Are you looking for funding for your Non-Profit Organization? Whether you are in the process of forming a Non-Profit Organization (NPO), or your Non Profit is already established, sourcing funds continues to be an essential part of your NPO’s existence. Luckily for you, that process is now easier than ever.
Non Profit Organizations are an essential part of every society today because of the role they play in helping to carry out development projects, thus easing the load on governments. All over the world, NPO plays a role in providing essential infrastructure directly to the people, and many of them also build human capital development as well as assist vulnerable members of society.
It therefore no secret that Governments and corporate organizations the world over make effort to help NPOs thrive. One of the ways that NPOs can be assisted is by providing funding for them. To find out how to access funding for your NPO read the rest of the article.
NPO Funding In South Africa – All You Need To Know
Getting Funding
You have to start by getting a funding application form from the Directorate of Non-Profits. These forms are available all year round, but it must be stated that certain projects receive priority funding while others are seen as fewer priority projects and are funded as such.
The Directorate of Non-Profits releases a publication at the beginning of each financial year, stating which projects are high priority projects. This publication is usually released around April or March. You get the registration online on the Directorates Website http://www.npo.org.za/FormsDocuments/03%20NPO%20APPLICATION%20FORM%202018.pdf . Once the organization has been registered you can go ahead and apply for funding.
What You Need
In order to be eligible to receive funding, the law states that you have to provide your financial report. You have to do this within six months of the end of the financial year, and you also have to report any changes in the organizational structure of your organization.
How to Apply for Sponsorship
As an NGO you are not expected to make a profit. You just need sufficient money to carry out your activities. Aside from government funding which we have highlighted above, you can also get sponsorship or funding from private organizations as well. They get their money from private individuals, corporate organizations, investments, fundraising activities, and product sales.
To get private Sponsorships, you have to meet the specific requirements of each of the donors. Almost every donor organization stipulates what they need to see from each intending NPO, but they generally want to see your mission statement which shows what the NPO is all about. They also want to see your track record; showing what projects you have successfully completed, and the impact that the said projects have had on society at large. They also want to see your financial records; being evidence of financial prudence.
Every year, major donor organizations publicize their intentions to provide funding to NPOs working in specific areas. If your NPO falls into the category of those that they wish to fund, then you can go ahead and apply for the funding, following the stipulated rules that they give you.
Here is a recap of How to Get Funding From Private Donors
Go to the website of the donor or sponsor
Read and Study their Guidelines, as well as their requirements, and the exact manner that they want you to make the application.
Register for the grant or sponsorship.
Most times they want a detailed description of how the money will be utilized. It is important to supply them with that information.
Most sponsors want to know your track record, they want to know what other [projects that you have successfully carried out.
It is important to have your organizations’ registration documents so that they know that your NPO is duly registered with the relevant authorities.
Sometimes they want to see evidence of financial prudence; that usually means showing a copy of your financial records, at least for the preceding year. Some organizations may want to see documentation stretching a little farther than one year; maybe 2 or 3 years of good financial spending.
We think it is a Good Idea to Mention Some Sponsors
The following are some reputable corporate organizations that have been providing funding for Non-Profit Organizations, and which we believe will continue to provide this money. These are dependable sources of funding money, well recognized within the NPO community.
The MTN Foundation
The MTN Foundation is the charity arm of the MTN Group which is South Africa’s premier provider of mobile telephone communication, and internet data. The company which is now present in several other African countries can be well regarded as a communications giant.
The MTN Group, through the MTN Foundation, sets aside a portion of its profits every year to donate to charitable causes. The call to action inviting NPOs to bid for sponsorship is usually done at the start of the year.
Lotto
The National Lotteries Commission is a government agency that is tasked with monitoring the activities of all Lotteries in the country. Every year this organization sets aside some money that is donated to NPOs all across the nation. They usually make this announcement at the beginning of the year
The U.S Embassy
The US embassy also has gained a reputation for being a cheerful giver. They provide sponsorship, grants, and other funding for good causes, not only in South Africa but all over the continent and beyond. Sometimes, the US Embassy even calls on NPOs to act as partners with them in order to tackle some specific problem. They provide the funds, while you do the work. The invitation to apply for funding is usually done at the beginning of the year.
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Conclusion:
There are many different organizations that provide funding for NPOs, one just needs to keep his eyes open. They usually make the announcement in the mass media, including the newspapers. However, we must state that we cannot vouch for the selection process of any of the donors- even those that are mentioned in this article. We, therefore, urge you to ensure that you met their requirements before applying.