FUNDRAISING IN DIFFICULT PLACES

Aboagye T. Mintah, IMANI Center for Policy and Education

ATLAS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

SEPTEMBER, 2015

THE STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENTATION

Review IMANIS revenue structure
Explore the variety of donors that think tanks can target

Participants understand how to carry out donor research and

its importance to the fundraising process.

Participants practice donor research and receive feedback

IMANIS FUND RAISING STRUCTURE AND

MODEL
Percentage

12%

0%
20%

68%

Individual

International Foundations

Corporate donations/contracts

Government

TYPES OF DONORS AVAILABLE

(AFRICAN THINK TANKS)
Individual Donors
Corporate Donors (Private Sector)

International/Multilateral Donors- International Foundations/ Multilateral

aid agencies/Bilateral Aid Programs

Government/ Public Sector funding programs

THINK TANK REVENUE SOURCES

Revenue sources for the GDN-15 and TTI-48 Think Tanks

Percentage Distribution

Revenue sources

International Organizations

72

Contracts from domestic Government

agencies

Grants from domestic foundations and

other non-profit organizations
Contracts from domestic for-profit firms

Other (Publications, course fees, dues)

11

Source: Data from the 2010 and 2011 surveys for GDN and TTI respectively

CHALLENGES OF INTERNATIONAL
OVERDEPENDENCE
Vulnerabilities as a result of declining international funding sources
Lack of control of topic/ loss of identity and sometimes philosophy

(inadequate restricted funding)

Short term nature of many project funding opportunities ( IMANI has

received funding from the World Bank, OSIWA, STARR Ghana for
projects not exceeding one year)

WHY UNDERTAKE DONOR RESEARCH

Significantly improve your chances of getting funding
Managing a variety of information helps enhance your relationship with

donor allowing you to access more funding over time

Significantly improves your overall fundraising effort

DONOR RESEARCH APPROACH

Establish clearly which types of Donors are being targeted and

thus the information required.

Build a Database (Identify Individuals/ Companies/ International

orgs/government agencies to be targeted)

Sources: Mailing list, Key Blog commentators, Acquaintances

from important events, Networks of Board Members etc.

PROSPECTIVE INDIVIDUAL DONORS

What to look for
Philanthropic history
Wealth Data
Specific interest (entrepreneurship/politics/good governance etc.)
Political ideologies

Where to look
Social media (LinkedIn, Twitter)
Google Alerts
Internet search (particularly reports from credible local media)
Identify and speak to people in his/her inner circle

PROSPECTIVE CORPORATE DONORS

What to look for
Philanthropic history ( CSR/ Developmental projects/ causes supported in the past)
Operating philosophies/Corporate guiding principles (corporate objectives)
What returns on investment will most appeal to them

Where to look
Company websites
Annual reports

Industry reports
Monitor speeches of key principals
Speak to employees

INTERNATIONAL DONORS
What to look for
Operating philosophies
Which type of organizations supported

Funding modules
The fundraising process

Where to look
Organizations websites
Speak to other beneficiaries
Speak to employees, specifically those designated to support applicants

GOVERNMENT AID
Which type of organizations receive funding

Funding modules
The fundraising process
What are the potential strings that the funding comes with

Where to look
Government websites
Speak to other beneficiaries
Speak to employees

IMPORTANT ETHICS TO BE NOTED

Be honest with your purpose and identity in the research and

information seeking process.

Respect privacy rules (individual & corporate donor research)
Do not use unethical methods to obtain information. It may

come back to haunt you later in the fundraising process.

POINTS TO NOTE ABOUT INDIVIDUAL AND

CORPORATE DONATIONS/SPONSORSHIP
Think projects not just financial support
Think ROI (not necessarily money but also goodwill, quality

media coverage, brand association, quality experiences)

People support what they create

Q&A
THANK YOU & HAPPY KUDI HUNTING