fundsforNGOs founder, Sameer Zuhad, was recently interviewed for the 14th issue of NTEN: Change is Out – “Fundraising in the Digital Age”. Read an except here and the full story at NTEN.
From a modest informal blog to a social enterprise with a community of over 100,000 members, learn how Sameer Zuhad founded fundsforNGOs to help build the fundraising capacity of NGOs in developing countries.
Q: Why did you start fundsforNGOs?
A: fundsforNGOs was started as an informal blog back in 2008 when I was posted in Kathmandu, Nepal by an international NGO. I was tasked with building the fundraising capacity of five local NGOs, yet during my extensive research on funding sources, I realized that unlike in some developed countries, there was a not a single reference website that offered fundraising information for NGOs in developing countries.
I took it upon myself to create a site dedicated to supporting NGOs in developing countries to access funds and build their capacity, with an aim of creating a better world. The site provided fundraising resources, funding alerts, foundation profiles, funding guides, and other materials, all developed in an easy to digest format that would enable people from every country in the world to benefit.
The impact was almost instant, with thousands of organic searches landing on the blog in just a few weeks. I quickly realized that the knowledge gap and demand for funding information was even bigger than I had imagined. In just a few years the site became so popular that it evolved from a hobby to a full time job and the organization it is today.
Q: One of the goals of fundsforNGOs is to “digitally empower” NGOs by increasing their access to donors, resources, and skills. Can you tell us how that’s going?
A: fundsforNGOs initially targeted small and medium-sized NGOs in developing countries for whom access to information was still a challenge. Common problems in these environments are limited knowledge about grant information, poor bandwidth issues, undeveloped proposal writing skills, unfamiliarity with donor research, and a lack of awareness of online tools.
fundsforNGOs addresses these issues by organizing information on fundraising so that it is accessible to audiences in the developing world. We take great care to simplify often complicated funding information to enable people and NGOs from all over the world to benefit, regardless of educational background and resources.
Since 2008 we have produced a wealth of resource guides that offer practical tips, advice, and strategies to access funds and build the capacity of development organizations. These materials have enabled tens of thousands of people and NGOs to develop their skills and create new opportunities for their cause. Whether it is providing information on how to develop a complex proposal, or operate a local fundraising event, fundsforNGOs aims to empower people at the grassroots level to make a positive impact on their communities.
fundsforNGOs aims to empower people at the grassroots level to make a positive impact on their communities. Over the years, we have observed how fundsforNGOs is valued by grassroots NGOs as well as by some of the biggest development organizations in the world. We have worked with UN Women, GlobalGiving, and MasterPeace among others to develop greater understanding between donors and recipients, showcase their work, and drive applications to their latest funding opportunities.
Our passionate community of NGOs and development professionals from over 150 countries around the world, combined with donors both big and small, has led fundsforNGOs to become a true information marketplace for the entire development community. We’ve been able to grow by leveraging the Internet and digital tools to reach people wherever they are and whatever their circumstances, to create a better world.
Read the full article in the 14th issue of NTEN: Change is Out – “Fundraising in the Digital Age” by clicking here.
