The organizational profile, also called organizational background, organizational history or NGO profile, is the part of the proposal where you can talk about your own NGO. The organizational profile can help donors decide if you will be a good partner if you have the capacity to complete the proposed project, and in some cases even help the donor complete their due diligence procedures.
The organizational profile can take many forms. Some donors may request you complete an NGO profile form which will directly state what needs to be included. If the donor does not provide a profile form, the requirements are much more flexible. It may be a few sentences, a couple paragraphs, a table, a side box, a series of attachments, or just a link. It could be placed near the front of the proposal, in the end, in the annex, or dispersed throughout the proposal.
In general, the organizational profile should be as short as possible and either dispersed or placed near the end of the proposal. The focus of the proposal should be on the project, and donors should be able to learn about your organization online or through their networks. Some NGOs may even choose to completely leave out the organizational profile.
Just always remember that you have limited space when writing a proposal. Even if you do not have a word limit, you still do not want to bore the reader – you want to engage them. The donor is looking for a project to fund, so put the focus on the project. If they love your project, they will look at your organization and your organizational profile – but only then. Do not waste the readers attention by adding information that is not necessarily needed upfront.
Being able to describe your NGO and its work succinctly is extremely important. Also remember to use this space to market your NGO!
If appropriate, you can also think about adding case studies here to showcase your successful work. Think of ways to make them interesting though – a list of your accomplishments is not going to help you. Try to use tools like storytelling and visual media to get your point across and to engage the reader. If you are able to establish an emotional connection with the donor through your organizational profile, you are on the winning side.
Unless specifically requested, it is better to leave this information out of the proposal at this stage:
In multi-stage application processes, typically donors do not require a detailed organizational profile until after your proposal makes the shortlist. However, in one-stage applications, including most small grant applications, the donor may require a very detailed organizational profile up front. If the instructions seem unclear, try contacting the donor for more information.
These tips are just suggestions – always think of the big picture when you apply for a grant. If you think your founding story would be really helpful to convince the donor that you are the perfect partner – include it. If you think that you could use the space more wisely, do that. Only if the donor requests something specific you have to strictly adhere to that. Otherwise, think about the question if the information you want to give is going to further your case. If it will, it is a good idea to include it.
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Alta Alonzi is a writer and researcher focusing on international development funding and grassroots NGOs. She works with the fundraising consulting company Philantropia conducting research for clients ranging from small NGOs to UN organizations. She also works closely with FundsforNGOs running training webinars, contributing resource guides, and updating the Premium donor database.
Nice you are educated person I say go forward I am going to make me the NGO about youth development
i agree, its a nice article to help me reach my dream as we are about to open the NGO that seek to provide and promote better ways for human welfare
bro, it is been three since you commented here. have you begun the work?
hello, I am Kyeyune Abraham from Uganda.
we are implementing a community focused organization named Cornerstone Youth Initiative(CYI) in one of the refugee settlements.
your network will be of importance to us.
hlo, mam i want to help the children,i wanted to teach them something that i have learned, i want to teach them free of cost.
mam,i want to help those children, pls prove to me how i have read those children and how can i make a new NGO…..
Hello Priyanka: Good to know you want to work for kids. Every country has their own regulations on how to register an NGO. But for a generic overall view, check our article on “How to start an NGO”.
Hope this helps!
Thanks mam… For suggestion…
Share detailes this mail id : kakatheeyaindustrialtraining@gmail.com
hii,
priyanka nice to hear about youre word we are an NGO for Education can you share youre detailes so our team wil contact you
mail id: kakatheeyaindustrtailtraining@gmail.com
Thanks for this enlightenment
Am running an education program for children and its aims at building and developing their literary and numerical skills as well as build enterprise skill in them through arts, music and poetry. I really need support both financially and materials. I need more directions on how to go about sourcing for funds in order to be able to reach out to these children especially orphans and children from a very poor background.
Hi, I am Morris Mabior Awikjok- South Sudanese national. I am a Coordinator for TOWEDA in capital Juba. TOWEDA is a new women empowerment organization founded in 2019, registered with RRC Commission in the Republic of South Sudan. The organization is formed with an objective to empower women economically, socially, educationally and politically to alleviate all types of women burden. As a result we need development partners to support the organization financially to be able to finance it activities especially on the areas of Girl-child education, orphans and children affected by the current political conflict.
Very nice write up. But, I was thinking you will show us the specimen of the profile
OK, thanks for this but prepare the TEMPLATE PDF then publish so as everyone can download for it
can you please work with us too if you interest let me know through my email rmilanzi@fordconsulting.co.tz if you want to know us FORD CONSULTING we alway work with local NGO . FORD Consulting is a partnership entity established for the aim of improving the capacity of development actors, mainly local organizations, in addressing various capacity issues that limit them in achieving their organization goals. In addition, the partnership addresses the capacity needs of the vulnerable groups by building their capacity gaps using right approaches and enhancing the capacity of community based organizations to identify their real problems and search… Read more »
Peace be unto those who follow the guidance, mr. Rahim this is a very important and educative information which I highly appreciate. Because I am seriously looking for a standard and experienced coach which will guide me through my organisational capacity building and donor searching to my charity volunteers organisation called CALIPHATE ORPHANS AND REFUGEES SUPPORT INITIATIVE here in Nigeria.
Dear Abu-Shuraim:
You can email us at info@philantropia.org with more information.
Thank you.
Hello i am ABDUSSAMAD from NIGERIA. i have found this writing very productive and valuable. thank you with the knowledge.
Ngo work dimand
Ngo work discus
Sant Ravidas Foundation
Kingdom Greetings, i hope you can also assist us, we are an organization registered as an NPO called I AM THAT MAN, our vision is to REBUILD THE SOCIETY BY RESTORING MEN, we are based in South Africa having branches in SADAC Regions
Hi Alta I need your advice
Hello Woira:
You can send in your queries here in comment and we will connect you to Alta.
Thank you!
How can I set a CBO structure and organizational profile?
Hello Alta, thanks for this
Dear Stephen: We are glad that the article is helpful to you.
Thank you so much
Hello
am Loga Abel working for Afro-Canadian Evangelical Mission In south Sudan we are seeking funds for support of Nutrition IYCF South Sudan. We seek Fund raising ideas.
How can we go about the fund raising activities am Loga Abe from South Sudan working for ACEM as my last comment was approved
Dear Loga: 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. Also if you are new to fundraising we recommend this free online course How to find 50 donors in 10 minutes. Find 50 great donors in only 10 minutes and move straight to the next stages of your fundraising cycle!
Thanks for your complimentary, We need more in Finding funds (Source of Fund) and how to write proposal
Hello Mwangaza:
If you are interested to learn more about proposal writing please check our resource guide on proposal writing here.
Hlo mam,
We create an NGO in our community with the vision of social services but we are not getting finincially support by our government. Our organization do mainly focus on youth and children development. Our organization is successfully registered by DAO Officer, we donot have any idea about further process. Hope that you will suggest us for further process.
Thank you mam
Hello Radheshyam: We always say that it is best to research more options when it comes to fundraising and not just rely on one source- in your case government grant. Check out our free course: 50 Donors in 10 minutes course: https://philantropia.teachable.com/p/how-to-find-50-donors-in-10-minutes/?preview=logged_out. Our experienced instructor Erik Detiger will share his inside knowledge with you, so that you don´t have to make the same mistakes we all made when we were learning donor research!
how can you help me develop my organization’s profile
Hi Alta My name is Manjula we are a small registered charity based in London, and we are looking for someone to handle grant/funding personnel for our charity? Will you be able to give us some contacts if possible. Thank you
Our organisation is called Isibane Development NPC, we focus on food security community gardens. We encourage people to establish home gardens that promotes eating fresh vegetables. We do trainings on how to start a gadern, we do post trainngs W e do linkages with other relevant stakeolders. We are based in Cape Town, South Africa. I’m the co-Funder of the organisation
Dear Zukile:
That is amazing. Do share your social media with us. We would like to follow your work.
Thank you!
hi, i am from Afghanistan and have created new org and would like to work for women empowerment.
Hi,
i’m from Zambia running an NGO which currently deals with the vulnerable groups. Kindly help us do an organization profile.
We love your work.
kind regards.
Hi .I m asghar from Pakistan kpk .we have small organization we need a small project can u help me
Dear Asghar:
Unfortunately, We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a 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 to will help you on creating a fundraising strategy.
Thank you!
HELLO FRIENDS,I HAVE A NGO FROM BANKURA TOWN ( WEST BANGALE).
OUR MOTIF IS TO HELP POOR CHILDREN BY GIVING THEM FOOD AND STUDY MATERIALS.ANYONE HELP OUR GROUP AND JOIN OUR GROUP WHATSAPP NO :-9093199823/7362904073. THANKYOU EVERYONE. HAVE A GOOD DAY…
We are in the process of forming a local non governmental organization and we need guidance on how to writer our Organizational profile. A unique templates.
Rich writeup
Dear Andrew: I am glad that the article is helpful to you.
Thanks for the write up it was helpful
Dear Kgomotso: I am glad you found this article helpful!
Hello guys, I am very happy to join the intellectuals who wish to create a better social welfare for the people i need. I am also one of the founders of a very young NGO aims at promoting human development through education,heatlh, social welfare agriculture etc.
Dear Edmund: I’m glad you found this website helpful!
We would love it if you shared this review on our office Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/proposalsforngos. Seeing positive reviews from existing readers makes others more comfortable knowing they’ll get the support they need on the topics related to fundraising and proposal writing. Thank you!
Trying to implement technology base training amongst children in the camp
Dear Chiri:
Unfortunately, We are not a funding organization and do not provide grants. We are a social enterprise that provides a 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 to will help you on creating a fundraising strategy.
Thank you!
Hi, how are you today , i am from Uganda and glad to join the group
Thank you.
How do i get grant for NGO and CBOs to improve the service delivery at grass root in the mapped area of operation
With thousands of donors in the world today, we are not able to contact donors on your behalf. We suggest you check our free course on finding 50 donors in 10 minutes and building your on donor mapping: https://philantropia.org/courses/50-donors-in-10-minutes/
Hi my name is Haroun Osman
we established a Local NGO in somaliland for peace building, social development and research
Dear Haroun:
We wish you the best.
Hello,
I’m Akot Muongdit from South Sudan. I’m implementing an organization named War-kou Community Empowerment for Development Organization that will be working in like Education, specifically basic education and girl child education. It will also be working in agricultural areas that will include; large scale farming, small gardening livestock keeping and poultry rearing.
Dear Akot:
we wish you the best in your venture.
very useful information
Hi,
I am glad you found this article helpful!
Thank you for good guidance. 8 also fun an a ngo and hope to get more help tips from you
I am glad you found this article helpful. We will be sharing more tips- Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter!
I am glad you found this article helpful. We will be sharing more tips- Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter!
Am Diana once again from Uganda. My project is all about supporting. Youth and children to come out of poverty . This done in four aspects of life, social economic, cognitive, physical and spiritual.
And also, its done through skilling , capacity building, for both children and their households. However we need more funds and resourses to sustain the ongoing activities amd equipe more than the ones we have
I pray and seek connections for funds and sponsors.Thank you.
very good insight of the information needed as I’m trying to start a new Local NGO in my village where I come from- PNG
Dear Rose: I am glad you found this article helpful!
I like this teachings and i would like to form an CBO thanks
I’m glad you found this article helpful!
We would love it if you shared this review on our office Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/proposalsforngos. Seeing positive reviews from existing readers makes others more comfortable knowing they’ll get the support they need on topics related to fundraising and proposal writing. Thank you!
i wanted to start a water Foundation here in Papua New Guinea to source the people of this Nation….
I have loved the article, and I request to connect with you individually/ personally, using my email. Attached here below.
Dear Benson,
You can reach us at info@philantropia.org
May LORD bless you, it a lesson full to me.
Dear Elias:
I am glad you found this website helpful!
hello Alta, my name is Willie and I’m new here. I am working on a newly established youth Association here in Papua New Guinea. Would you please guide me in to writing the Association profile and other necessity to incorporate our Association. Kailewillie@gmail.com is my email address
We are about to register our NGO basically dealing with economic challenges facing our country. Malawi do we have to include detailed organisation profile?
Dear Mathew: While we might not have the exact list of documents needed to register an NGO in Malawi, we recommend that before you start the process, you put together a clear mission, vision, and a plan of the activities you intend to undertake. These elements are essential in creating an organizational profile, which should also feature the names of your NGO’s Board of Directors members. This profile helps establish a strong foundation for your NGO.
Hi, I have just recently started a small NGO focused on development and improvement of issues affecting the lives of women of all ages in both urban and rural settings here in Papua New Guinea as I see there is a great need there. As it is a fairly new initiative, I would appreciate any information and assistance possible in regards to writing up a profile and having a strategic plan for the organization.
Thank you.
good