Resource Mobilization for Family Planning Programs

Step 1: Research international funding opportunities

• Scan the environment to see what funding opportunities exist. You can find this information on the Internet, at conferences, on social media, and through colleagues. You can research funding provided by the S. Government, the Global Fund, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others. See the list on the Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) Resource Mobilization Implementation Kit (IKit) for ideas of other funding organizations to research.
• Track these opportunities and create a list for consideration. See the SBCC Resource Mobilization IKit for helpful templates for tracking funders and investors.
• Review the list and determine the high-priority opportunities to pursue, ensuring that the chosen opportunities are in line with your program’s goals and objectives.

Step 2: Approach funders and investors

• Once you have prioritized your list, you can begin to develop relationships with donors and funders. If the funder has an office in your country (as is often the case with USAID and other bilateral donors), you could request an in-person meeting.
• Whether your meeting is a formal presentation or a more informal meeting, prepare the following information:
  • Your organization/project name, vision and mission
  • The opportunity your organization would like to offer (or currently offers) for which you would like additional funding (make sure to tie this to your vision and mission)
  • How your organization is uniquely positioned and qualified to deliver the proposed opportunity

Step 3: Complete a risk assessment and analyze proposal requests

• After reviewing information about potential funding opportunities and approaching potential funders, it is time to determine which opportunities to pursue. Funders often issue Requests for Proposals (RFP), Requests for Application (RFA) or other mechanisms through which you can apply for funding. These requests detail the geographic region, funding amount, timeline and other details of the program they plan to fund.
• In reviewing the various opportunities, it is important to measure the costs and benefits of pursuing each one. A helpful tool for assessing risks can be found on the SBCC Resource Mobilization iKit.
• After deciding to respond to a procurement, it is important for your entire team to read through and analyze the request. You may also want to develop an outline as you review the request.
• As you read the request, pay special attention to the following:
  • Results the funder is seeking
  • Program components
  • Request for key staff
  • Available funding and project duration
  • Deadline for submission
  • Submission requirements
  • Evaluation criteria
  • Other key information and requirements

Step 4: Assemble your team and write the proposal

• The first step in managing this process is developing a proposal team. The team should be made up of at least two people, including a budget person and a technical writer. Ideally, a number of other people would also be included on the team, including a proposal manager, a technical/program expert and a recruiting/staffing expert.
• Once your team is in place, you can write your proposal. Most proposals contain the following sections: executive summary; technical approach; work plan and timeline; monitoring and evaluation; management and staffing plan; capability statement; and cost proposal. See the SBCC Resource Mobilization iKit for proposal and grant application templates.
• It is important to designate at least one reviewer – someone who has not worked on the story – to review your proposal prior to you submitting it to ensure that it is realistic, clear, compelling and well-written. The reviewer ideally would be familiar with the request for proposals and thus could also provide comments on the responsiveness of your proposal to the needs of the funder as outlined in the request.

Step 1: Develop a fundraising plan

• Before beginning to fundraise, it is important to be strategic and develop a detailed, yet straightforward, business plan. An organization that helps nonprofits raise funds, called the Fundraising Authority, publishes Fundraising Basics that can help you think through different ways of raising funds. Another organization dedicated to helping nonprofits, The Society for Nonprofits, has a Fundraising Guide that can also be helpful in this process. The basic steps outlined in the guide are:
  • Identify a fundraising specialist
  • Update your vision and mission statements
  • Assess the world outside your door
  • Assess the world inside your organization
  • Evaluate your programs and services
  • Make your organization more visible
  • Gather descriptive materials
  • Start raising funds
• A fundraising plan template and example can be found on the SBCC Resource Mobilization IKit.

Step 2: Write a fundraising proposal

• Fundraising proposals should tell the “story” of your organization and/or program in a compelling way. The story must be persuasive and convincing while also being transparent and sound — back up your statements and assertions with evaluation data whenever possible (hence why evaluating your programs and services prior to fundraising is so important).
• A guide for structuring your fundraising proposal, as well as a fundraising proposal example, can be found on the SBCC Resource Mobilization iKit. 

Step 3: Hold a fundraising event

Crowdfunding and in-person events are two options to consider when conducting fundraising.

• Crowdfunding, primarily done through online platforms, is when an organization raises money from a large number of individuals and/or organizations.
  • Kickstarter and GoFundMe are examples of crowdfunding platforms based in North America. Both are easy to use and can be easily shared through social media sites. Other crowdfunding platforms based in other areas of the world include Thundafund, Startme, Jumpstarter and FundFind, all based in South Africa, and M-Changa, which is based in Kenya. Other countries are also developing similar sites.
  • To develop a successful crowdfunding campaign, review the tips compiled by FundRazr, a crowdfunding platform.
• In-person events can also be a great option for fundraising, and in many areas are the most common way to raise funds. You can consider informal or formal dinners, receptions, breakfasts or even sporting events.
  • To ensure a successful event, assemble a committee of staff, stakeholders and others; plan for logistics (location, food/beverages, transportation, etc.); and develop an agenda. You can also determine the invitation list and decide how to send invitations (email, in-person, etc.) and how to target your key audience(s).

Remember to keep in mind the overall goal of the event during the planning process. You may want to have a speaker during the event, or you could have it be more of an informal networking event. You will also need to determine the mechanism for raising funds. Will you charge for admission, accept donations during the event, hold a silent auction, or collect money some other way? Fundraising events often require extensive staff time and resources, so be sure you do not spend more money on the event than the event itself generates!