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.
What to include
Being able to describe your NGO and its work succinctly is extremely important. Also remember to use this space to market your NGO!
- Organization name
- Organization age
- Registration status
- Organization type (NGO, CBO, network, faith-based, etc.)
- Specialty area
- Scope of work
- Partners (if any relevant to project)
- Link to more information
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.
What not to include
Unless specifically requested, it is better to leave this information out of the proposal at this stage:
- Registration certificate
- Full bank details
- Staff list/ organizational chart
- List of board members
- Resumes/ CVs
- Complete list of accomplishments
- Founding story
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.
Organization Profile Sample