From Faith to Action - Faith to Action Initiative

Take Responsible Risks when Establishing New PartnershipsIf an organization has community buy-in, a plan of action, a track record ofactivities, and a body of volunteers, that organization can be a good candidate forfunding, even if it has never before received outside funds. Reviewing proposedactivities and budgets, consulting with respected individuals and groups thatcan vouch for an organization, and conducting site visits are all good ways toevaluate a community group for funding. Small initial one-year grants can helpa donor see how an organization will manage new funds. Once a relationship isestablished, multi-year funding enables an organization to plan ahead and buildon its programs.Fund in Amounts that Make Sense for a CommunityDonors need to be sensitive to the ability of community organizations to absorband utilize funds. The size of grants should be matched to the actual needsand management capabilities of the organization. Small grants in the range of$500 to $5,000 can make a tremendous difference to emerging organizations.As organizations increase both their administrative capacity and their range ofprograms or numbers served, they are able to handle larger grants.Fund More than Just Project CostsIt is diffi cult to run effective programs when all outside funds are restricted onlyto direct services. As organizations grow, they need money to pay for rent, utilities,staff salaries, and offi ce supplies. Assistance with capital expenses, such ascomputers and building costs, can help an organization expand. These expensesshould remain balanced in relationship to program costs, but covering at leastsome administrative or capital expenses allows organizations to focus moreeffectively on assisting those in need.The impact of HIV/AIDSin Africa is overwhelming,but it is far from hopeless.There are many ways fordonors to make a difference.Provide Support for Documentation and MonitoringOrganizations need to be able to document their programs, results, and lessonslearned so that they can monitor their progress and share their work withpeer groups, policy makers, and donors. Documentation takes extra time andresources, and often requires training in new skills. Donor funds to supportthese activities help ensure that groups can build on their successes and accessadditional funding to continue their work.Help Build CapacityMany community groups, especially those working in rural areas, have never hadthe opportunity to network with other organizations. Providing opportunities fordifferent organizations to come together and share their work reduces isolation,increases learning, and enables collaboration on many levels. Managementtraining, workshops, and conference participation help organizations build theiradministrative and program skills. Donors can provide funds to help communityorganizations access networks, information, and technical support. There aremany African non-governmental organizations experienced in providing technicalassistance. It is best to link groups with these organizations, rather than trying toprovide direct assistance from the outside.25