The Sustainability Plan – What’s Your Plan?
There is no universally agreed definition on what
sustainability means. There are many different views on what it is and how it
can be achieved. It is often said a sustainable NGO is a non-governmental
organisation that has the ability to survive over a long period of time and at
the same time has the ability to effectively fulfill its mission. We asked a
few NGOs their thoughts on sustainability.
sustainability means. There are many different views on what it is and how it
can be achieved. It is often said a sustainable NGO is a non-governmental
organisation that has the ability to survive over a long period of time and at
the same time has the ability to effectively fulfill its mission. We asked a
few NGOs their thoughts on sustainability.
GETTING
STARTED
STARTED
The first thing to do is a self survey. As yourselves
some crucial questions.
some crucial questions.
What is the main purpose of our organization?
What is our mission? What is our vision? – A consistent communication and path
is primary.
What is our mission? What is our vision? – A consistent communication and path
is primary.
What are the community’s needs and how are they
evolving? How well does our mission align with those needs?
– To continue making impact and remain sustainable be aware of the community’s
dynamic needs and are you evolving as an organisation to meet their needs.
evolving? How well does our mission align with those needs?
– To continue making impact and remain sustainable be aware of the community’s
dynamic needs and are you evolving as an organisation to meet their needs.
What are we trying to
accomplish by maintaining our programs or services?
– Ensure you are making the most effective use of
available resources by asking how else your goals might be accomplished. This
may help you in taking an outcome-oriented approach to providing services;
having concrete results to show to prospective donors.
accomplish by maintaining our programs or services?
– Ensure you are making the most effective use of
available resources by asking how else your goals might be accomplished. This
may help you in taking an outcome-oriented approach to providing services;
having concrete results to show to prospective donors.
Do we fill a gap in services?
– NGOs
don’t sell products to clients but instead their programmes to funders.
– NGOs
don’t sell products to clients but instead their programmes to funders.
How many and what kinds of
people, with what skills, do we need to run our programs and services?
– Make a
fair assessment of the need for staff, volunteers and making sure they are not
stretched.
people, with what skills, do we need to run our programs and services?
– Make a
fair assessment of the need for staff, volunteers and making sure they are not
stretched.
Collaborate – It’s
almost impossible to meet all of your beneficiaries needs. Working with project
partners who offer complementary services enables you to enhance your outreach
efforts through the referral process.
almost impossible to meet all of your beneficiaries needs. Working with project
partners who offer complementary services enables you to enhance your outreach
efforts through the referral process.
BUILD YOUR CASE FOR SUPPORT
Building a case for support is like advertising.
You must communicate your cause in a way that attracts the donor’s interest.
Your “case” is the communication that you use to “sell” your organisation to
them. To make sure your case is effective you need to have a thorough
understanding of your organization’s
purpose and contributions to the community. No matter how effective your
organisation is in fulfilling its mission, you will fail to find adequate donor
support unless you develop and communicate an effective message.
You must communicate your cause in a way that attracts the donor’s interest.
Your “case” is the communication that you use to “sell” your organisation to
them. To make sure your case is effective you need to have a thorough
understanding of your organization’s
purpose and contributions to the community. No matter how effective your
organisation is in fulfilling its mission, you will fail to find adequate donor
support unless you develop and communicate an effective message.
An effective Case for Support should include –
- effective identification and articulation of the problem
- your organisation’s purpose and solution to that problem
- your vision for that solution & how you plan to achieve it,
- support and resources you will need
Remember to present it in a way that the donor is
moved to support it. Tell them how important their support is to you and those
you serve and that by supporting the organization, they are making a difference
to the community. Don’t make the problem so large that they feel that their
assistance won’t really help. Most importantly remember to mention how you plan
to track and evaluate your progress and communicate back to them how their
money is effectively spent.
moved to support it. Tell them how important their support is to you and those
you serve and that by supporting the organization, they are making a difference
to the community. Don’t make the problem so large that they feel that their
assistance won’t really help. Most importantly remember to mention how you plan
to track and evaluate your progress and communicate back to them how their
money is effectively spent.
ENSURING SUSTAINABILITY
Many NGOs have the expectation that current
sources of revenue will remain consistent. One of the best ways to sustain your
organisation is to expand your potential revenue sources through developing a
vast number of resources. Support your sustainability plan by going beyond the
financial support received.
sources of revenue will remain consistent. One of the best ways to sustain your
organisation is to expand your potential revenue sources through developing a
vast number of resources. Support your sustainability plan by going beyond the
financial support received.
Financial resources are any NGO’s target, but
in-kind contributions can help to offset expenses or improve organisational
effectiveness.
in-kind contributions can help to offset expenses or improve organisational
effectiveness.
Target
donors for other services that fit into the overheads and which require
specialised expertise which NGOs often can’t afford such as marketing
assistance, venues to hold events, printing of stationary etc.
donors for other services that fit into the overheads and which require
specialised expertise which NGOs often can’t afford such as marketing
assistance, venues to hold events, printing of stationary etc.
Build an effective volunteer team to support
staff and cut down on your recruitment costs.
staff and cut down on your recruitment costs.
Cultivate relationships with donors, volunteers
all stakeholders such that they bond with the organisation and the cause enough
to spread the word and bring in more resources and goodwill through their
networks
all stakeholders such that they bond with the organisation and the cause enough
to spread the word and bring in more resources and goodwill through their
networks
Develop earned income
strategies to ensure a reliable source of income such as fees for services,
renting out space.
To understand what we offer through our Capacity Building programmes do contact us at connect@capindia.in