Introduction–
Many NGOs around the world who work on disability issues need funding to reach their goals. Fundsforngos receives many inquiries about donor funding for disability programs, both from grassroots organizations in developing countries and large international NGOs.
Identifying donors for disability programs can be a challenge. This useful how-to guide provides tips, tricks, and other materials that can help. This basic guide also provides answers to frequently asked questions about funding and how to successfully apply for disability-related grants.
Is there money for disability programs?
Though we do not have exact data for global funding for disability programs, the data from the United States is illustrative. Since 2003, US foundations have provided over 57,000 grants for NGOs working for the disabled with well over 1,000 grants going to NGOs outside the US. We can expect funders in other countries to provide significant funding for this issue as well.
Where do I start?
As a first step, it is important to collect information within the NGOs. Ask yourself the following questions before researching donors and applying for funding-
- What do I need funding for?
Do you have a clearly developed program that requires funding? To identify a good donor and submit a successful application, you need to be very clear about what you are going to implement and what results (impact) the program is going to achieve. As an NGO, one should have a short summary of the program listing the purpose, goals, and strategy of the program in question. Note that donors all have different aims and requirements that you need to match with your program. These specific aims and requirements are not always clearly described online or in other materials.
- How much do we need?
Make a budget for the program in question and identify the amount of resources needed. It is important to closely match the budget you are asking for with the typical grant size the donor provides. Can one small grant cover the entire program, or do we need several donors to do this?
Answering these questions will give us a better understanding of how to research donors that potentially offer support for our program.
How to conduct donor research
How do we go about finding donors that offer grants?
- Sign up for fundsforngos.org and other newsletters that provide funding information on grants
- Check websites and annual reports of NGOs that are of a similar size and scope to your NGO to identify donors that fund them
- Check databases of funders (e.g. the Foundation Center’s Foundation Directory Online in the US)
- Check donor websites for guidelines and funding criteria
- Ask peers and colleagues for suggestions
Resources
Fundsforngos.org
https://fundsforngos.org/tag/disability/
Fundsforngos is an online initiative, working for the sustainability of NGOs by increasing their access to donors, resources, and skills. It uses technology to spread knowledge and increase capacity. It has a wide range of resources and information available of interest to those working in the field of disability.
Disability Funders Network
http://www.disabilityfunders.org/
Disability Funders Network (DFN) is a US based membership and philanthropic advocacy organization that seeks equality and rights for disabled individuals and communities by bridging philanthropic resources, disability and community. DFN serves as a resource for donors and community groups to increase and strengthen institutional giving to disability communities; provides regular and reliable research on philanthropy about — and to — disability communities; brings together and broadens the base of disability funders to improve grantmaking and organizational capacity for disability rights, including racial, economic and social justice.
Disability Rights Fund
The Disability Rights Fund (DRF) seeks to strengthen the participation of Disabled Persons’ Organizations in the advancement of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at country level in the Global South and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union. DRF provides grants to disabled persons organizations at country-level in the Global South, Middle East/North Africa and Eastern Europe/former Soviet Union to support the advancement of rights: http://www.disabilityrightsfund.org/grantmaking.
Foundation Center. Funding for People with Disabilities: A Resource List
http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/topical/disabilities.html
This list contains citations to print resources, as well as links to web sites and online resources from a variety of public and private organizations that are useful to individuals with disabilities and the nonprofit organizations that support them.
Disability Grants: Your Guide to Grants for the Disabled
http://www.disability-grants.org/
Information, news, and resources on grants to persons with disabilities from organizations in the United Kingdom.
Small grants for NGOs
https://fundsforngos.org/guides/small-grants-ngos/
This brief resource guide explains the concept of small grants and how to apply for grants. The guide also mentions the types of organizations that can successfully pursue small grants.
Association of Charitable Foundations
http://www.acf.org.uk/aboutus/?id=68
The Association of Charitable Foundations based in the United Kingdom is an organization that supports foundations all throughout the UK and is dedicated towards research on grantmaking, policy work, philanthropy, and other activities. The information provided about the ACF displays the latest financial statements and annual reports, as well as detailed resources on different areas relevant to the organization such as trusts and foundations, strategies on seeking funding, events, etc.
How to find grant funds and write a grant proposal
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/trade/howtodogrants.htm #The%20Proposal%20Budget:
This useful resource explains how NGOs can write a proposal and plan a budget. The guide highlights the steps needed to write grant proposals by thoroughly outlining the key requirements for submission.
International Grants
http://www.baringfoundation.org.uk/Internationalgrants.htm
This site displays information about the Baring Foundation, an organization based in the UK dedicated to the protection of disadvantaged people who face discrimination. It lists the top 50 grants that were made under the program from 2001 to 2012. The foundation focuses on promoting an independent civil society and helps the disadvantaged by enabling them to acquire better education and improve their quality of life. The organization is geared towards the provision of small grants to other local civil society NGOs.
Grant making by Trusts in the UK
This informative report looks at the statistical data concerning NGOs and grantmaking in the UK. The report produced by the Charities Aid Foundation and Association of Charitable Foundations (ACF) provides detailed analysis of grantmaking activities by its members.
Top 100 foundations based on asset size.
http://foundationcenter.org/findfunders/topfunders/top100assets.html
The list includes the 100 largest U.S. grantmaking foundations ranked by the market value of their assets, based on the most current audited financial data in the Foundation Center’s database as of August 10, 2013
Strategy
How do I contact these donors?
Once you have identified a list of potential donors, reach out to them via email or phone, and request a meeting in person (if they are located in the country/city where you work) or by phone/Skype (if they are located elsewhere). Once you make contact, be sure to ask more about their goals and strategies. What is it they want from an NGO? Next, provide information on your NGO and project and propose that you send them a short concept note that outlines a program in which they could be interested.
What shall we send them?
Send the donor a brief concept note that summarizes the program and budget. Do not send them a big proposal with annexes unless they have asked for this specifically. Be sure to set a date to follow-up with this donor. Answer any questions they might have and ask for feedback.
Getting to yes!
If the donor is not interested, thank them for their time and indicate you will get back to them in the future. Try again with a revised or different concept note six months or so later. No often means – not now – so don’t give up too quickly. If the donor is interested, they will often ask you for a more detailed proposal. Keep your fingers crossed for them to say yes!
This resource guide was created in collaboration with Philantropia Inc. Philantropia Inc., an international fundraising consulting firm, helps organizations around the world to more effectively raise funds.
For further information on this resource guide please contact fundsforngos.org
Email: info@fundsforngos.org
