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| Re: RE: Looking for grants for non-profit organization in India
Posted by Tony Poderis   on 8/22/2009, 9:29 am, in reply to "RE: Looking for grants for non-profit organization in India"
VIP Poster
Francis: I think it’s OK to do some general research seeking to know of granting entities which have the concerns you have regarding “Global Warming,” or as it is now called, “Climate Change.”
I have never been one to take it upon myself to dim the light of any dream, when it comes to idealists and entrepreneurs seeking to better their communities, their countries, and the world in general. But, when it was necessary, for their own good, such planners and founders of non-profits needed to be asked the necessary hard questions---better by me, than being unable to answer probing questions posed by potential grantors. If you will indulge me, that is exactly what I am going to do now.
However noble and worthy your dream of “forest, forests, forests” in India, at the same time you are thinking about prospects, in my opinion you must think and act even more aggressively with down-to-earth (so to speak) realities. You must do so, in order to be well prepared with any funding inquiry you may make, and especially so, should you be fortunate to have serious hearings with potential funding sources.
Simply put, as it is a common core imperative of fund-raising for any purpose, you must have a compelling, convincing, “Case for Support.” The case should state your proposed organization's unique ability to fill the demonstrated need of an identified constituency.
Regarding the former, the need may be obvious, but a major hurdle for you is that the Indian government will not commit to reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emission targets unless developed nations such as the United States agree to pay for it. The “science” arguments of the good forests will do, will not matter. The perception and the opposing realities are bad.
The latter---the identified constituency---would be all of the over 1 billion population of India expected to benefit from forests, and more forests. That goal, in my opinion, is all but beyond reason. Afforestation means that you will want to establish forests on land not now forested. How much land, who owns the land, the rights to afforestation, how it can be accomplished, by whom, when, and at what costs, have you in no position now, or who knows when, to seek funding.
Again, when it comes to the development of the Case for Support, it is important to establish workable, manageable, and realistic “boundaries.” Yours is, in effect, a Global initiative and the boundaries in terms of geography, populations served, costs, management to make it all work, etc., are all but impossible---it seems to me. You need a Mission Statement:
--- Don't Make Your Organization's Statement Of Purpose A "Mission Impossible"
http://www.raise-funds.com/1101forum.html
Not only do you have the opposing stance of the Indian government with which to contend, but the arguments pro and con about Global Warming in the first place are impediments as well. Assessing the need, therefore, with some beginning of consensus from those with the most wealth and influence, is a must before you begin. Potential supporters will want to see strong evidence of thoroughness of initial planning and research. And they definitely will want to know that you can make it all work.
Perhaps your best chances to attain your dream, your objective, is to instead research organizations and groups and the government already at work in India on some aspect of the Global Climate cause.
Pulling far back to what was your original question, you should know well in advance that living in the USA and raising funds here to spend in another country is a practice held in close scrutiny, and which is under strong regulation, by the US government. The development of a “Friends” organization here, for raising money to be spent there, must be carefully researched and must follow the hard and fast US regulations on such groups. See the Addendum in my article:
--- Greetings from America:
How U. S.-Style Fund-Raising Can Work In Your Country
http://www.raise-funds.com/020907forum.html
(The Addendum is titled, “Raising Money In the United States To Support Charities In Other Countries.”)
Francis: When I was engaged in non-profit fund-raising consulting, the organizations I served were always encouraged to stretch and grow in order to do as many good things for as many people as possible in need. But, my duty---my obligation---was as well to accurately gauge those organizations’ true ability to effectively develop, manage, and carry out their fund-raising campaigns to a well-defined, and doable, Mission.
You may want to ask yourself now how you can get to that point.
Best wishes,
Tony
Tony Poderis
http://www.raise-funds.com
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