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CORE FUNDINGSubmitted by gabgab on July 21, 2007 - 3:42pm.
I've been an NGO worker for a number of years starting in Kosovo and now managing an African wide NGO. Is it me or am I correct in assuming it's becoming much more difficult when making an application for funds - it's not a problem to get major funding for major Projects - but to try to include an amount for Core funding and this part of the submission will often be rejected. Do we simply tell lies and wrap up as something else - personally I don't do this - but what are your experiences. Geoff Tags: Financing Development
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No one thinks, "I want to help Africa, so I'm going to find an organization that needs core funding." Rather, they think, "I want to help Africa, and I'm going to find the most effective organization to do that."
If you ask a foundation to fund two paid positions, for instance, the foundation will probably reject it. But if you say, "We want to be able to serve 400 families this year, and to do that, a full-time, paid child psychologist is needed, to undertake the following tasks... without this funding, our team of three unpaid volunteer staff can serve just 10 families," you greatly increase your chances for funding. In other words, you are always asking for program funds if you always tie funding for staff, equipment and administration costs directly, in the most obvious terms, to your program activities.
Maybe part of your proposal is to ask for a foundation to pay your monthly rent. Why is your current location and your current facilities important? How does your location and facilities contribute to your program delivery? Why is donated space not an option? Again, tie your location and facilities directly to your service delivery.
Want a copy machine funded? Computers? Show how this equipment will increase the numbers of people, communities you serve or the number of services you provide.
And, finally, be able to show how much money (cash) in total your board members and individual supporters are contributing to your organization. Foundations want to see that the board is asking foundations to do the same that its members have done -- show support through cash donations -- and that you have a diversified funding base, however small.
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Jayne Cravens
www.coyotecommunications.com/development/
Kabul, Afghanistan