‘Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment‘

March 8, 2024

“Women’s issues” cover a broad range of NGO activities, from human rights to livelihood development to safety from violence. Achieving gender equity is one of the key components to achieving development and thus a very important topic for NGOs. Even if the focus of a project is not 100% on women’s issues, they are often cross-cutting issues that need to be addressed. Knowing how to incorporate them well into a proposal and how to implement projects that uplift women can make the difference between a winning and a losing proposal!

That is why we have composed our top tips to keep in mind while writing proposals on women’s issues.

Research donors carefully

While all NGOs should conduct donor research before applying, NGOs focusing on women’s issues may need to spend even more time on research. This is because while the vast majority of donors do fund women, the funding is typically done indirectly, either as a cross-cutting theme or an added-value element. Since women’s issues are a broad topic and not very centralized, it requires more time and effort to research. Here, a keyword search will not get you far – spend the extra time to read and understand a donor’s priorities to ensure they match your own.

There are many calls specifically for projects focused on women´s issues, particularly around World Women’s Day. Make sure you have those mapped out and monitor for deadlines – you do not want to miss the perfect call for applications for work in your field.

Have a clear action plan

There are many ways to support women, but very few quick and easy solutions. You need to have a clear focus, strategy, approach, and often additional cross-cutting themes. Additionally, while qualitative stories and case studies are great for proving impact, it is also important to show quantitative research and specific indicators. Women’s issues, like many other types of social change, cannot be solved with one project alone.

When working in this area, it is also very important to look at it holistically and to have a broad picture in mind. Often when one thing in a system is changed, others also changed, and some of these changes might be negative. It is crucial to look at your assumptions and potential negative effects of your actions as well as to be sure to avoid them whenever possible.

Also read: How to Write a Great Funding Request Letter as a Small NGO

Show that your organization is women-driven

Increasingly, donors are understanding the importance of women-driven leadership and want to see organizations practice what they preach. If you want to empower women, you need to show that women are decision-makers in your own team. Ideally, your organization should have at least 50% female representation, particularly on the board and in upper-level management. You should also show that the women you serve actively take part in the project’s conception and design. This will result in a much better representation of the actual interests of women in your projects!

While likely not important in the initial proposal, donors may also ask follow-up questions regarding your organization’s internal policies. Does your organization have practices in place to ensure fair pay, promotion, family leave, anti-harassment, etc.? Look at your own organization with a critical eye, and set regular meetings to ensure your organization continues to empower women both internally and externally.

Show respect

It is important to choose your words very carefully to show respect – not just towards the donor, but also towards the beneficiaries of the project. Proposal writing is often technical in nature, and it can be easy to unwittingly objectify the beneficiaries as just another piece of the project. Do not make this mistake. For example:

DO NOT WRITE “25 women were given help in learning to start businesses.”

DO WRITE “25 women obtained the knowledge and resources to launch successful businesses of their own.”

This might sound like a minor difference, but it actually creates a very different mental image. In the second sentence, the participants are given agendas and are active, while in the first sentence, they are just passive objects. The use of language shows a lot about how you think of somebody or something, so be careful about how you use it, as it will reflect on your work.

Instead of referring to a woman as “John’s wife” or “the landlord’s maid,” refer to the woman by her name. When including photographs of individuals, make sure you receive permission to take the photos and permission to distribute them. Also, avoid making sweeping generalizations about a group, and refer to beneficiaries as individuals instead of a collective whenever possible.

Avoid pity plea

Instigating pity in donors is a tried-and-true marketing strategy to invoke emotional appeals and open wallets. However, it is a poor long-term strategy. Depicting women as only helpless and in need of hand-outs is demeaning. To fully support women, it is important to change the predominant attitude about who women are and what they can accomplish – not build upon it. Instead of pity, consider invoking a sense of admiration, justice, comradery, excitement, or wonder. Show that the women in your project can be active participants, not submissive recipients.

While it is sometimes tempting to try to use pity pleas to create emotions for potential supporters, it is seldom a good idea. It might inspire a one-time donation, but almost never will result in a long-term relationship with a donor. If you manage to create positive feelings by telling a positive story of hope and showing the ways the lives of people can improve, you will have much better chances of keeping someone on the hook—they don’t just feel like they did their duty by donating some money, but they do want to know how the story goes on.

Follow SDG 5

About 36% of funding for women comes from government sources, compared to 19% from private foundations and 10% from individuals. This large amount from bilateral development agencies and local governments is partially due to Sustainable Development Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. If you are applying for any type of government funding, it is important to specifically mention which targets (5.1-5.6, 5.A-5.C) your project will contribute to. If you are applying for private funding, the SDGs are of much less importance. However, there are a total of 14 indicators for SDG 5 that have been well-researched and analyzed, which are great to use even for non-government-funded projects.

Stay in the loop

The status of women is not universal and is constantly in flux. Stay updated with research, social media, and in-person networking events. One of the largest annual gatherings for women in development is the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which takes place in New York every year in the month of March. This is a great opportunity to meet leading women around the world, and also try shaping UN policy. If you cannot take part in the CSW, there are still thousands of events for women all over the world. Online networks also exist, such as AWID.

Best of luck with your proposal!

If you want to learn more about how to write a proposal for a project about women’s issues, take a look at our resource guide specifically designed for this. It includes many tips and also some sample proposals so that you can learn from successful proposals.

The post 7 Tips for Proposals on Women’s Issues appeared first on proposalforNGOs.

Each year, today marks a global demonstration of solidarity for individuals coping with HIV and a remembrance of those who succumbed to AIDS-related conditions. An estimated 39.0 million people worldwide are living with the virus, and over 40.0 million have lost their lives to it.

In honoring the theme “Let Communities Lead” for the 2023 observance, we commend the outstanding local NGOs at the forefront of this cause.

As a celebration of this year’s theme, we provide you the 5 Tips for Applying for Grants to Combat AIDS and HIV.

Use the newest scientific developments

When you work in the field of HIV and AIDS, it is of utmost importance that you use the newest and most recent scientific knowledge to do so. The field is constantly evolving and new developments are made. You have to make sure that your premises are based on the most accurate data so that you can make the biggest impact. Stay up to date in the field and follow closely what is been published about it to make sure you are on top of the game.

Think holistically

When you approach the fight against HIV and AIDS, make sure you think about it in a holistic way. While fighting a disease might seem straightforward on the surface, there are so many factors that play into it. If you do not consider the different circumstances people are in, your project might fail even if you have great ideas. Poverty, gender inequality, and a lack of education are cross-cutting themes playing a huge role in the dispersion of the virus and should be taken into account. If people already have contracted the virus, it is even more important that they get support on different levels so they do not pass it on to other people and are stable enough to take care of themselves.

Include all stakeholders

HIV and AIDS disproportionally affect marginalized groups. When you propose a project, make sure you take into account all the stakeholders and all potential beneficiary groups. The most vulnerable groups of society often are overlooked but are at the highest risk for contracting the disease. You need to address this in your proposal and have a system to include specifically these groups.

Do not fall back on a pity plea

While it can be tempting to make pity pleas for your beneficiaries, it is never advisable to do so. Instead, try to empower your beneficiaries in a way that they learn to speak up for themselves. Particularly in the case of work with AIDS and HIV, it is important to make clear that the people – even if they have contracted the virus – are much more and cannot be reduced to only this one characteristic.

Embed your project in broader strategies

Make sure that your project is not a stand-alone project but is embedded and connected within broader strategies. Almost all countries that deal with many cases of HIV and AIDS have a national strategy to combat it. The Sustainable Development Goals address the HIV and AIDS epidemic. Make sure that your project fits within a broader scheme and aligns with national and regional strategies. If for some reason it does not, make sure that you address the reasons for it – i.e. if you do not agree with the national strategies or feel like they need to be supplemented.

4 Major NGOs involved in the Global Response to HIV and AIDS

The Global Fund

The Global Fund is a vital partnership committed to eradicating AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria worldwide. Through substantial investments and collaborative efforts across more than 100 countries, they bolster health systems, challenge injustice, and provide crucial support, contributing 30% of international financing for HIV programs and investing $24.2 billion in HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment as of June 2022.

International AIDS Society (IAS)

Founded in 1988, the IAS stands as the largest association of HIV professionals globally, uniting experts from over 170 countries. By convening, educating, and advocating, the IAS aims to eliminate HIV as a threat to public health and individual well-being.

UNAIDS

Leading the charge to end AIDS by 2030, UNAIDS organizes global efforts by offering strategic direction, advocacy, and technical support. With a data-driven approach, they provide crucial analysis on the HIV epidemic and lead the most extensive data collection on HIV epidemiology and program coverage. Collaborating with all UN agencies, UNAIDS unites diverse efforts for their mission.

World Health Organization (WHO)

As a UN agency dedicated to global health, WHO connects nations and individuals to ensure health for all. Its Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programs spearheads strategies to eliminate these diseases as public health threats. WHO develops evidence-based guidelines and offers technical support, fostering progress in combating these diseases globally.

12 Major Foundations that Give Grants to Combat AIDS and HIV

Aids Fonds

Aids Fonds’ mission is a world without Aids. Aid Fond is involved in the prevention, treatment, care, and support of people with HIV. The Fund develops campaigns and raises money for AIDS projects. The Fund invests in scientific research, provides prevention and treatment for vulnerable groups, and fights for the rights of people with HIV.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s mission is to advance clinical care for persons with HIV infection and therefore supports research.

Anglo American Group Foundation

Anglo American Group Foundation’s mission is to promote sustainable livelihoods. The main areas of interest of the Foundation are community development, education & training, environment, HIV/AIDS, and welfare.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s mission is to reduce inequities around the world.  In the developing world, the foundation focuses on improving health and alleviating extreme poverty. In the United States, the Foundation supports programs related to education. In their local region, the Foundation promotes strategies and programs that help low-income families.

Elton John AIDS Foundation

Elton John AIDS Foundation’s mission is to alleviate the physical, emotional, and financial hardship of those who live with or are affected by HIV/AIDS.

HIV Research Trust

HIV Research Trust is a charitable foundation that provides financial support to physicians, nurses, scientists, and other health care professionals in early/mid-career who are located in resource-limited settings from low-income and lower-middle-income countries working in the field of HIV infection.

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson’s mission is to advance the health of communities in which they live and work, and the world community as well. The foundation focuses in three strategic areas: saving and improving the lives of women and children, preventing disease among the most vulnerable, and strengthening the health workforce.

M.A.C. AIDS Fund

M.A.C. AIDS Fund’s mission is to serve people of all ages, all races, and all sexes affected by HIV and AIDS. The Fund also supports innovative organizations around the world that provide vital services and strengthen the safety net for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Merck Company Foundation

Merck Company Foundation’s mission is to support organizations and advanced plans that are aligned with three priority areas: health, education and community. The Foundation supports qualified nonprofit organizations and innovative programs that are finding solutions to key global challenges.

Open Society Foundations

Open Society Foundation’s mission is to support initiatives concerned with arts and culture, children and youth, civil society development, economic reform, education at all levels, legal reform and public administration, media and communications, publishing, and health care.

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation

The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation’s mission is to support organizations delivering direct care and services to people living with HIV/AIDS, and supports organizations that provide education to the public regarding the AIDS virus and the prevention of AIDS.

The Global Fund

The Global Fund’s mission is to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. It attracts and disburses additional resources to prevent and treat HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in countries most in need.

The post 5 Tips for Applying for Grants to Combat AIDS and HIV appeared first on proposalforNGOs.

The Fund provides financial support to projects around the world for strengthening the voice of civil society, promoting human rights, and encouraging the participation of all groups in the democratic processes. The main areas of funding are Community Development, Media, Rule of Law and Human Rights, Tools for Democratization, Women, and Youth. If we see the pattern the large majority of UNDEF funds are given to local civil society organizations — both in the transition and consolidation phases of democratization. UNDEF plays a novel and unique role in complementing the UN’s other, more traditional work — the work with Governments — to strengthen democratic governance around the world.

For NGOs to win funding, it is very important to submit a strong application especially because there is huge competition for seeking grants from UNDEF.

In 2017, UNDEF received over 2400 project proposals. As a worldwide opportunity, NGOs need to consider some important elements that matter in the application form. For this, we have developed a guide that can assist you in writing an effective proposal.

What Types of Projects Are Fundable? 

The UNDF funds projects related to democracy and civil society empowerment such as the empowerment of women and youth, citizen’s access to information, voter registration, civic education,  and much more.

Examples of previously funded projects include:

• Strengthening Grassroots Democracy and Responsive Leadership in Kenya
• Enabling Environment for Civil Society in Vietnam
• Building a Women’s Political Lobby in Ukraine

Here is the sample proposal shared with us for learning purposes by the organization Rights Now Center (RNC). You can use this sample as a model to improve your chance of winning the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) Call for Project Proposals 2023.

You can also view summaries of existing UNDEF projects here: http://www.un.org/democracyfund/projects

Funding  Available

NGOs can apply for funds ranging from $100,000  to $200,000 in size.  The average project is $150,000.  However, in the grants database, project funding ranges from $50,000 to $500,000.   The likely explanation for this is grant sizes can be negotiated after the acceptance stage. This does not mean applicants should initially ask for more or less money than the range listed on the application page.

Please take note that with an average grant size of $150,000, UNDEF is likely to only fund those NGOs that have the capacity to absorb a grant of such size.  Grassroots NGOs with very small budgets (e.g. less than $100,000  annually) are unlikely to succeed.   A good rule of thumb is that your budget should be at least equivalent to the annual budget sought. In other words, an  NGO with a $100,000 budget should request a $200,000 two-year grant.  In short, NGOs with large budgets are more likely to succeed.  As nearly 80%  of grants awarded in the past are over $200,000 it is safe to assume that a grant request in the  $1-200,000 range would be more likely to succeed.  In fact,  the larger the average grant amount, the fewer the number of grants UNDEF has to award and thus manage.

In its 17th Round, UNDEF has supported 34 two-year projects totaling over $8 million dollars.

How to Apply?

Proposals are only accepted online during the application date period. Proposals can be submitted in either English or French. You cannot apply via mail, email, or any other means. Only online applications are reviewed.

Where to Apply?

Proposals must be submitted online during the application date window at the UNDEF website.

Who  Can  Apply?

This year UNDEF particularly welcomes projects that promote civic engagement for

• Climate action
• Gender equality
• Youth empowerment
  

Proposals that foresee innovative methods, practical tools, and creative approaches are encouraged rather than traditional capacity-building measures.

The following types of organizations are eligible to apply for funding:

• Civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations  (NGOs) that promote democracy. This category traditionally receives most of the funding.
• Independent and constitutional bodies such as election commissions, ombudsman institutions, national human rights institutions, and other independent governance bodies.
• Global and regional inter-government bodies, associations, and organizations other than the United Nations.
• If you are not sure if your organization is eligible to apply for  UNDEF funding, go to the website to find additional information.

Length of Projects:  Projects are for two years or less.

Application Dates: Proposals can be submitted between 1-30 November 2023. The final shortlist is approved in May and grant negotiations take place from June onwards with the contract being signed in August or later. By the end of July, all successful short-listed applicants will be notified at the electronic address indicated in their project proposal, unless otherwise advised on the UNDEF website.

Please note UNDEF will not give priority to project proposals that focus on the following:

• Initiatives that do not promote democracy
• Initiatives filling a funding gap for ongoing/regular programs and activities
• Projects focused primarily on research
• Projects that will be co-financed with other donors.

NGOs need to be officially registered and have a bank account to apply. Networks that wish to apply also need to be formally organized with a registered network office or lead NGO (with a bank account).

What are the chances of my organization receiving funding from UNDEF?

UNDEF  allocates  70%  of its budget for projects in a country.  This means that local NGOs can apply and often succeed, competing against large international organizations.

That being said, with so many applicants,  UNDEF is very competitive, with an overall success rate of only around 2%. Only around 10% of applicants make it to the shortlist, and of that only 20 % will be successful.  Last year UNDEF received  2300  applications  (100%) of which an estimated 250  (11%) were shortlisted and 50 were finally successful (2%). As UNDEF tries to allocate funding to a wide range of countries, NGOs in small developing countries with only a few NGOs have a higher statistical chance of success than those in very large countries with many NGOs. For example, ten projects were allocated to Indian organizations in the past nine funding rounds, while Liberian NGOs received six during that same period. The competition for those ten grants in India must have been fierce with hundreds of NGOs applying. In Liberia on the other hand, which has fewer NGOs,  UNDEF will have received only a handful of applications. The success rate for Liberia must have been significantly higher. NGOs with proven capacity will also have a higher chance of receiving funding than limited-capacity NGOs or start-ups.

UNDEF also prefers to fund projects within countries and regions where challenges related to democracy are more critical. These countries and regions include those emerging from conflict, new and restored democracies,  Least Developed  Countries, Low-Income Countries,  and Middle-Income Countries. However, programs that are deemed confrontational to governments are unlikely to be funded.

Make sure you demonstrate that your proposal satisfies each one:

• The project promotes the objectives of UNDEF
• The project draws on the United Nations’ comparative advantage
• The project will have a significant impact
• The project will encourage inclusiveness
• The project will enhance gender equality
• The project has strong prospects for successful implementation
• The applicant organization has a strong track record
• The project is technically sound in conception and presentation
• The project represents good value for money
• The project has strong prospects of sustainability beyond the project
  duration.

Finally, the office of the UN Resident Representative (the formal head of the UN system in any given country) will likely review the shortlisted applications. As the UN works with the government it is possible that they will not approve very controversial or combative programs.  As the UN  Resident Representative is almost always the head of UNDP, if you have connections with UNDP you may wish to let them know you are applying.

Steps to Completing the UNDEF Application Form

• You can download UNDEF project proposal guidelines here
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• Highly recommended to refer to the guidelines for an overview of the information required on the UNDEF website
• Applicants are also encouraged to review UNDEF feedback to applicants and UNDEF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the UNDEF website before submitting a project proposal: http://www.un.org/democracyfund/
• You need to have a computer with an Internet connection to submit your application form on the UNDEF online application form.
• You must register your organization on the UNDEF website by creating a profile before you can apply for UNDEF funding.
• Once you have registered your organization, an email message will be sent by the online system (also known as the OPPS system) with a login username and password. Use this username and password to log into the UNDEF website to complete your application form.
• You do not need to complete the online application form all at one time. If you do not want to submit your application right away, choose the “SAVE” option located at the end of the online application form.
• Once you are confident that your application is complete, click on the “SUBMIT” button. NOTE: Once you hit the “SUBMIT” button you CANNOT go back and edit your application again. So, hit the “SUBMIT” button when you are absolutely sure that your application is complete.

Completing the UNDEF Application Form: Helpful Tips

• Each section has a maximum number of characters (not words!) which includes commas, spaces, etc. The space provided to express your ideas is very limited, from one line to eight lines of text.
• It is useful to first develop the application in an MSWord (or similar) document. This will allow you to work off-line, use spell-check, use a word count feature to check the number of characters, share the document with colleagues for comments and editing, and save a copy for future use.
• Once developed, cut and paste the relevant text from your document into the application form. You can save the online application before submitting it.
• Once submitted you can no longer go back and make any changes.

Click here to review a Sample UNDEF Application Form.

For further information, please visit the website of the UNDEF.

Best of luck with your proposal!

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This year the World Environment Day theme is “#BeatPlasticPollution”. The 2023 World Environment Day campaign #BeatPlasticPollution calls for people’s actions on plastic pollution matters. (Read More)

We can’t stop breathing, we can’t stop eating, we can’t stop drinking. And all these that make life comes from nature.  Almost 7.5 Billion in the world depend on nature and with the current average population increase- estimated at 81 million people per year, the natural resources face challenges as never before. We have been abusing nature which has linked to the extinction of many species of land and water destroying the overall ecosystems and habitats without thinking about the consequences. World Environment Day 2023 will push governments, businesses, industries, communities, and individuals to come together to tackle plastic pollution.

The environment is important for all of us – we live in it and we need it to be healthy!

On the occasion of World Environment Day, we want to give all the hard-working NGOs out there tips on applications in this sector, so that you can continue your great work.

Stay up to date

The environmental sector is a sector where things develop quickly. It is very important that you stay on your toes and know all the current developments. This can be new technologies, new approaches, or just new trends or funding opportunities. You do not want to be the NGO that proposed an outdated methodology in a grant application – be sure you know what is happening in your field!

Be innovative and creative

Being innovative is something that donors list on their application guidelines many times – it does not mean that you have to invent the wheel again every time you write a proposal. Something you can try though is to think differently. Be creative and try to think of new ways to approach a problem. Particularly in the environmental sector, many things have been tried and did not work in the past – do not repeat others’ mistakes. When proposing a new approach, make sure that you have some solid points to back it up – innovation still needs to come with some proof that it might work.

Develop partnerships

Particularly in the environmental sector, it is important to develop partnerships with other NGOs, Government agencies, or international organizations. A good network can be the key to success. Many times you will need expertise that you might not have within your organization to implement a project. Also, environmental issues are cross-cutting themes that touch on many different sectors – do not pretend to be an expert in all of them. Projects in the environmental sector can have a strong technical component – make sure you have experts on board. Developing partnerships shows that you know what you are doing and are interested in doing everything possible to make the project a success.

Never forget the big picture

When working in the environmental sector, you should never forget the bigger picture. Even if you work in a very specific area, you should try to look at your project and your work within a bigger framework. Many factors have to be taken into account to assure the sustainability of the project. What is the long-term effect of your proposed project? Did you think about the wider community? Did you include all stakeholders in the planning? Experiences from the past have shown that it is very important to look at a project or program holistically, particularly when working in the environmental sector.

Base your assumptions on science

It is always important to base your assumptions on facts. They are the base for all of your planning and this base needs to be solid. Particularly in the environmental sector, it is important to make sure your assumptions are based on science. There are many studies you can use to justify your approach or your methodology. Use them to show that you know exactly what you are doing and that you put a lot of thought into your approach. When deciding on a proposal in the environmental sector, many donors make sure to have scientists on their committee, so you need to use facts to back up your claims to convince them.

Also read 7 Tips for Proposals on Climate Change

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In recognition of the significant role that charities and individuals have undertaken to alleviate human ‎suffering and humanitarian crises, the United Nations has designated the 5th of September as the International Day of Charity.‎ The date was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the passing away of Mother Teresa. The prime purpose of the International Day of Charity is to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charity-related activities of nonprofit organizations all over the world. The day has become a worldwide day of donation to NGO.

On the occasion of the International Day of Charity, we want to give all the hard-working NGOs out there quick tips on how to use the day to fundraise, so that you can continue your great work.

Hold Fundraising Events

The day is around the corner, chances are you won’t have time to pull together a major fundraising event.  Instead, plan a small and quick fundraising event. It does not need to be in your working area. You could also ask your loyal supporters to host an event on your behalf. Lots of little events can add up quickly. It can be a charity ball, tea party, or a potluck, or just a personal online fundraising page with them inviting their networks and collecting the donation.

Create an Online Campaign

Plan a campaign on your social media platform- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Remember the ice bucket challenge and last year’s Giving Tuesday campaign? Follow the trend. Give a shout-out about the International Day of Charity and structure it like an opportunity to come together as one for a cause. Add a tagline that fits your NGO and the fundraising strategy to the best. Talk about your successful ongoing project or a very new one that you want to start ASAP. Set a campaign on how much you need to raise, and why. Do not forget to ask your followers to share and also include it in your newsletter marketing tool.

Take to the Street

Here use you can use your volunteers to the best use. They already know what your organization does and value your work too. Use the day to fundraise and also to promote your NGO. You can also place donations jars in restaurants or malls, where people are spending money. For this, you may have to get permission first. Make a poster or sign, not the regular one but something that will grab people’s attention. Motivate your volunteers to approach people. Make a short pitch to use when asking for a donation. You will be surprised to see the outcome. Street Fundraising’s main benefit is its ability to generate immediate donations.

Pin your Board Members

The role of Board members of an NGO is not only to oversee the operations of the organization but also to be active in the fundraising activity. Every board member should be donating something to your organization every year and what better day to set an example than donation on the International Day of Charity. The giving from board members not only indicates the commitment towards the NGO but also encourages other donors to give and can be used as a marketing tool to influences foundations that provide grants or other support.

Send Thank you Note

How long has it been since you thanked your old and current donors? “Thank you” can be an incredibly powerful pair of words. And for most fundraisers, it is the No#1 strategy for creating loyal relations. A thank you message is a chance to deliver the warm feelings of goodwill that drive people to give more. A simple note can engage you on a personal level with your donor and also increases your chance for subsequent funding. UN days are an important time for fundraising. Even if you have already sent a thank you note, one more thank you note won’t hurt. But make sure you create a personal note for each one. Attach an image of the project, they had supported. This is the best way of demonstrating both your appreciation and the donor’s impact. You can also send a thank you note to your supporters-volunteers, partners, others.

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The letter of inquiry should contain just enough information for the donor to understand what the project is and why they should/would be interested. Typically, this means LoIs are 1-2 pages long. Nothing more is necessary at this stage.

Letters of inquiry are often sent to new donors as a soft ask if your program may be in line with what the donor is interested in funding. The purpose of the letter of inquiry is not to ask for funding, but to open communication with a donor, schedule a meeting, and move from unsolicited to solicited for the full proposal.

A benefit and challenge to the letter of inquiry are that they are personal. LoIs are written in letter format, from one person to another. This means the letter-writer should include their full name and contact information, and also know the name and position of the person they are contacting. This means the LoI is able to draw a relationship to the donor but also requires the NGO take time to research the donor.

What should be included in a letter of inquiry?

Subject line

Once you have done all the hard work and prepared an effective letter of inquiry, you need to make sure that to donor actually clicks and reads it. To stand out from hundreds and thousands of LoIs a donor receives in a day, creating a clickbait subject line is the most important. You need a subject line to arouse your donor’s curiosity, yet make sure you don’t use the marketing tactics that every other NGO uses. Just use the right words and keep it short and honest.

Paragraph 1: Express your Interest

In the beginning, briefly introduce yourself and express your interest in why you want to work with the donor organization. For this, you need to research them first. Read their website, follow them on social media, talk to someone from inside to learn the specifics. Now that you have the information, show your knowledge about the organization. Mention their major activities and objectives. Talk about the projects they have funded before. And of course, do not forget to add a line of appreciation for their efforts and accomplishments.

Paragraph 2: State the 3 P’s

In this paragraph explain the 3P’s: Problem, Position, and Possibilities.

Problem (aka Need Statement): Describe the scope and magnitude of the problem to understand and diagnose the need for the project. Always state the problem with evidence, that is, facts and data to support your argument.

Position: Talk about the urgency to address the problem now. You should answer these two questions:

• Why is it crucial to address the problem identified now?
• What has already been done to solve the problem? Why is it lacking?

Possibilities: Here briefly outline the potential solution your project has designed. Propose your idea and why it is the best solution to the problem. Also, give a glimpse of why your solution is better than solutions pitched by other NGOs. (But beware not to defame other organizations!)

Paragraph 3: Project Introduction

The 3rd paragraph is almost like an executive summary of a proposal. In this section, you should highlight the important aspects of the project-beneficiaries, approach, benefits, activities and its impact. It is best to shape these aspects of the project based on donor priorities. Make it brief. You do not give full details in an LoI. Just give a taste of what you could achieve together as partners.

Paragraph 4:  Evaluation Plan

Even it is just a letter of inquiry, donors will want to know if monitoring and evaluation is a part of your project plan. Keeping a succinct paragraph guarantying donors that their money will be accounted for. Furthermore, describe how progress will be evaluated throughout and at the end of the project.

Paragraph 5: Assurance

In this paragraph, you give assurance of all the information you have provided in paragraphs 1 to 5. Restate the objective of the project. Say what you want to happen next- request a meeting for an interview and when you plan to follow up. Finally, do not forget to thank the reader for their time and consideration.

In the signature section, the letter-writer should include a full name and contact information.

Letter of Inquiry Sample Template

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World Day Against Child Labour 2021 tagline line is

Act now to end child labor!

This year, ILO will promote a “Week of Action” around 12 June, starting with the launch of the new global estimates on child labor. The events and activities carried out during this week will be an opportunity for partners to showcase progress in carrying out their “2021 Action Pledges.” All pledges made by regional, national and organizational stakeholders and individuals are featured here.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, children are often the first to suffer. According to ILO, already, there are an estimated 152 million children in child labor, 72 million of which are in hazardous work. These children are now at even greater risk of facing circumstances that are even more difficult and working longer hours.

Almost one in ten of all children worldwide are in child labor. While the number of children in child labor has declined by 94 million since 2000, the rate of reduction slowed by two-thirds in recent years. Target 8.7 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals calls for an end to child labor in all its forms by 2025. How can the world community get firmly on track toward eliminating child labor?

Child labor continues to be a great concern in many parts of the world. Children are the next generation and our future, thus projects that work for children is particularly important. Children also need special protection as they cannot always stand up for themselves. The International Labour Organization (ILO) launched the World Day Against Child Labour in 2002 to focus attention on the global extent of child labor and the action and efforts needed to eliminate it. As we look back on 18 years of the efforts, today we want to give tips for all the great NGOs that work towards the elimination of child labor all around the world.

Look at the bigger picture- the root cause

When applying for projects related to child labor, always keep the bigger scheme of things in mind. While singular projects already might help, it is always better to take a step back and look at the situation holistically. It’s not only important to stop the child labor cycle but to break it.  Poverty is considered as one of the contributory factors in child labor. If you want to ‘eradicate’ child labor, first find out why it exists– there might be more systemic problems that are the root cause of the problems. Many times, projects for child labor need to focus on the entire community to have a lasting impact. Make sure that your project fits within a broader scheme and aligns with national and regional strategies.

Do not make the pity plea

It might be tempting to use pity pleas when you try to raise money to work with children. But do not fall for this trap. Only because children are not always in a position to talk for themselves does not give you the right to use them for a cause. If you use pictures or case studies that only depict children as victims, the donor might also think that you do not really respect your beneficiaries. It might even put them in danger. Do not make pity pleas for the beneficiaries and depict them as helpless or needy.  Make sure that you always keep the security and the best interest of the children in mind and that you do not use them – even if you think it is for their good somehow. Highlight clearly that the children, the family, and the whole community are going to be active stakeholders in your project and that their knowledge and their resources are going to be put to good use. If you manage to create positive feelings by telling a positive story of hope and showing the ways the lives of a child can improve, you will have much better chances of keeping someone on the hook – they don’t just feel like they did their duty by donating some money, but they do want to know how the story goes on.

Related: 5 Tips for talking about Beneficiaries in your Proposal

Make sure your project is sustainable

When you work for children, it is particularly important that you think about project sustainability before you apply. You do not want to engage with children and then run out of funding and leave them in the situation they started in. Before you even start to plan your project, you should develop a plan on how it could be sustained once the one-time funding runs out. As I said before, it is not only important to take the children out of the forced work but to secure the fundamental children’s rights. If you have a good sustainability plan in place, this also shows the donor that you are really committed and serious about the issue you want to address. Every child should have the same starting chances, and your project should make sure this is the case.

Follow SDG

SDG 8.7 Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking, and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labor in all its forms.

SDG 16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence and torture against children

If you are applying for any type of government funding, it is important to specifically mention which targets your project will contribute to. If you are applying for private funding, the SDGs are of much less importance. However, the above-numbered SDGs have been well-researched and analyzed, which are great to use even for non-government-funded projects.

Keep the security of the children in mind

Children are vulnerable. If you want to work with children in a project, you need to make sure that they are adequately protected and save. Many donors are also very aware of this issue. You should have a child protection policy in place. Any organization that comes into contact with children directly or indirectly should have a child protection policy. Simply put, a child protection policy helps create a child-safe organization. Make sure your NGO has one and also submit this with your proposal to show that you are thinking of these issues.

Best of luck with your proposal!

If you want to learn more about how to write a proposal for a project, take a look at our resource guide: The NGO Guide to Proposal Writing: The complete ‘How to’ for everything proposal related- 2020 Edition. It provides holistic understandings of the grant application process, the purpose of the project proposal and its parts, and tips on proposal writing.

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A name is a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed, or referred to. We give names so that its easier for others to understand without explaining further.

The title of your grant proposal is the name of your proposal. A title sets the donor’s first impression, summarizes the project, and makes an application memorable. For so few words, the proposal’s title is disproportionately important. The title is an opportunity for the grant writer to artistically provide the evaluator an idea of what the grant proposal is all about.

Learn more about what makes a GREAT TITLE

Where a good title summarizes the project, a great title makes the donor interested in the project. But a bad title for the proposal can throw off the whole concept of the project leading to the failure of the grant proposal.

Here are  10 Wrong Ways to Write a Proposal Title

Too Generic 

You do not want your proposal title to be too generic. Your title should stand out from the pile of hundreds of proposal applications. Make it specific. Emphasize the most important aspects of the project. What you are doing, how you are doing it, where you are doing it, and for whom.

Don’t write: ‘Helping Girls in Rural Areas’
Do write: ‘Advocating for an End of Child Marriage in Kagati Gau, Nuwakot, Nepal’

Overly Descriptive

Yes, the purpose of a title is to describe your full proposal. But descriptive titles are boring. The real purpose of a title is to entice the readers to spend their time to read your writing.  Do not waste title space describing the content. Instead, describe the value of your content.

Fancy Words

We are taught to use as many vocabulary as you can in our schools. But keep those difficult and fancy words for the SAT exam. Some could be used in your proposal content, but never in a title. You want your tile to be clear and to the point. Use a clear combination of nouns, verbs, and adjectives to identify the project with the generic class. Avoid using scientific terms (unless your project is all about scientific research).

Longer than 15 Words

Finding a great title that immediately catches the readers’ attention is hard, especially while ensuring the title is short. But this is no excuse to make your title longer. Try to formulate a title with 15 words or less. Some donors specify the number of letters or characters you can use. A trick could be to have one main title and an additional subtitle to accomplish these goals. You can also use acronyms and nicknames in your title if they are commonly known.

Lacking a Subtitle

Like stated earlier, using a subtitle on your proposal is a great trick to make your proposal title shorter and make it stand out. It is like a tagline of your proposal which helps to explain the additional context of your project. Using a positive subtitle stimulates reader interest.

Spelling & Formatting Errors

You may feel there is no way anyone can make a spelling error in the title. But this assumption is wrong and leads to overlooking the title spell check. While making a mistake in the title may be rare, but when it does occur the proposal evaluator will definitely notice.  There are no rigid rules on formatting titles for a proposal, but avoid using all caps. As a general rule of thumb, every noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, and adjective of the title should be capitalized.

Deciding the Title First

Do not decide on the title first. Many writers make the mistake of writing the title first. As they move on to the proposal writing part, the context takes a different approach than their title. The title should be decided once the proposal is near completion.

Not Brainstorming Titles

Many organizations spend their time researching for the narrative of the proposal but do not see the need to research on great titles. They underestimate the importance of a great title. Every NGO should at least spend some time as a team to brainstorm different titles.

Not Matching with the Donor

A proposal title should be suited to the potential funding source. Always make sure that the title conforms to the donor’s guidelines and is formatted properly. Some donors even specify the number of characters to be used in a title.

Overrating your Project

If your project is about ‘Creating Awareness on Personal Hygiene Among Adolescent Girls’, do not use ‘Women Empowerment Through Health Education’ as your title. You are cheating by notching up the overall impact of the project in your title. Never make your evaluator expect more from the title then what you are offering. The higher the gap between expectation and reality, the higher are the chances of the proposal fail. Indicate accurately the subject and scope of the project.

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World Water Challenge 2020 will be held as one of the signature programs of Korea International Water Week (KIWW) 2020. With the current global circumstance in which the world is suffering from COVID-19 pandemic, WWCH 2020 will be dealing with the special topic “Water and Health” along with 5 Main Topics to demonstrate a pathway to not only overcoming the current pandemic but also achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The 6^th edition of World Water Challenge is expected to serve its role as an important platform to share not only innovative scientific/technological method but also policy towards solving the defined water challenges around the world and to forge a broad network among the experts and stakeholders in the water sector as well as the diverse pool of solution providers.

The prize amount for the World Water Challenge 2020 is KRW 10,000,000 (approx. US$ 8400) and KRW 5,00,000 (approx. 4200). Winners will also have the chance to be invited to the WWCH showcase during the KIWW 2021 and/or the 9th World Water Forum to share their solutions with the experts from all around the world.

In this article, we give you some tips on how to apply and what to look out for.

What is the Process to Apply for the World Water Challenge?

In the first phase, the World Water Challenge 2020 is seeking participation from anyone (as an individual or on behalf of an organization) who is interested in water and problem owners who can present water problems.

The topics that are chosen for the KIWW 2020 are:

• Water and health (Special Topic for WWCH 2020)
• Efficient Water Management(SDGs links: SDG 6.4 Water Use Efficiency)
• Resource Recovery from Water and Wastewater Systems(SDGs links: 6.1 Safe Water, 6.2 Sanitation)
• Water and Natural Disasters(SDGs links:11.5 Reduction of Economic & Human Losses)
• Smart Water Technologies (SDGs links:6.5 IWRM)
• Ecosystem and Water (SDGs links:6.6 Water & Ecosystems)

All applications are to be submitted online through their official website here before 30 August. Solutions are to be presented in the above-mentioned challenges to the committee for review. All submissions must be filled out in English. Up to 10 outstanding solution providers will be invited to present their proposals and the best solutions will be awarded.

Check out the Finalist of World Water Challenge.

What are the Problems the World Water Challenge 2020 Seeks Solutions for?

12 water challenges including two ‘special challenges’ for this year are selected based on the discussion between the committee members reflecting their expertise and the current status of regional and global water issues as well as the urgency of each water sector

• Scale-up of WASH for Public Health
• Efficient method for wastewater surveillance to detect the spread of disease
• Integrated management of diversified water resources
• Innovating financing for local water solutions
• Energy Efficiency in sewage, wastewater, and seawater recycling and reuse
• NEXUS for efficient utilization of limited water resources and energy recovery
• Urban flood prevention and management for sustainable water cycle and urban regeneration
• The depletion and pollution of water caused by climate change
• ICBM, ICT based water management
• ‘Smart’ solutions for water management: definition and case of ‘smart solutions’ by region, sector, and target
• Nature-based solutions for ecological recovery and reinstate natural process of rivers
• Ecological urban water cycle in the adaptation of climate change

For further details about the problems please see the homepage of KIWW and the long-form descriptions.

How to Apply to the World Water Challenge 2020?

If you want to apply for the World Water Challenge 2020 and want to present a solution to one of the listed projects that are based on science and technology, you need to fill out an online form. After giving contact information and a short summary of the solution, you are asked to describe the case study (research, idea) or previous application (project name, region, budget, period, description, etc.) of your solution within 5 pages.

Applications will be reviewed under the following criteria:

• Comprehension:
  • If the solution provider exactly understands the problem including background, objectives, scope, cause, and effect, and impact on the global water issues.

• Contribution to “Sustainability”
  • If the solution provider clearly understands the meaning of sustainability.
  • If the solution sufficiently demonstrates the contribution to achieving the sustainability in development.
  • If the solution provider considers possible alternatives in achieving sustainability in the solution.

NOTE# Highlight your projects link  to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Feasibility
  • If the solution sufficiently satisfies the requirement of the problem owner in a feasible manner, such as economic, technical, legal, and political feasibility in its implementation.
  • If the solution is suitable for the implementation and easy for approaching its circumstance.○If science and technologies applied to the solution are practically applicable to the field.
  • If the local resources are efficiently used in the solution.
  • If the solution is designed to have a lasting impact on the problem.
• Challenge
  • If the solution effectively helps overcome any challenges and achieve the goals of water issues.
  • If the solution provider proposes innovative methods in solving the problem.
• Impact
  • If the solution provider well describes the expected effects of the solution on the lives of plants, animals, and human beings.
  • If the effects of activities in solving the water problems are obviously described.

Before submitting your proposal online, read carefully, and follow the guidelines indicated on the provided template below.

Make sure to address all these aspects of your proposal.

Also, make sure to check out our article with Tips for proposals in the water sector!

For further information please see the homepage of the Korea International Water Week 2020

Best of luck!

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There are two types of evaluations

1. Formative Evaluation and
2. Summative Evaluation

Formative evaluation is information on different phases of the project and Summative evaluation is the impact of the project. Your evaluation plan should include both.

Components of Evaluation Plan

The components of a good evaluation plan in a proposal are:

Conceptual Note

Give a brief introduction of the project and expected outcomes. Rewrite the message about why the donors should invest in your project. Highlight the main elements that will be monitored for the evaluation report.

Evaluator

Who will be involved in the evaluation?

Evaluation is usually done by the organization itself. Sometimes the donors may want an outsider like a consultant to evaluate for neutrality.

Data Type

There are two types of data- Qualitative and Quantitative.

Qualitative Data is a non-statistical collection of people’s feedback on the impact of the project and quantitative data are figures representing the project. Both types of data are indicators of measuring the project’s success or failure. Describe the data you plan to concentrate on and why.

Data Source

Data are collected using two sources- Primary and Secondary.

Primary data are accurate but time-consuming. You could use methods like meetings, surveys, interviews to collect primary data to get direct feedback from the target audience and use secondary data for the quantitative data. Explain in a line or two if you will conduct first-hand data collection process or use secondary resources and why your approach is more suitable.

Monitoring Frequency

Monitoring is the first phase of evaluation. It refers to the process of measuring and documenting progress. It is an ongoing process. Define how often monitoring will be done and how are you going to analyze the finding and bring changes if needed. It is the most challenging part of the evaluation plan. Do not overestimate nor undermine the number of monitoring phases. Plan and set up a standard timeline for monitoring the project performance.

Budget

Normally, foundations allow NGOs to designate 5-10% of the budget for their evaluation process. This may not be the case if you are applying for a small grant. In the evaluation plan, you may revisit the budgetary part of the proposal and emphasizes the need for an additional budget for the evaluation process.

Analysis and Dissemination

An analysis is defined as a presentation, usually in writing, of the results. The evaluation plan should include the detailed action plan of analyzing the findings. The dissemination process is an account of what, when, and how the findings of the evaluation will be shared.

The evaluation plan is always defined at the end of the proposal. Designing a good project evaluation plan is essential, and it does not have to belong. Always check if the funder’s proposal guideline has stated the need to include your evaluation plan.

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