What is Fundraising and National Funds?
Good social, educational and innovation initiatives often fail to move forward for lack of resources, not of ideas. Fundraising seeks out and secures those resources from national funds, international cooperation, companies and acceleration programs.
We map the funding sources that fit each initiative, review eligibility, structure the proposals and support the application through to signing.
Once the resources are secured, we manage the relationship with the partner: reports, fulfillment of commitments and new funding opportunities.
The problems clients bring us
Where are there resources for our initiative?
Scattered calls for proposals and funds that nobody tracks systematically.
Do we meet the requirements?
Applications lost because of formal requirements, documents or deadlines.
Is our proposal convincing?
Proposals that describe activities but don’t clearly show the problem, the logic of change or the budget.
Do we depend on a single funder?
Initiatives at risk when a call for proposals ends or a priority changes.
Do we deliver what we promised the partner?
Late reports and commitments without follow-up that damage the relationship.
How do we move from calls for proposals to long-term partnerships?
Relationships that end with the project instead of growing.
Our approach, applied to Fundraising and National Funds
The same four phases of «Our approach», with what we do and what we deliver in each one.
The path of a fundraising program
- 01Source mappingFunds, cooperation, companies and accelerators that fit the initiative.
- 02StructuringTheory of change, budget, indicators and annexes.
- 03ApplicationSupport in each prioritized call through to signing.
- 04EngagementCommitments up to date and new opportunities with each partner.
- 05ReportingOn-time reports for funders and partners.
We use a problem-solving structure to frame hypotheses.
We review the initiative, its theory of change, the budget and the available documentation to find out how ready it is to apply.
DeliverableDiagnosis of the initiative and its readinessWe break the problem down into a MECE structure.
Sources are organized by type and prioritized by thematic fit, amount, deadlines and likelihood of success.
DeliverableFunding sources mapWe build the business cases and the structure of each initiative.
We structure and write the proposals, with budget, indicators and annexes, and support the application in each prioritized call.
DeliverableProposals and applicationsWe provide support with a dedicated, full-time on-site team within the organization.
Once the resources are approved, we manage reports, commitments and the relationship with each partner, and keep the opportunity map up to date.
DeliverablePartner management
What does the diagnosis review?
Funding ladder by source
- From calls for proposals to long-term partnerships
- 01National calls and fundsCompetitive funding, with defined requirements and deadlines.
- 02Acceleration programsResources and support to grow the initiative.
- 03International cooperationFunding for programs with a theory of change and reporting.
- 04Partnerships with companies and foundationsLong-term relationships that grow with every project.
- Initiative and theory of changeProblem, population, logic of change and expected results.
- Funding sourcesNational funds, cooperation, companies and accelerators.
- Eligibility and requirementsFormal conditions, documents and deadlines.
- Budget and matching fundsCosts, co-financing and sustainability.
- Execution capacityTeam, experience and partners to deliver.
- Partner relationshipsReports, follow-up and new opportunities.
How is funding secured?
Each opportunity goes through a cycle from mapping to partner management, and what is learned feeds the next application.
The cycle of a funding opportunity
- 01Source mapping
- 02Eligibility
- 03Proposal
- 04Application
- 05Partner management
- New opportunities with the partner
What stays in your organization
- Funding sources map
- Funds and calls prioritized by fit, amount and calendar.
- Proposals and applications
- Complete proposals, with budget and indicators, submitted on time.
- Partner management
- Reports and follow-up on commitments that strengthen the relationship.
- Calendar of calls for proposals
- Dates, requirements and owners for each opportunity.
- Institutional kit
- Documents, validated figures and presentations ready for new applications.
Where do we apply it?
Led by Benká Social Venture, with the rest of the holding when the challenge calls for it.
