Like job recruiters trying to search information online about potential employees before appointing them, donors also try to find online as much details about an NGO before funding it. In fact, one of the preliminary stages of funding NGOs by some donors is to find them over the internet and then initiate contact with them to discuss possible partnerships.
So first of all, is your organization’s name available on the internet? Anywhere?
Check this out because even if you have not loaded any information about your organization over the internet, there may be someone else who may have done it. The best way to find it out is to visit www.google.com, type in the name of your organization and check the results.
If the name of your organization is listed, then check out if it gives a positive impression to your work. Someone who may have volunteered with your organization or someone who researched in your project area may have may have uploaded information about your organization.
It is important to ensure that all the information available on your organization is positive and it does not give any negative impression about your work.
In this context, the Fundraising staff can be involved in:
- Participating in web forums, social media networks like facebook twitter etc and online discussions by putting up messages such as the perspective of the organization over an issue or raising concerns for a cause. We have Developmentprofessionals.org where organizations can register, build their profiles, make friends, organize groups and participate in forums.
- Developing a website or a blog. In many cases, NGOs register a website and upload 5-6 pages on it and just forget it. This is not a good business practice. Websites should be made with attractive designs and should be updated regularly. Blogs can help organizations network and remain in touch with friends and partners across the globe. The fundraising staff can be involved in regularly updating the blog and also putting up multimedia like videos and images defining the work of the organization.
- Register at donor websites. Since now submission of proposals is accepted online by several donor organizations, it may be required for applicants to register first at their website before submitting the application. European Commission which has PADOR and US Government’s international funding, which accepts proposals through grants.gov, have made online registration of applicants mandatory. The fundraising staff can register the organization in these databases.
