Firstly, Let’s Understand What is an NGO?
A non-government organization that works independently for the benefit of society and underprivileged people, but is also involved with international philanthropy, growth, and development.
Basically, NGOs are a group of people organized locally, nationally and go up to the international level to serve the specific purpose of social or political work.
How Do NGOs Get Funding
Generally, NGOs rely on various resources for funding operations, or salaries because the budget goes up to millions, or sometimes billions of dollars. Also, NGOs totally depend on funds from various sources where fundraising acts as the most crucial substance for the NGO’s existence and growth.
Some NGOs get funding from wealthy individuals, and various NGOs depend on small donations for survival. Whereas there are various NGOs that are heavily dependent upon the government to function.
For small baby NGOs, it is tough to get funding and it turns out to be quite challenging for them. Mentioned below are some steps that can assist grassroots NGOs to get funding successfully.
- Know Your Needs
Before looking for donors and getting funds, start by looking for your own NGO’s needs. You can pen down your NGO’s needs more aptly by discussing them with your team, further make sure to look for:
- Where are you going to set up your organization? (urban, rural, country)
- What area of work are you interested in?
- Which problems are you going to solve?
- Your current budget? How much more do you need?
- When do you need funding? For how long is the funding needed?
- Look for Donors That Match Your NGO’s Needs
Answer the questions above and reach out to donors that match your needs. There are techniques to find donors who are similar-minded:
Go through the website and check the annual report of different NGOs to check which NGOs are working similarly to you. Try to find their donors and supporters. Various NGOs list their donors on their websites to build transparency, so you can check databases online. Many organizations need payment or subscription fees, but you can ask colleagues, current donors, for suggestions.
If you’re looking for any particular crucial needs for your NGO then you can add your needs for the potential donors on some online platforms such as SatvikDaan App.
Here are some steps that can help you to add to your needs:
Step 1: Sign up if you’re new to the SatvikDaan app, log in using your existing details.
Step 2: You will be receiving an OTP, and then you can move further with the account creation process.
Step 3: You can add your professional details, pan card number, FCRA/registration number and your profile will be generated.
Step 4: Wait for it to be verified.
Step 5: You’re verified, and now you can post your needs and use the app to get your needs or donations.
- Reach the Donors Before Sending Them a Letter
Till now you must have created a list of generous donors that are going to be perfect for your NGO. Instead of dropping via mail or phone, ask them for a virtual meeting. Some will hesitate to respond and will not agree to join, but will be determined and will take follow-ups. When you get the opportunity to meet the person, then make sure to talk about some crucial points firmly:
Ask Them:
- Ask donors about their priorities. Whereas, do not ask them silly questions and focus on questions that will help you with the donation.
- Explain how your program will benefit them and society.
- Ask them if they are interested in receiving information about your programs.
Do Not Ask:
- Asking for funds from a donor who is not familiar with your program and is not from your country.
- Asking for large funds without understanding their priority.
- Asking for fundraising without doing the outreach.
- Use Social Media Promptly
With social media, you can get support for your upcoming fundraising campaigns. Every social media has a different set of audiences, so you can choose what and where to post a particular post accordingly.
The best platforms to share your content are Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Twitter is good for getting engaged but not for driving donations. Also, make sure to be active on traditional forms of media: Phone calls, receiving/sending an email.
- Be Transparent
Users would like to see how their donation is helping the needy. Keep donors updated via mail, newsletter, and thank-you notes. This will help you to build strong relationships with donors and will also increase engagement.
Conclusion: It is not your income that decides your amount of donation. If you’re of a charitable bent of mind, on SatvikDaan,you can find the needs of every NGO. Consider the time that you want to spare, and how you can make a difference in the lives of needy people- because every single penny counts. Your single digital donation can save the lives of many underprivileged people.
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