Resource mobilisation

Every organisation needs to ensure that it can cover its current operational costs and planned projects, not only in the immediate future, but also in the longer term.

This depends on accurate and detailed forecasting and budgeting of costs, and identification of the most appropriate sources of funding for different kinds of costs.

There is a range of ways in which NGOs can raise funds:

  • donations from individuals and businesses in the community
  • selling products or services
  • getting grants from local or international donor agencies either directly or via NSPs
  • winning contracts from international donors or from government.

Additionally, some costs can be covered through non-financial support from other agencies, which can include the donation of commodities for free distribution (e.g. condoms, sterile injecting equipment, publications), the donation of free publicity (e.g. air time, space in publications), and free expertise (e.g. design skills, public relations skills, legal advice, managerial skills, the secondment of staff, etc.).

NSPs usually try to help their NGO partners broaden the sources of their resource mobilisation. Over-reliance on a single source of funding is risky, because there is no guarantee that it will be sustainable. Scaling up operations or developing new areas of work will usually need new sources of funding.

NSPs providing technical support with resource mobilisation in an NGO or CBO should always begin with a joint assessment including:

  • How much dedicated managerial or staff capacity is available for resource mobilisation?
  • What is the organisation’s understanding of budgeting?
  • What kind of strategic long-term planning is there for resource mobilisation?

The support that different NGOs and CBOs need will vary considerably, but typical areas of support usually include:

  • Developing a long-term strategy for sustainable development.
  • Identifying fund-raising opportunities
  • Balancing core funding with project funding
  • Incorporating management costs in grants and contracts
  • Understanding how to develop relationships with donors.
  • Having work and projects introduced to potential donors
  • Having a guarantor for new projects or proposals.
  • Diversifying and broadening the funding base
  • Developing a strategy to build reserves as a cushion against cash flow problems

NSPs may also serve as a distributor of commodities such as condoms, sterile needles and test kits for their partner organisations. They can help to assure quality control and, through economies of scale, obtain cheaper prices than individual organisations. If procurement is not done by the NSP itself, it can refer to other sources or alternatively, NSPs can help create ‘buyers clubs’ or other similar co-operative efforts based on economies of scale.

Issues to consider

  • When facilitating access to resources, NSPs need to help partner organisations consider the conditions and restrictions that may be attached to different monies and understand the pros and cons of that support. They also need to avoid getting caught in rivalries and issues between NGOs
  • Reliance on donor money can lead to some loss of independence or a drifting away from the core mission. Before becoming too dependent on external funding, CBOs should be encouraged to maintain and nurture existing community-based sources of funding.
  • NSPs may need to help partners to develop systems for working with multiple donors who might have different requirements and practices.
  • Directories of potential funding sources need to be regularly updated.

Resources

Raising Funds and Mobilising Resources for HIV/AIDS Work

Toolkit introducing an approach to planning and carrying out resource mobilisation strategically and systematically ensuring maximum returns are gained and that NGOs/CBOs remain true to their missions.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2002, PDF, 76 pgs, 473 kb

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Collecte de Fonds et Mobilisation de Resources pour les Programmes (Fr)

Un module de formation pour le renforcement des capacités des ONG/OBC.

International HIV/AIDS Alliance, PDF, 86 pgs, 1.56 mb

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Capitação de Fundos e Mobilização de Recursos Para Trabalhar com HIV/AIDS (Por)

Este guia de ferramentas e recurso de formação partilha o apoio técnico prático desenvolvido a partir da experiência da Aliança, dos seus parceiros e de outras organizações.

International HIV/AIDS Alliance, PDF, 75 pgs, 1.5 mb

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Obtencion de Fondos y Movilizacion de Recursos para el Trabajo en VIH/SIDA (Es)

Un paquete de herramientas para apoyar a las ONGs y a las OBCs.

International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2002, PDF, 71 pgs, 386 kb

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Guide for Designing Results-Orientated Projects and Writing Successful Proposals

Guide that unites processes of project design and proposal writing to aid design of a results-oriented project and one that will appeal to donors.

IPPF/WHR, 2002, PDF, 47 pgs, 479 kb

Proposal Writing for HIV/AIDS Prevention Grants

Guide covering topics such as funding criteria, conducting telephone interviews with prospective funders, and a 6 step process for creating an evaluation plan.
USCM HIV/AIDS Program, 2001, PDF, 22 pgs, 850 kb

A Guide to Fundraising

Guide orientated towards local NGOs in the southern hemisphere.
Hayes E. et al., Network Learning, 2004, PDF, 12 pgs, 150 kb

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Proposals that Make a Difference

Manual is designed for NGOs to help them prepare high quality proposals.
Fahamu, 1998

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A Summary of Resource Transfer Mechanisms

Paper that analyzes mechanisms used to transfer funds from a central government level to implementing groups that provide priority services in key development areas.
The Synergy Project, 2000, PDF, 34 pgs, 2.0 mb

Pathways to partnerships toolkit

Toolkit for trainers and organisations who support NGOs and community groups responding to HIV/AIDS in developing countries.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 1999, PDF, 67 pgs, 618 kb

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Pathways to partnerships toolkit: work cards

Work cards for Pathways to Partnerships toolkit.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 1999, PDF, 28 pgs, 552 kb

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Manual de Instrumentos Practicos para Construir Relaciones Externas (Es)

El manual consiste en un paquete de instrumentos prácticos diseñados para

apoyar procesos de capacitación.

International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2001, PDF, 106 pgs, 502kb

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Sustentabilidade das ONG AIDS - un manual pratico (Port)

GIV, Grupo Pela Vidda Rio de Janeiro, Grupo Pela Vidda Niterói, Programa Municipal de DST/Aids e Hepatite de Praia Grande e International HIV/AIDS Alliance, PDF, 156 pgs, 632 kb

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Talking to the enemy - NGOs engage with business

Research exploring whether, when and how NGOs and the private sector can effectively work together.
Heap S., INTRAC, 2001, Word, 2 pgs, 28 kb

The Business response to HIV/AIDS: Impact and lessons learned

Report aiming to provide assistance to business and associated partners in recognising the business case for further action against HIV/AIDS in the workplace and beyond.
Daly K., UNAIDS/PWBLF/Global Business Council on HIV/AIDS, 2000, PDF, 79 pgs, 580 kb

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Guide to Leveraging Resources

Manual designed to help organisations mobilize and diversify resources for reproductive health.
Author: .
SEATS, 2000, PDF, 265 pgs, 2.6 mb

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Policy statement: Additional funding needed

Policy statement highlighting the massive additional investment required to support the global response to HIV/AIDS.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2001, PDF, 2 pgs, 120 kb

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Partnerships with the Private Sector

Part of the BOND Guidance Notes series focussing on the relationships between NGOs and the private sector.
BOND, Word, 6 pgs, 538 kb

The World Bank Guide on Social Funds

Guide aimed at reinforcing the collaboration of the World Bank and NGOs in the field of international co-operation.
White K., World Bank, 2001, PDF, 154 pgs, 871 kb

The ties that bind?

Report weighing the risks and benefits of pharmaceutical industry sponsorship.
Smith S. and Hayes L. (ed), HAI, 1999, Word, 35 pgs, 145 kb

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

The Global Fund's purpose is to attract, manage and disburse resources to fight AIDS, TB and malaria through public-private partnerships.

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The Resource Alliance

Organisation working internationally on capacity building for local resource mobilisation and fundraising, this website is an information gateway for resource mobilisation.

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Aidspan

Small independent NGO whose mission is to reinforce the effectiveness of the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

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Writing a Funding Proposal

Toolkit outlining the process of writing a funding proposal, includes an example of a completed proposal.
CIVICUS, PDF, 39 pgs, 280 kb

Rédiger une proposition de financement (Fr)

Cette boîte à outils se penche sur la planification et sur la recherche d’une proposition de financement avant de l’écrire.

CIVICUS, Word, 46 pgs, 352 kb

Redacción de una propuesta financiera (Es)

Esta herramienta se ocupa de la planificación y el estudio de una propuesta financiera antes de redactarla.

CIVICUS, Word, 39 pgs, 643 kb

A healthy partnership – a case study of the MOH contract to KHANA for disbursement of World Bank funds for HIV/AIDS in Cambodia 

This case study describes the process by which the Ministry of Health in Cambodia contracted a national NGO/CBO support organisation (KHANA) to disburse World Bank funds for HIV/AIDS to NGOs and CBOs at sub-national level.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2005, PDF, 15 pgs, 100 kb

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