September 2004

Editorial

Helping technology serve you

Funds and finances often bear a large significance to voluntary organisations. After all, every penny saved can be rightly utilised to give impetus to a deserving project; and computer technology has been a rather effective means to this end.

Technology is being widely used to spread awareness about organisations, with some of you already boasting of a website. While user-friendly, informative websites speak well for your work, they cost nothing as compared to advertising. Most voluntary organisations in the West, also use their websites to accept online donations and fundraise, although this has not been so easy in India owing to phenomenal costs of payment gateways.

Email can be used to reach out to your donors, who are always willing to know more about the cause they have contributed to. Our 'Tips' section covers some ideas on how to use email and how they can result in cost savings. Simply-designed newsletters are yet another way to talk about your work or generate interest in any subject.

One of the most benevolent aspects of computer technology is perhaps, that it leaves you with a well maintained database of donors.

Technological improvements may mean high initial costs of course, so it's best to seek help from donors or large multinational firms, that are willing to donate old machines. And if spends on licenced software look difficult, it's best to use Open Source technology, not pirated software!

                                           -The Editor

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FR Snapshot

Employees of vMoksha Technologies, Bangalore, raised approximately Rs. 30,000 over two evenings, while aunctioning paintings made by girls of the Navjeevana orphanage, supported by the company. Made by 36 girls from Navjeevana and 12 vMoksha employees' children, these paintings were made at a contest conducted for the children during vMoksha's annual family day celebrations.

To add a “fun element” to vMoksha's Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) initiative, an auction was organised in the office premises. The CSR committee was pleasantly surprised to find that paintings expected to be sold for Rs 150-200, were sold for Rs 300- 400, which was also the average selling price. The highlight of the auction was a painting that sold for Rs 5,000. “An auction creates a spirit of participation among employees who might not otherwise be moved to contribute for a cause such as this,” said a vMoksha spokesperson.

Evoking a good response from the employees, vMoksha plans to donate a computer, a printer and library books to the Navjeevana girls, from the proceeds of the auction. Citing it to be their most effective fundraising effort that involved the employees too, vMoksha Chairman and CEO, Mr Pawan Kumar said, “Knowledge and learning must be shared by all irrespective of their position in society. This has been our endeavour and will continue to be so as we move on and look at expanding this initiative."

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News in Brief

What's happening?

The 2004 Asia Pacific NGO Awards
The winners of the 2004 Asia Pacific NGO Awards organised by the Resource Alliance and Citigroup have been announced. Aimed at recognising and rewarding professionalism in the non-profit sector, the winners were chosen for their strategic approach to resource mobilisation, effectiveness of their programmes, transparency and accountability in dealing with donors, beneficiaries, and the public. Winners include Society for the Aged, Hong Kong SAR; Institut Dayakologi, Indonesia; Shelter Home for Children, Malaysia; Philippine Business for Social Progress, Philippines; Singapore Children’s Society, Singapore; Corporation Leftovers Love Sharing Community, South Korea, Garden of Hope,Taiwan; and Foundation for Child Development, Thailand. For more information visit http://www.resource-alliance.org

Raising funds for the Red Cross
Tim Nicholson, 36, and Joanne Bowlt, 35, have undertaken a unique adventure to raise funds for the Red Cross, U.K. They have proposed to drive from Oxford in U.K. to Oxford in New Zealand, in a little black Morris Oxford car. They hope to complete the journey by early 2005. While soliciting coprorate sponsorships for their travel, communication, accommodation and shipment of the car, they are raising funds locally and online, through the interest generated in their adventure. Anecdotes of their adventure can be read at http://www.oxford2oxford.co.uk, where credit cards can also be used to send donations, all of which go towards the work of the British Red Cross in the U.K., the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 

iVolunteer Overseas Program seeks volunteers
iVolunteer Overseas Program is recruiting volunteers for the third batch of Indian VSO Volunteers to work in the developing countries of Asia and Africa. VSO volunteering assignments last for two years and the volunteers are provided with travel assistance, grants, training support and a monthly allowance during the period of their placements. Volunteers are expected to have skills in NGO management, IT training, Micro finance and Small Business Advice and Fundraising. For more details visit http://www.ivoindia.org

Colonial Cousins come together for Dream A Dream
"Colonial Cousins", A. Hariharan ("Hari") and Leslie ("Lezz") Lewis came together again for a mesmerizing performance in support of Dream A Dream on 26th September 2004, in Bangalore. The proceeds from the sponsored event (Seamless Ventures, DSP Black, Reliance Infocomm, Moods Condoms), are expected to be utilized for a Corpus to set up "The Dream Home", a unique learning center where children from vulnerable communities will learn critical life skills. More details can be had at http://www.dreamadream.org

Bombay Vikings play for Indian Disabled League
Event management company IDL Group, started a foundation last year called Indian Disabled League, which was ceremoniously launched by Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar. This year, to celebrate their first anniversary, they had Bombay Vikings playing for them at a charity dinner in Bangalore. Raising funds from the event, IDL has a new project called 'NEST', which looks at making a Disabled Talent Hostel for challenged children with untapped talents.

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Tip of the month

Using email to communicate with donors

E-mail is an effective way for voluntary organisations to communicate with existing and potential donors. Here are a few advantages of using email:

• A fast growing segment of donors is now on email. Chances are that over a quarter of your donors would be accessing their email everyday.
• A variety of communicative messages can be sent frequently using emails, Eg. newsletters, surveys, alerts on specific work/ projects, appeals, invitations.
• Cost of design is negligible, and that of printing and postage, nil.
• Effective and fast way to advocate issues. Email that can be easily forwarded to any part of the globe, can carry details of your organisation in its signature too.
  
• Replies can be received faster than that from postal mail.
• Online email readers are likely to visit any websites and links mentioned in your communication material faster than postal mail readers.
• Potential donors can be cultivated using online donation links via email.
• Donors like to hear from organisations they support. The more you keep them informed, the more they are likely to respond. Email only makes this communication easier and faster.

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Getting started in communication by Michael Norton and Purba Dutt, Sage Publications

Getting Started in Communication, a companion volume to Michael Norton's and Murray Culshaw's Getting Started in Fundraising (Sage), is a good starting point for most people working in the voluntary sector. Aimed at India and South Asia, the book stresses on the importance of communication and public relations and gives practical advice on specific techniques. Covering different means of communicating with the donor community, the book uses lucid language and is replete with examples, case studies, practical suggestions, and exercises for the reader. It also has tips on every aspect of communication like tackling the media, tracking feedback and responses, various communication media, some do and don'ts, and so on. A useful book for both beginners and experienced readers, this book unveils a lot of micro and macro issues that voluntary organisations should consider in their communication methods and materials.

Site review

www.karmayog.com

This Mumbai based initiative provides a good link between voluntary organisations and volunteers based in the city. The free site enables individuals and corporates to volunteer their time, talent, money and resources through activities like volunteering, mentoring, providing materials/ services (free or at reduced costs) to Mumbai based voluntary organisations, educational institutions, medical establishments, etc. The comprehensive site has dedicated sections for vounteers, corporates and non-profit organisations to announce their availability and needs respectively. Organisations could ask for volunteers, materials, dedicated staff, services, sponsors and so on, while corporates could give products/ services and volunteers could donate time, mentoring services, etc. Also on the site, are details on Mumbai based organisations, useful statistics, volunteer tales and general information on the sector. Karmayog can be accessed at http://www.karmayog.com
       

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends, associates and anyone who might be interested. And do send in your queries and suggestions to training@fundraising-india.org

MCC-- Murray Culshaw Consulting Pvt Ltd serves the voluntary sector in India. We offer training and direct support on communication and fundraising, undertake research on related issues, publish books and maintain a database of about 8,000 organisations in India. Contact us at:  2nd Floor  Vijay Kiran Building  314/1  7^th Cross  Domlur Layout Bangalore 560 071  India  Tel: 91-80-2535 2003/ 5115 0582
email: training@fundraising-india.org  website: www.fundraising-india.org