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We, at Venture for Fund Raising, stand in solidarity with all non-government organizations during this COVID-19 crisis. We understand that many organizations are facing difficulties in carrying out their missions while ensuring the health and safety of their staff, beneficiaries, volunteers, donors, and stakeholders. To help our non-profit partners, we compiled some resources below to assist you in making informed fund raising decisions as you continue your good work.

Grant opportunities. This list describes some of the available grant funding opportunities that accept applications from Philippine-based non-profits working in the following sectors:

Agriculture, Food, and Nutrition. Citypreneurs is accepting proposals from impact-driven teams who want to scale in Asia for projects that contribute to inclusive health and quality of life; digitalization for equal opportunities; the future of work and economy growth; sustainable agriculture and food; green energy and the environment; and a circular economy and the future of waste management.

Education. Non-profit organizations and schools are being invited to apply for funding for programs aligned with STEM education, hunger relief, and environmental preservation at Western Digital. At the Finnish National Board of Education, higher education institutions with partners in Finland can apply for an education cooperation grant.

Health. Social enterprises and non-government, non-profit, for-profit, and academic institutions with innovations that seek to promote mental health and well-being through community-based approaches and psychosocial educational methods may apply for a grant with Grand Challenges Canada. In the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Health Research is accepting applied health research proposals that primarily and directly address the challenges faced by people and patients in low- and middle-income countries.

Human Rights. The Rising Tide Foundation provides grants to projects that show tangible impacts in private sector solutions to societal problems, system change, the empowerment of individuals, and teaching freedom to untapped audiences.

Media. At the International Women's Media Foundation, professional journalists who identify as women (including trans women and non-binary individuals), as well as teams of journalists composed of at least 50% women, are invited to tap into their fund that supports the exposure of underrated but critical global issues; ambitious projects that challenge traditional media narratives; the development of field-based expertise; training and leadership opportunities; and entrepreneurial news projects.

Social Sciences. Researchers from any of the natural and social sciences and humanities are invited to apply for grant funding at the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation for research proposals that increase understanding of the causes, manifestations, and control of violence and aggression.

Sustainable Development. The Dutch Research Council (or NWO) is accepting grant proposals from experienced consortia for a research program that rigorously maps, analyzes, and explains the complex interaction of the sustainable development goals (SDGs), to inform integrated and evidence-based SDG policies in the Netherlands and around the world. An opportunity for Southeast Asian countries from the U.S. Mission to ASEAN for public service projects that improve communities by addressing civic engagement, economic growth, education, and/or sustainable development is also open.

Which sectors would you like us to look into for the grant opportunities we'll feature on our next newsletter? Tell us here!

Fund raising campaign evaluation. Given the increasing number of online campaigns since the onset of the quarantine period, we believe it's appropriate to share a simple campaign evaluation checklist of questions that you can run through in your next online staff meeting. Whether you have just finished a fund raising campaign, are in the middle of running one, or are planning one right now, identifying our metrics and assessing our campaign's performance is essential in the fund raising process. Needless to say, evaluating your fund raising campaign is key to improving your organization's capacity in finding the resources it needs to carry out your mission! 
 

4 ways to engage your donors. When large-scale quarantining measures were put into place, one of the first things everyone did was to check up on family and friends. The way we treat our donors should be no different; they are, after all, our friends! Despite the distance, here are some simple ways you can nurture your donor friendships and show them you care.

Reach out and empathize with them. Call, message, or email your donors to empathize with them and their families, and what they may be going through. With the coronavirus and lockdowns in place, many of your donors may be facing a variety of difficulties. They may be juggling their career life with their family life – some may have school-age children or elderly parents that they need to care for. They may be struggling to continue their businesses or they may be affected by their company layoffs. Showing genuine compassion during this crisis is a simple way to reciprocate the compassion they have shown to your cause and beneficiaries in the past. 

Keep them posted. Inform your donors about updates within your organization. Some examples include the measures you are taking to safeguard the well-being of your beneficiaries, what you are doing to support the health and safety of your staff, and how you are planning to implement your programs during the pandemic.

Although a lot is going on, donors care about your cause – that's why they supported you in the first place! Being transparent now will say a lot about how your organization is responding to the crisis and this can boost your donors' trust and confidence in your organization. In addition, this can help them gain a better understanding of your organization's needs when you do ask for their support later on.

Show them the impact of their donations. Let your donors know how their generous gifts have made a difference in people's lives, especially during this time. Make sure you have sufficient documentation of what their donations have helped you achieve, like the repacking and distribution of relief goods, the creation of community soup kitchens, provision of personal protective equipment (PPEs), or any other activities that your organization is undertaking. Share your documentation with your donors - whether through an email, newsletter, video, or photo album - and make sure to highlight their role in the entire endeavor. Last but not the least, don't forget to thank them!

Offer them other ways to help. Many of your donors may wish to do more for your cause but are unsure of how they can help. Inform your donors about the different ways they can be part of your organization aside from just giving. One simple way is to ask them to keep your beneficiaries and your organization in their thoughts and prayers. Donors who are active on social media can be asked to react to and share your organization's social media posts to help increase your online reach. Donors who are looking for deeper engagement can be offered opportunities to volunteer at your organization from the safety of their homes, or even set up an online fund raising campaign for you. Identify the priority needs of your organization and which types of activities you can offer your supporters, then spread the word far and wide!

The most important thing to remember now is that we are all in this together. Let's show the same empathy, compassion, and concern for our donors that they have shown our causes, even from afar. When this crisis ends, we will come out stronger together.
 

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