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Fundraising Workshop
A two-day workshop on Strategic Fundraising
Planning & Fundraising Techniques was organised by Red Earth
Communication CC from 7-8 November 2008 at Namibia Red Cross
Society Headquarter. The purpose of this workshop for staff
and volunteer was to increase the understanding fundraising
and resource mobilisation, the funding environment and how
the organisation must organise itself to attract funding.
According to the owner of Red Earth Communication, Weddy
Adams-Arendorf, fundraising is one of the fastest growing
professions, a marketing process, requiring a solid
understanding of the total potential of support markets;
what turns them on and what turns them off.
You need to know what needs to be put into place in order
to make it a reality for your organisation. Successful
fundraising is not just a matter of luck or who you know,
but about selling an idea to someone who has the means to
make it happen, Adams-Arendorf explained.
You have to be able to convince a donor about your passion
and why it is important to the community and the betterment
of humankind. If you make the right impression from the very
beginning and nurture the relationship they will be willing
to help you by giving long term support, she emphasized.
The facilitator indicated that there are many ingredients in
a successful fundraising approach namely: a good project;
the credibility of the organisation; the individuals
involved in the work and the interest of the person being
approached. She added It is important to always be prepared
and knowledgeable and put your best foot forward right from
the start, make a good case for support, state your needs
clearly and then have the courage to ask for support.
Resource mobilization is one of the units of NRCS. This unit
aims to ensure the maximum support and resources from local,
national and international donors.
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