Key Suggestions for Funding Peace and Conflict Work

Obtaining funding for on the ground peace and conflict work can be a challenging undertaking. In this short guide, I will provide some suggestions of how to obtain funding and also some key resources (note if you're looking for scholarships for further study, please see the Guide to Scholarships Also please see the Guide to Key Resources Funding Peace and Conflict Work

12 Key Steps to Obtaining Funding for On the Ground Work

1) Develop a Clear and Compelling Mission and Focus to Your Work - One of the keys to obtaining funding is to ensure that the work of your organization or group is clear and focused. Make a compelling narrative about the type of work you're already doing, what change are trying to create and the impact of this type of work. Instead of speaking in overall broad terms, such as building peace in country x, try to be more specific such as the work of my organization is critical to building economic linkages between two conflicted communities which will help contribute to peace. It is important to have overall goals, but make it clear how your particular work and project contributes to a key step (in the larger context of building peace or the desired outcome).

2) Define if You're a Mission or Funding Driven Organization - If your organization has a clear and compelling mission and focus, then it often can be easier to formulate funding proposals, attract individual donors and others to support your work. However, many organizations start off with a mission and as they expand become increasingly focused with sustaining their bureaucracy and may lose site of their mission. While most organization's fall somewhere in the middle between mission and funding, it is important to develop mechanisms and reflection to examine if your organization is staying focused on the mission.

3) Do the Project Whether You Have the Funds or Not - - While all organizations need funding to support their work, many creative people and organizations (particularly those who are mission driven) are committed to doing good work regardless of funding. Thus try to begin doing work even if you may not have full funding. You can do this by starting small, trying to minimize costs, getting buy-in and support from other organizations, and many other ways.

4) Projectify Your Work- Unfortunately in the funding world, most donors want to support particular (time-limited) projects that have clear outcomes. It is essential to think break down the goals of your work in projects (that hopefully have a clear linkage to your overall goals/impact). Most funders will support projects lasting between 1-3 years (occassionally longer). Thus, you can break down the goals of your work into specific projects. This is helpful as you can also try to obtain funding from multiple donors and begin the project with partial funding.

5) Tailor Your Proposal/Language to the Funder - One of the key steps in writing a successful proposal is to ensure that you frame your proposal to be consistent with the priorities and goals of the funder. Make sure you closely read over the funding organizations goals, priorities, past grants, language, etc. In your proposal, try to demonstrate how your project fits with the funder's goals. The Global Development Network has put together a wonderful guide to writing research and funding proposals.

6) Follow Instructions - In writing a proposal, make sure that you closely adhere to the instructions from the funder. If they limit the proposal to five pages, then do not submit additional pages. Make sure that you also include all of the necessary financial forms, personal documentation and more.

7) Talk to the Funder Before Submitting a Proposal - Many donors (not all, so it is important to check) are willing to talk with you about your project ideas before you submit a proposal. Building a relationship or at least contact with a funder can be crucial in obtaining feedback if your idea is consistent with the funder's goals (and save you time if it isn't), to obtain suggestions, etc. Also many funders may request a short concept paper before inviting a submission for proposals and getting suggestions for what the funder is seeking is important.

8) Write a Clear and Compelling Proposal - Obviously one of the most important aspects of obtaining funding is making a compelling written case. Ensure that your proposal is well-structured, formatted, uses clear language (watch out for the use of acronyms), etc. While the format of a proposal varies, most donors want to see a executive summary, problem statement, program overview/goals, description of activities, timeline, evaluation and monitoring methodology, staffing, budget, organizational capacity, and more. There are some excellent free guides to proposal writing that are quite useful. For example see the guides produced by Civicus on proposal writing and other communication tools.

9) Collaborate with Others - There are many organizations in the field competing for limited funding. In submitting a proposal it is crucial that you also demonstrate that you are familiar with the existing work on the ground and explain how the unique contribution of your work. In addition, try to develop partnerships with other organizations and submit joint proposals as this can help in obtaining funding.

10) Be Creative About Your Funding Strategy - Many organizations think only of foundations, international donors and others as the primary donors who can support their work. However, there are many, many others ways to generate support for your work and being creative in how you approach funding is essential. For example, many non-profit organizations are seeking to develop self-sustaining sources of funding by providing direct services, undertaking businesses (and using the profits to support their work), selling goods, etc. Much of this work can be grouped under the term social entrepreneurship and this is a rapidly expanding area of focus in the non-profit world. There are many excellent sources of information on social entrepreneurship, such as Social Edge, and Ashoka. In addition, cultivating individual donors is one of the best ways to develop on-going sustainable sources of support for an organization (although it is very time-consuming to develop these relationships). Think of other possible sources of funding, such as approaching diaspora populations and asking them to support peacework, holding artistic fundraisers, raffles, and more.

11) If at First you Don't Succeed Try Again - Many times a funding proposal will not be successful the first time. Most funders will provide feedback on why your proposal was not supported and you can use this feedback to make future improvements and possibly submit for a future funding round. Be prepared for rejection, don't take it personally and think about how you can improve your ideas and work.

12) Be Clear About your Values - Sometimes a potential funder's values may conflict with your organization's beliefs. It is important to think about what are you core values and what type of funding you would like to solicit. For example some organizations refuse to take money from government institutions while others may avoid support from private business. Another aspect to consider is in conflict regions if you take funding from a particular donor who might this affect your relationships with local partners?

What other Suggestions do You have?