PRACTICAL ELEMENTS OF FUNDRAISING
Thought Leadership from Collaborate
This document was published in collaboration with CAFO Research Center
CAFO Collaborate workshops initiate conversations about effective care for orphans and vulnerable children within the local church and NGO networks around the world.
These workshops generate ideas to:
• creatively share information
• involve more churches and individuals,
• equip local churches for more effective care of vulnerable children in their communities.
In an April 2024 Virtual Collaborate DISCUSS session, global leaders brainstormed about practical elements of fundraising in their cultural contexts.
PRACTICAL ELEMENTS OF FUNDRAISING
Relationships are essential for sustainable fundraising. In this virtual Collaborate LEARN session, David Hennessey shared about healthy and ongoing relationships in fundraising and other best practices.
You may view the LEARN session and access other resources here at the virtual Collaborate: Practical Elements of Fundraising course. Use code: GLOBAL412 to access the course materials for free.
COLLABORATE OUTCOMES
Global leaders were divided by world region for the purpose of this discussion. Given the unique nature of each world region and the indigenous cultures native to each region, the feedback from regions varied. Each group was tasked with the following question:
What are the top three strategies for identifying and developing local funding relationships in your community?
REGIONAL STRATEGIES
Asia, Europe, and North America
• Invite potential donors to have a meal/spend time with stakeholders. Break bread together to inspire connection.
• Intentionally follow up with volunteers. Move volunteers throughout the funnel to transition from volunteer to donor.
• Identify individuals in our networks with giftings for social media. Build a social media presence with vulnerability, while maintaining ethical storytelling standards.
Eastern & Southern Africa
• Invite Care Ministries to local churches to inspire church leaders and members to give for the noble cause. Show tangible reasons why they should give and how their funds are changing lives.
• Hire an expert in the field of fundraising to raise funds.
• Partner with other organizations who are doing the same with large scale results.
Latin America
• One-on-one relationships, personal conversations, and chat invitations- There is more privacy to ask questions in these settings.
• Work together. Connect and talk with one person, build that relationship and think about what you can do together. Share needs and prayer requests.
• Be reliable and less emotional. Have well-defined projects and do what you say you will.
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Middle East
• Be transparent with finances and managing the fund for the ministry/project. Reporting on where the money has been spent shows trustworthiness. Provide donors with a detailed report discreetly on where the money was spent, no matter how big or small the amount is.
• Buil a wide network of connections. Spread the vision of the project and where donors can contribute.
• Work on the pitch of your project. Determine where the need is specifically and communicate this effectively to donors.
• Sometimes we need to seek not only financial support. Sometimes we need to seek people with the heart and passion to serve, not to give only financially, but to give of their time and skills.
Western & Central Africa
• Access funding through friends, family, and high profile individuals using strategies such as dinner and meals together.
• Peer-to-peer funding: Use videos, podcasts, and blog posts. Leverage personal networks and social media, using mobile money transfers (Momo Number).
• Access grants from businesses and churches.
cafo.org/global
This document was published in collaboration with CAFO Research Center
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