What is Project Sustainability?

Sustainability is the ability of an organization to continue its mission or program far into the future. All projects have to end eventually, but the project impact should continue. Donors want to see how the project and its impact will outlive their direct involvement in the project.

A project or organization can be sustainable in three main categories: organizational, financial, and community sustainability.

Community

Community sustainability is how the community carries out the project activities even after the NGO leaves.

Example: The project trains 50 new mothers on infant nutrition. After the training, these mothers will then share their knowledge with other mothers, children, and neighbors in their communities. In this way, the project will continue to reach an additional 200-500 indirect beneficiaries one year after official project activities are completed.

Financial

Financial sustainability is how the financial support required for the project or the organization will continue after the grant has ended.

Example: As part of the advocacy initiative, the Communications Team will organize an online newsletter and crowd-sourcing campaign. This campaign will also include an annual appeal to further support the project.

Organizational

Organizational sustainability is how the NGO itself continues to function after the project.

Example: The program will us social media to publicize its research findings, and also help attract new volunteers to the organization.

Other Types of Sustainability

NGOs and projects come in all shapes and sizes. Thus, NGOs can be sustainable in many other areas beyond community, financial, and organizational sustainability. For certain types of NGOs, this can also include:

  • Business sustainability: the project will generate financial gains or profits and continue to function on earned income. This may also be a cross-cutting theme in livelihood development-type projects.
  • Environmental sustainability: the project uses resources in such a way that the needed resources will never disappear. This is only in rare cases a type of project sustainability. More often, environmental sustainability is a project theme or cross-cutting theme.

Regardless of the category, make it clear to the donor how the project impact will be sustained even after the grant is completed.


About the author

Alta Alonzi

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.

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Fr. Paul Mugume
Fr. Paul Mugume
5 years ago

Dear Alta Alonzi, I highly appreciate your generosity in sharing knowledge with us. God bless you.

Mary Augustino
Mary Augustino
5 years ago

Thank you Alta

Adam Allen Jones
Adam Allen Jones
5 years ago

Please send me material on proposal writer and fundraising for my NGO

Proposals forNGOs
Proposals forNGOs
5 years ago

Dear Adam: You can find articles on our website on everything on proposal writing with samples and tips on fundraising for NGOs. If you have any specific topic on mind please suggest at info@proposalsforngos.com, we will try to include them on our post. Thank you.

Tiyo Jonathan
Tiyo Jonathan
5 years ago

Alonzi thank you for sharing, I have developed interests in projects of recent and I found this piece of work informative and useful.

Destiny
5 years ago

This is so insightful.

Hristy Rai
Hristy Rai
5 years ago
Reply to  Destiny

Thank you so much for your kind words

Othello J Gaye
Othello J Gaye
5 years ago

Thanks so much for your idea, it was very good for me.

George Oluga
George Oluga
5 years ago
Reply to  Othello J Gaye

When did you publish this write up on sustainability

Priti Thapa
Admin
5 years ago
Reply to  George Oluga

Dear George: The article was published in January 2018 on our site.

George Oluga
George Oluga
5 years ago
Reply to  Priti Thapa

Thanks for your reply.

Alice Imoit
Alice Imoit
5 years ago

Hi Alta , thanks a lot for your noble task to communities. you will ever blessed.
I have a request for you a bout my mum being in need of a hand- tap borehole in Turkana. will you please try to help or link with an organization that can help since she is also a widow please; thanks in advance

Ibrahim S sesay
Ibrahim S sesay
5 years ago

Thanks dear for your well organised thought on this topic. May you be bless richly

Tezera
Tezera
5 years ago

Right now we are discussing on the concept of sustainability of a project, the barriers for it and possible solutions. I wish if you are physically with us here in Dubai so that we learn more from uour wealth of knowledge.
Tezera a participant from Ethiopia

Selva
Selva
4 years ago

Thank you for your info.

Jared Alfayo
4 years ago

Dear Alta,
 
Thanks for your good article.
 
Jared

Proposals forNGOs
Proposals forNGOs
4 years ago
Reply to  Jared Alfayo

Dear Jared: I am glad you found this article helpful!

Said Salim
Said Salim
4 years ago
Reply to  Jared Alfayo

Thanks for the well structured info

kabasinguzi
kabasinguzi
4 years ago

thank you for the good work your doing. kindly help me with sustainability plan sample

Momodu S.Kanu
Momodu S.Kanu
3 years ago
Reply to  kabasinguzi

Alta Alonzi, thanks for adding knowledge to my experiences.
Kanu.

Proposals forNGOs
Proposals forNGOs
3 years ago
Reply to  Momodu S.Kanu

Dear Momodu: I am glad that the article is helpful to you.

Keith Tibenda
3 years ago

I found this information so useful when I was looking for resources in the course Strategic Management in Development. Like the way the course is taught in Business, one ends up picking resources from here and there. I think the concept of sustainability should be built into all organizations’ planning all the time.

Proposals forNGOs
Proposals forNGOs
3 years ago
Reply to  Keith Tibenda

Dear Keith: I am glad that the article is helpful to you. In recent years there has been a global shift towards business working more towards sustainability aspect.

Tamara Zamar
Tamara Zamar
3 years ago

That was helpful, especially the examples discussed here.
Thanks for sharing

Proposals forNGOs
Proposals forNGOs
3 years ago
Reply to  Tamara Zamar

Dear Tamara: Glad that the article is helpful to you.

Ana
Ana
3 years ago

Hi Mrs. Alonzi, great article. What was the date of when you published this article? Thank you for your response.

Proposals forNGOs
Admin
3 years ago
Reply to  Ana

Hello Ana:
The article has been updated recently.

Bol Angony kuol
Bol Angony kuol
2 years ago

Am really feel impressive in this piece of project sustainability

Proposals forNGOs
Admin
2 years ago

Dear Bol:
Glad you found the article helpful.

Bwalya
Bwalya
2 years ago

Thank you, for an insightful yet short writing

Proposals forNGOs
Admin
2 years ago
Reply to  Bwalya

Dear Bwalya:
I am glad you found this article helpful!

Umarrwoth Jehoshaphat
Umarrwoth Jehoshaphat
1 year ago

I’ve liked this piece of work and I’ve gained interest in project writing for NGOs
How can I access guides and template on how the proposals should look like?

Proposals forNGOs
Admin
1 year ago

Dear Umarrwoth:
Glad you found the article. For more on samples and templates for proposal writing please visit our section https://proposalsforngos.com/sample/.

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