Fundraising is a challenge for all NGOs, but especially for small and grassroots NGOs who may not have the expertise or capacity to write a great funding request. Many small NGOs think that small grants are few and far between, but research indicates otherwise. When we looked into US Foundation grants to Tanzanian NGOs, we found that nearly half of the grants provided were small (from $1,000-$10,000) with many of these grants going to small and grassroots NGOs. Many small NGOs are successful, so take this as an inspiration and try as well!
Here are some useful steps to set you on the right path.
Before you even begin to write a funding request you should do the necessary research to find donors interested in NGOs like yourself.
If you can answer yes to all three questions the donor is worth pursuing.
Follow some of these tried and tested steps:
Many donors who give small grants have a tested system in place through which they want to receive proposals. Make sure you check the website thoroughly. If the donor gives guidelines on how to get in contact and how to apply, follow these guidelines strictly. Watch out for deadlines and special requirements.
If you are not sure in which form the donor would like to receive funding requests, a request letter is a good solution. But before sending the funding request letter, start reaching out to the donors via email and phone/Skype. Ask for an in-person or virtual meeting. Be persistent. When you connect ask them about their priorities. Explain how your program can help them solve the problem they want to solve. Ask whether you can send them a short outline of a program they might be interested in.
Once the donor has expressed an interest, or if the donor does not respond – you are ready to submit the request letter. What are the main points you should keep in mind for a great letter?
Follow up and persist
Many donors receive thousands of funding requests each year and can only provide funding to a small number of NGOs. You will often receive a “no” from a donor, but don’t give up too quickly. Be persistent and keep trying. If you follow the tips outlined above, at some point you will find the right donor for your organization and be successful.
Do you want to learn more about request letters and see a great example? Check this article with a sample of a request letter: Everything you need to know about Letters of Inquiry (request letters) – with Sample
Do you need more information about Small Grants? Check this article: 5 Tips for Small Grant Applications
proposalsforNGOs is an online community for global development professionals with the goal of increasing the sustainability of NGOs around the world. The enormous growth in funding opportunities, as well as NGOs over time, has made fundraising more competitive.
This is interesting, I have just learned a lot about funds proposal. I will appreciate your assistance on how to get donors for Foster homes in Nigeria
Hello Homto,
thank you for your comment. On our page we present one opportunity for funding every week. You can also check this page for further opportunities. https://www2.fundsforngos.org/
Best of luck for your work!
Dear Eva,
Greetings.
I know that you are on PhD research in TU Nepal. Advance congratulation. We have an NGO that has not received any budget of INGOs. How can you support us?
Hello Naresh,
thank you for your comment. You can follow our page as we always publish useful information for fundraising. We do not provide grants ourselves, but publish interesting funding opportunities.
Hi eva wieners lm from afrika Namibia l would like to introduce my program lm doing in my community lm the founder and the director l would like eva to help me how to apply for donors or sponsor from other organisations those are helping small program my program is l have a non-profit kindergarten which is targeting only children’s and baby who was born by vulnerable teenagers mother’s those are still in school or student we keep this baby s or children’s at our centre feeding them take them care while we are sending their mother back to school… Read more »
Hello Homto ,
Amazing! Thanks for your supportive and so enriching information on proposal writing ..I think I have come to the right place of reference in order to boost my grant writing .Hope to be connected since I have also subscribed for your weekly newsletter.
Merry Christmas.
I have a small NGO,l am very please to have this information, it is very important, it will guide me in writing request and proposals to donors. Thanks.
Good morning,Volunteer Artisans Network is a new NGO set up in Jos Nigerian,aim at meeting the needs of artisans worker.please help me with list of donors that can fund this great project.Thank you
Dear Yerima: I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
Thank you for the information I will try and go that.
wow this is awesome, how do I fund rise for peace building and conflict mitigation in south sudan
Dear Maring: I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
I wish to know how to obtain funds to assist the needy in British southern Cameroon leaving in bushes because of the arm conflict between the English speaking minority and the French Cameroun.
Dear Awah: I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
I would like to seek assistance on what I must do in order to apply for funding.
We are a new registered youth organization based in the rural part of Zambia.
Our main focus;
Fight HIV/Aids
Education
Health
Malaria
Gender sport.
We use sport as means to achieving our objectives.
Regards,
Debby
Zambia
Dear Kasoma: Unfortunately, we do not offer referral services. However, we will be publishing all of our expert advice daily to this site on proposal writing. So subscribe to our newsletter and check back regularly for more free resources!
Dear:-
Thank You Very much for your response for the find funding for our research.I have a plan to do solid waste management in my town in northern part of Ethiopia particularly Bale Robe town because in this town there is a problem of managing solid waste due to this different types of air born diseases are spreading and which affect different aged children so that i have a plan to treat such like problem please inform me how i submitted my proposal to you
with best regards
Bereket Bogale
Dear Bereket: We are not a foundation. However, if you have any specific questions about proposal writing please feel free to write to us and we may be able to answer in a new article.
Thank you for such information. I have learnt what is expected of a funding request letter. I would like to access funding for drug resistant TB in South Africa
Dear Nqobile: Unfortunately we do not offer referral services, but I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
Nice piece, am the program manager at Harmony Diabetes Foundation in Nigeria, I will appreciate if I can be linked to Donor in Diabetes area
How i wish we get testimonies here of people whose orgarnisations managed to receive grants by applying from advertised donors here.We have applied and never went through for years now and one colleague explained that to donors now days giving grants to people they have met physically. So thats why i need to see who among us receiving the regular mails, ever applied and succedded.
Thanks Dr Paull.N
i apply for funds but nothing replies i dont know /i am the benificiary of help orphans and widows
request meeting with donors in order to give me their priorities by 2019 for further great request letter
Hello,
many times you can already find their priorities on their website. The guidelines give a lot of information. If you are still unclear, you can try to contact the donor via email.
Best of luck
Dear Eva Wieners
How are you. Thankful for this educative platform.
We are a youth led Norganisationational NGO where I serve as the Founder & CEO of Etiquette Children’s Organisation.
We are currently implementing the project: Accelerating Sugar Daddy Awareness Campaign by committing to the project’s message: Sexually Partnering With Older Men is Risky Behaviour to add on the campaign on HIV/AIDS and Menstrual Hygiene for Teenage Girls.
We have tried to send a number of proposals but no positive feedback yet it would help leverage girls.
Please is there positive idea you can help in this course
Hello,
congratulations to your great work, that sounds like an amazing project. Maybe you can find some more helpful informaton in this article: http://helpfindschool.com/prop/articles/proposal-writing-tips/5-tips-for-applying-for-grants-to-combat-aids-and-hiv/
Even if you have not gotten a positive reply yet, do not stop trying. With time your proposals will get better and eventually you will be successful.
Best of luck
Hello Weiners
Thank you for a great advice.
We shall commit to fund raising.
May God Reward you for being a part of a global development.
Regards
Thanks a lot for your articles, always informative and expository. We find them very helpful every time.
Kudos
very educative, thankyou. may you send for me a sample of a request letter. working to develop life skills among school dropouts in the face of universal primary education especially in uganda.
Dear Sir, IRRA Scientist Group, proposed “Novel technology for artificial rainmaking by Laser system initiation endothermic reactions in a way of natural lightning phenomena through Aircrafts in large scale, in the atmosphere”, which is practically proved in Laboratory Scale, as well as in the atmosphere up to 75m altitude .Please refer attached file, enclosed here with for details information .Search on Google as “Artificial rainmaking by endothermic reactions” you know more details. Our aim is “Green revolution in the whole world for all human being”. IRRA Scientist Group, are struggling with funds for research activities, please help to us. Kindly… Read more »
Dear Dr.Shivshankhar: Unfortunately we do not offer referral services, but I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
am Sima Rwakilomba from Tanzania.it is true that small NGO are suffered and some time are dormant because of no fund to run activities is the same as our NGO. please if there is any assistance from any donor please help us.
thank you
Deat Sima: Unfortunately we do not offer referral services, but I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
We highly appliciate that opportunity from we’ll wishers may God bless you may concerns are my organization has no website can I apply only using email?
I will be happy if am ANSWERD.
What should I do if i have no website?
I may be wrong, but I have observed that the hard to reach and CBOs working in poor and needy communities are not funded. Funds are only received by well to do NGOs/CBOs who do bot even workj with and for the poor.
How is the selection done?
Dear Greatman:
It can be difficult for small NGOs to be funded if the NGO’s project capacity is lesser than what donor is providing for. That’s why the first step of every fundraising strategy is to find a matching donor. Donors provide grants for a purpose and it is important for all NGOs to understand donor priorities before spending time creating a proposal. Here is an article on 6 Must Do research steps before your next proposal.
Also this might be of interest for you- https://www.fundsforngos.org/featured-articles/list-foundations-provide-small-grants-ngos/
Do fund Ugandan?
Thanks for this eye opening information and tips on writing great letters to request for funding.
Sometimes it feels an uphill task writing to people you do not know personally. However, the tips given in this article are very helpful and make it easier and less intimidating. Thank you so much.
Dear Bridgita:
I am glad that the article is helpful for you.
I wish to firstly express my heartfelt thanks and appreciations for having me connected and availed with this opportunity. I have learnt quiet a lot and I do love to learn more about some of the professionalism that is involved in writing letters of requests to donors that will surely captures their interest and attention for building effective partnerships and funding considerations for organisations like ours, DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES-SIERRA LEONE (DADA-SL). I will further appreciate more, if more windows of such golden opportunities are accorded to us as a Local NGO. Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation..
Dear Foday: Unfortunately, we do not offer personal referral services, but I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
I am writing from western Zambia, and apparently I am visionary spearheading a project called: Manora Cultural Center. The main aim is to have a crafts center where youths and unemployed citizens can showcase their talent for a fee by making curios, baskets,local mats, blacksmith, painting, music,etc. This will keep countless youths who are unemployed off the streets, by keeping them busy, and of course earn a living. HIV/AIDS and STIs incidence rates will reduce,as people will have something to keep them busy. I have been looking for a donor but to no avail. Would you kindly help me get… Read more »
Dear Mannix: Unfortunately we do not offer referral services, but I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
Wow,we a community based small NGO searching for funding,we are looking after 371 orphans and 100 people leaving with HIV,I have seen comments please those interested can contact us
Dear John: Unfortunately we do not offer referral services, but I recommend you check the following links for funding opportunities https://www.fundsforngos.org I hope this helps.
indeed am so happy to find this article they are very helpful
kindly share with me your email
Dear Mohamed: If you have any specific quetion, you can contact us here.
indeed am so much happy to find the articles they are very helpful
kindly am looking to engage in person conversation
share with me your email
and if possible contact me through my email
mohasaalat@gmail.com
l am very please to have this information, it is very important, it will guide me in writing request and proposals to donors for my NGO. With Thanks.
I am working ngo in Bangladesh but small ngo. can not manage grant so help me. thanks
Deat Muddassir: We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides platform to connect you with expert advice on proposal writing to get your amazing projects funded.
Please check out the many resources available on our site.
Thank you!
Thanks for the tips of writing a proposal but i have a community based organization for fighting gender based violence in my district,so how can I get a donor. Thank you
Hello,
many foundations also accept applications by community based organizations, just make sure you read the requirements and see if you are eligible. We will continue publishing opportunities on our website, so make sure to frequently check and to subscribe to our newsletter.
Thank, your articles is guiding me a lot about how to reach donors and how to write a good proposal
En pleine recherche de collaborateurs dans le cadre d’appui aux ONGs de petite taille en Afrique, principalement en Afrique de l’Ouest et en particulier la Guinée, je me tiens avec attachement, franchise et vigueur,solliciter un partenariat entre votre institution et le Groupe d’Acteurs pour le Développement Communautaire en Guinée, dans les domaines de: renforcement des capacités des responsables de notre structure( élaboration(rédaction) des propositions de projets, la gestion de projets, et le suivi-évaluation de projets.) En réalité, Monsieur Erik, j’avoue avec sincérité que je suis très fier de vous voir apparaître sur mon écran, avec toutes vos compétences et capacités… Read more »
i have also appreciated alot as well, i just wanted also to request for a eligible donor on my innitiative so called Early child hood education initiative Organization
please help me out for this
My regards
Amani
Alohay,tz163@gmail.com
contacts cell 0753109143
Dear Amani: With thousands of donors in the world today, we are not able to contact donors on your behalf. We suggest you check the funding announcement or the donor website for relevant contact information and contact the donor directly.
Thanks Priti Thapa for your immediate response
blessings
i wanna form an NGO that will promote woman empowerment in ghana.i will be happy if someone can be in collaboration with me so that we can establish such an organisation here..my contact is 00233244411150
Subject > Request for donation / Grants Objectives support a school Sports program appeal for fund to execute noble cause and get 80G and 12A income tax Exemption benefit from Dagar rural development organization. Respected Sir/ Madam, Dagar Rural Development Organization Was Established in The year 2013 in East Delhi district in the state of Delhi. India. Under Societies Registration Act Xxi of 1860 Delhi, and Registration Number 734/2013 dated 03-10-2013. We are Providing Primary Education in Rural Areas of Uttar Pradesh in District Bulandshahr. The Dagar Rural Education Academy is a local school that seeks to help children with… Read more »
I have really been helped, thank you. I hope it will be a new beginning and have an opportunity to write a recommended great request letter. Would you also help me on how to get donors for natural disasters affected people who have no one to assist. Remain blessed.
most helpful for new people like me.Thank you.
Dear Sir.
My name is Joseph sabiiti, I’m the founder of a small / young NGO limited by guarantee. The Ngo is called Gatherers mwije and we are based in Uganda. The young Ngo is into transforming lives of disadvantaged youth through appropriate technologies, child sponsorship and WASH programs. I’m seeking for writing fund proposals. Please help. My email address,
Joe. gatherers @gmail. com
This is very impactful. I have learnt reading from this write up. Please I will need your support to help #1child#book# campaign in Nigeria. Akwa ibom state to be precise.
Great to be here. Thanks for all you have been doing. Someday hope get here and even more. Please I need your support for #1child#1book# campaign in Nigeria, akwa ibom state to be precise. This is a campaign for those children who no means of getting quality education due to financial incapability. Thanks
Dear Sir/madam
Thanks for the Insightful information. I am from Uganda, I have plans underway to run A Sports Foundation that intends to Capitalize on the Uniqueness of how sports unites people to champion aproject that sustains Livelihoods through solving community challenges such as access to credit, school drop out , access to clean water Among others.
I kindly request for Help or insights on where I can solicit for funding to support my course and conviction.
Email: icariativan@gmail.com
I have a small NGO,l am very please to have this information, it is very important, it will guide me in writing request and proposals to donors. Thanks.
I have a small NGO,l am very please to have this information, it is very important, it will guide me in writing request and proposals to donors. Thank you for cooperation!
We are registered as a CBO (Community Based Organization) in Kenya with a focus on food security and environmental conservation. My question is; Do CBOs stand a chance to apply for and get these small funding available to small NGOs?
very good tips for request letter,but my worry is that many of these donors are asking for longevity in service and that is killing small and newly created organizations.I think the main focus should always be the project at hand and it goals .
i got some more important knowledge related for writing a proposal and i’m still in the process of writing proposal, but i am still feeling some confusion, is it must to rewrite the following information, while i already mentioned in the profile
contact info
Title
Background & Justification
Objective
Activities
Impact
Total budget
Thank you for your answer
i think this will concern the project
thank you, i thing the above are the most important for every project
Hello Abdullahi:
We highly recommend you to download our free resource on The Ultimate Checklist for Proposal Writing . This will get you through the process as smoothly as possible and improve your grant application.
Hello Prof Erik
Hello James.
Advise us on how to raise fund for our small organization to support war -affected communities in south sudan.
help me to connect to the donors to end child marriages in lundazi,eastern Zambia.
Dear Isaac:
With thousands of donors in the world today, we are not able to contact donors on your behalf. We suggest you check the funding announcement or the donor website for relevant contact information and contact the donor directly.