Getting Started

Before your organization even begins to apply for grants, interviewees say that it is important to grantmakers that your organization:

Understand the needs in your community. What are the problems facing your community? How many people in your community are impacted by this problem? What are the root causes of this problem? Are your programs addressing the root causes?
• Involve the community. Make sure that you involve members of the community in decision-making. Ask your beneficiaries if your programs are helping and what you can do to make improvements.
• Be innovative. There are thousands of organizations doing meaningful work in Africa. What makes your organization unique? Be creative about the ways that you address problems in your community.
• Develop a sustainable model. This means that your organization should come up with ways to  function without relying on grants and external funding sources. For example, some organizations start a small business, while others charge small membership fees.
• Document impact. Make sure that your organization has ways of measuring and documenting its impact in the community. Take pictures, count how many people are helped, and write down the stories of how people’s lives were changed. Be careful to also measure the long-term impact of your programs. Evaluate the impact after 1, 2, or 3 years.
• Evaluate your work. It is important that at least once a year your organization evaluates its work by finding out if your programs were successful, if your beneficiaries are satisfied, and if you are meeting your goals. For example, if your goal was to increase the income of your beneficiaries, find out if your beneficiaries’ income increased and by how much. The answer to these questions will help you improve your work and have a larger impact in your community.

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