Networking and Fundraising Tips for CBOs and NGOs

What makes your Organization a credible NGO? One that's worth funding, respected by the general public and recognized by the government? Here are a few things you may already know, but take for granted, or maybe you just keep putting them off for another day.

In Tanzania, the work of NGOs is coordinated and monitored under the Ministry of Community Development, Gender and Children which is found in Kivukoni. This is also where you can register your NGO, for free, and get a certificate to carry out your work as a charity. The Umbrella body that oversees and coordinates NGOs in Tanzania is called the National Non-Governmental Organization�s Council (NACONGO) and has been operative for 8years. Are you a member? Have you ever been in touch with them? The principles of regulation and coordination of NGO�s by the Government of Tanzania is covered in the NGO Act, 2002.

In Rwanda the registration of NGO's is under the�Rwanda Governance Board (RGB). Their website�www.rgb.rw contains a list of the various requirements that an NGO needs to be registered in Rwanda. Among the requirements are�Documents�showing the Organization�s head office and its� full address and an�Action Plan for the�fiscal year.

According to a research carried out by REPOA (Special Paper 07.21), about 60% of funding for NGOs in Tanzania comes from foreign donors and international NGO�s. Funding is one of the most important and sometimes stressful aspects of the work of NGO�s. Learning effective �fundraising mechanisms is very important for NGO's.

The default position that many NGO�s take is to find the contacts of potential funders and write long proposals about their desperate needs for funding. This route is not always successful and can even make your NGO lose credibility or even make the members of the NGO lose confidence in their goal, because of all the rejection.

NGOs should understand and be aware that organizations that fund want to know that a CBO or NGO is credible before they will even reply to their funding request.

One way to build credibility is through networking. Establish both formal and informal relationships with local NGO�s and representatives of international NGO�s, local government representatives etc. Building good relations with such actors will give your NGO credibility when potential donors ask about the work of your NGO. Also if any funding or opportunities arise, these actors will remember your NGO and most likelyrefer your NGO immediately. �

The purpose of networking is not to ask for funds directly, but instead to establish your NGO�s reputation for serving the community with excellence. The purpose of networking is to create a network of organizations and people who will verify to others that your NGO is legitimate and worth supporting.

Another tactic to effectively network, is being part of formal or informal networks or associations of NGO�s within your region or country. Associations or networks of NGOs are like NACNGO, Tango, FCS, Envaya, etc. If you are not part of any NGO network, then you are missing out on possible opportunities.

Your online presence is beyond essential. Imagine, you have sent your proposal to a potential donor and they decide to �google� the name of your NGO and nothing turns up! Or they see your NGO website but it has no current updates, no projects or pictures or recent discussions. What do you expect them to do? Does it look credible on your part? Obviously not. Your Website is like the face of your NGO representing all that you stand for and what you represent in your community. Envaya has provided you with free web space � use it. Don�t take it for granted. Constantly update your projects and plans, contact details and let them be known to the world.

Lastly, instead of waiting on external funding, NGO's can take it into their own hands to fund-raise for a cause or a particular project. Fundraising can take on many different faces; from selling of old books and clothes to creating events that people can attend. One of the most recent events in Dar es Salaam, was the charity football competition between bongo movie starts versus bongo flavor stars. This apparently raised about 100M for a charity they were supporting.

Now, you do not need movie stars for your projects. You can easily create events within your neighborhood or drama skits that you can invite your ward to watch and contribute to your cause. Fund raising requires initiative and creativity. Find out what people enjoy, is it sport events? Then set up a tent with a TV that people can pay 500tsh to watch football. Is it possible to organize an event for young people with music and games for a small charge? Then do it.�

A recent fundraising example from Rwanda is the Kigali Institute of Science and Techonology (KIST) Students Community. These students carried out a music Concert, using their skills and talents�to help raise funds to build safe girl hostels to�accommodate�and encourage more female students in the Technology Institute.�The fundraising concert was attended by invited�guests, students and Rwanda musicians and celebrities. The concert raised about 821,000�Rwandan Francs or 2 Million�Tanzanian�shillings. The simple concert was headed by the students themselves. It is possible for NGO's to self fund themselves at times instead of always waiting for a grant. In fact, it makes your NGO look more credible because it shows you are passionate about serving the community and not simply receiving donor funds.

Do you have any tips or facts to share with community based organizations?� Have you ever carried out a successful fundraising campaign? Let us know how it went, the challenges and lessons learnt. Leave your comment below.

Dondoo na Vidokezo kuhusu Uzalishaji kwa ajili ya CBOs na NGOs

Hivi ni nini kinachosababisha shirika lako liaminike? liwe katika kiwango cha kupewa ruzuku? liheshimike katika jamii kwa ujumla na pia litambulike kwenye serikali?

Kuna vitu ambavyo unaweza ukawa unavijua lakini unavipuuzia ingawa vina umuhimu sana na kazi unazozifanya katika jamii...makala hii itagusia baadhia ya vitu hivyo.....

Nchini Tanzania kazi za mashirika yasio kuwa ya kiserikali yaani (NGO’s) yako chini ya Wizara ya maendeleo ya jamii, jinsia, na watoto, wanapatikana Kivukoni. Unaweza kusajili shirika lako, bure, na kupata kibali cha kuendesha shughuli zako za kujitolea, au za ki msaada. Shirika mwamvuli ambalo linalea na kusimamia mashirika yasiokuwa ya kiserikali yote nchini Tanzania linaitwaNational Non-Governmental Organization’s Council (NACONGO) limeundwa takriban miaka 8 iliopita.Je unalifahamu? na je wewe ni mwanachama? Je umefanya mawasiliano ya aina yeyote nalo? Je unazifahamu Sheria na taratibu za muongozo wa mashirika yasiokuwa ya kiserikali nchini Tanzania, kwenye kifungu cha NGO Act 2002.                                

Nchini Rwanda usajiri wa asasi zisizokuwa za kiserikali hufanyika chini ya bodi iitwayo “Rwanda Governance Board” (RGB) tovuti yao ni www.rgb.rw ambamo kuna orodha ya mahitaji yote yanayohitajika ili asasi iweze kujisajiri nchini Rwanda. Mojawapo ya mahitaji ni kuwa na hati inayoonyesha makao makuu ya hilo shirika na anwani kamili na mpango kazi kwa mwaka wa fedha, hilo ni hitaji moja wapo.

Kutokana na ufwatiliaji uliofanywa na REPOA (Special Paper 07.21), takriban asilimia 60% ya ruzuku kwaajili ya mashikia yasiokuwa ya kiserikali nchini Tanzania zinatokana na mashirika ya kimataifa. Upataji na ufwatiliaji wa ruzuku ni moja kati ya kazi muhimu sana na pia yenye changamoto nyingi sana kwa mashirika yasiokuwa ya kiserikali. Kujifundisha jinsi ya kupata ruzuku na kukimu mahitaji ya ki fedha kwenye shirika kupitia shuguli za kihisani zitakazo ingiza pesa ni muhimu sana kwaajili ya shirika lako. 

Mashirika mengi huwa yanatafuta taarifa za mawasiliano za mashirika yanayotoa ruzuku na baada ya hapo wanaandika na kutumia proposal ndefu yenyekuelezea mahitaji yao ya kifedha na kuelezea miradi yao na jinsi wanavyo hitaji sana msaada wa pesa. Njia hii haifanikiwi mara kwa mara na inaweza pia kupunguza uaminifu wa shirika husika linalo omba ruzuku na pia inaweza kuwakatisha tamaa kabisa wadau na wahusika wa NGO hiyo kutokana na kukataliwa mara kwa mara.

Kitu amabacho Mashirika yasiokuwa ya kiserikali yanapaswa kuelewa na kufahamu ni kwamba mashirika yanayotoa ruzuku yanahitaji kujua kuwa shirika lako linaaminika kabla ya hata kupata wazo la kutoa ruzuku kwa shirika lako na kupokea maombi yako. Njia moja ya kujenga uaminifu ni kujiweka katika mitandao ya watu wenye malengo sawa na wewe. Jenga uhusiano wa kikazi lakini pia hata wa kirafiki tu na mashirika yasiokuwa ya kiserikali kitaifa, kimataifa, wawakilishi wa Serikali za mitaa na kadhalika. Kujenga uhusiano mzuri  na watu kama hao itasaidia shirika lako kujenga uaminifu zaidi kwa mashirika yanayo toa ruzuku  yanapouliza kazi za shirika lako. Pia kama kuna nafasi zozote za kupata ruzuku ni rahisi sana kwa mashirika uliojenga nayo urafiki kukukumbuka na hata kuweka jina la shirika lako kwenye orodha zao za wapokea ruzuku.

Lakini kumbuka, katika yote haya . USITHUBUTU KUOMBA RUZUKU! Lengo la kuingia katika mitandao ya aina hii ni kujenga jina zuri kwaajili ya shirika lako, kwa kazi ya kuleta maendeleo katika jamii kwa ufanisi mkubwa, napia kujenga mtandao amabo unaweza hata kuthibitisha uwepo na uwezo wa shirika lako. 

Mfumo mwengine wa kukusaidia kujenga mtandao kiurahisi ni kuwa mwanachama wa vyama vilivyo sajiliwa au hata vyama tu vya mashirika yanayo kutana mara kwa mara kubadilishana mawazo lakini hawajasajiliwa kama mtandao kitaifa. Jiunge na vyama vilivyopo karibu na wewe. Mfano wa mashirika kimtandao ni kama NACONGO, TANGO, FCS, ENVAYA, na kadhalika. Kama si mwanachama wa mtandao wowote basi kuna nafasi na fursa nyingi ambazo unazikosa.

Uwepo wako katika mtandao wa internet ni fursa tosha kwako wewe. Jaribu kujenga picha hii akilini mwako, unapo peleka proposal kwa watoa ruzuku na mtoa ruzuku huyu anaamua alitafute shirika lako kwenye mtandao wa internet  lakini jina lako halileti majibu yeyote, au anapata taarifa ambazo zimewekwa zamaani sana hazijawekwa mpya ….hiyo inamjengea picha gani huyu mtoa ruzuku?? kwa kweli hii haileti picha nzuri kabisa. Website yako ndo kama uso wa shirika lako ambao unaonyesha nyie mnasimamia nini katika jamii na mnaleta maendeleo gani katika jamii zenu. Envaya imekupa website ya bure kabisa – itumie kikamilifu. Usipuuze fursa hii. Jaribu kuweka taarifa mara kwa mara kuhusu miradi na mipango ya baadae, taarifa za mawasiliano na jitangaze duniani kote.

Mwisho kabisa, baadala ya kusubiri ruzuku kutoka nje shirika lako linaweza likasimamia njia njingeni za kupata pesa kupitia hafla za kihisani, hata kwaajili ya miradi midogo midogo. Shughuli za kihisani zinaweza zikachukua sura tofauti: kwanzia kuuza vitabu vya zamani, na nguo au hata kufanya matukio  ambayo yanaweza kuhudhuriwa na watu kwa viingilio. Moja ambayo imechukua chati sana hivi karibuni  mkoani Dar-es-salaam, ni Mechi Ya Mpira Wa Mguu Wa Kihisani ulio husisha waigizaji wa filamu(bongo movie stars) wa hapa tanzania wakishindana na waimbaji wa muziki wa bongo flava. Inasemekana kuwa zilichangishwa millioni 100 kutokana na hafla hii na zote zilienda kwenye misaada kwenye sector ambayo waliokuwa wanai support. 

Mfano wa uchangishaji wa fedha uliofanya hivi karibuni kutoka Rwanda ni ule wa  Taasisi ya sayansi na teknolojia inayohusika na jamii ya wanafunzi iliyopo jijini Kigali (KIST). Wanafunzi hawa walifanya kongamano la muziki wakitumia vipaji na kalama zao ili kuwezesha uchangishaji wa hosteli za kulala kwa wanafunzi wa kike na kuwatia moyo wanafunzi wa kike kuingia katika taasisi ya teknolojia. Tamasha hili la uchangiaji lilihudhuriwa na wageni mbalimbali walioalikwa, wanafunzi, wanamuziki na watu mbalimbali walioshirika tamasha hili. Katika tamasha hili la uchangishaji kilipatikana kiasi cha farangha 821,000 ambazo ni sawa na shilingi za kitanzania milioni mbili. Tamasha hili dogo na rahisi liliandaliwa na wanafunzi wenyewe japokuwa halikufanikiwa kupata pesa kama matarajio yalivyokuwa lakini ni mwanzo mzuri.

Lakini hii isikuvunje moyo kwani si lazima utafute wasanii au waigizaji ili uwezeshe matukio kama haya...unaweza tu ukafanya matukio katika mtaa wako tu ukahusisha wasanii wadogo wadogo ambao wako mtaani kwako vijana wanao cheza ngoma za asili na kuigiza, na mambo mengine mengi sana ya ki burudani na unaweza ukaalika walioko karibu na mtaa wako wahudhurie waone vijana wamewaandalia nini. Tafuta kitu ambacho kinafurahisha jamii , kama ni michezo basi tafuta hata TV uonyeshe michezo kwa bei nafuu, hata shilingi 500/= tu. Au kuna uwezekano wa kuandaa maigizo na muziki, basi hata hivyo itapendeza.

 Shirika lisio kuwa la kiserikali linaweza kukimu mahitaji yake ya kifedha bila kutegemea watoa ruzuku kila mara. Ki uhalisia inasaidia shirika lako kujenga uamnifu zaidi na kuonyesha kuwa unamapenzi na jamii yako na hufanyi shughuli hizi ili kujivunia na kujiwezesha  tu mwenyewe,

Je una mawazo yeyote  au mada unayotaka uchangie kwenye makala hii? Umewahi kufanya shughuli za kihisani na ukafanikiwa? Tujulishe imeendaje, changamoto na mambo uliyojifunza...acha mawazo yako kwenye nafasi iliopo hapo chini