the project and its objective.
Donors can also give in three ways e.g., money, goods and time and expertise. It is with the NGO to do its research effectively to source whatever it needs after a careful assessment of its needs.
The relationship between donor and CSO is to be balanced through a systematic two-way communication. The process of getting support involves showcasing best practices thru success stories which shall project a “Feel Good Factor” or “Child/Beneficiary with a Smile”.
Ultimately it is the transparency and accountability of the CSO and its belief in its core values shall sustain the donor base in the long run.
The potential for fund raising in India is rather huge and it has not yet matured. Till now, It is only traditional and mostly for religious purposes. The swelling middle class in India which is around 150 million has good potential and this source is to be tapped for regular support. Many more corporates are also performing well and are desirous to take part in real development work. Diaspora and People of Indian Origin (PIOs) are keen to be part of holistic development happening in India! It therefore throws open lots and lots of openings for CSOs to launch meaningful, community oriented projects.
Overall 15 drawn from different NGOs partnering Oxfam in different states of India underwent this certificate course and a final evaluation was done through a written test.