Resource Mobilisation for Nonprofit Organisations

Posted on 10 January, 2022 at 05:35

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants^[and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. He who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money”. The irony of the bible being the book of life principles is seen only by many of us who do not read it comprehensively to understand that it is embedded with great knowledge and wisdom about all aspects of life. In this book, we also find teachings on how best to mobilise our resources.

Resource mobilization refers to all activities involved in securing new and additional resources for your organization. It also involves making better use of, and maximizing, existing resources. The Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 is one example of great teachings on the mobilization of money, time, and skills in the best possible way to gain more and become sustainable. The master of three servants handsomely rewarded the two servants who managed to multiply that which they were left with, and their status became even better, but the servant who buried the coin in the ground lost everything including that very coin.  Nonprofits should gain skills that help them know how to efficiently use and multiply funds from donors for example.  Sustainability may require organisations with limited and controlled funds to find ways within that limited time to develop other sources of money. By doing so, there are chances of receiving more grants and donations as there will be evidence of self-development, and self-efforts with limited funds to give more to the society, without sorely depending on the funding partners.

 Resource mobilization theory is used in the study of social movements and argues that the success of social movements depends on resources (time, money, skills, etc.). For the first time, influences from outside social movements, such as support from various organizations or the government, were taken into account. Resource mobilization is often referred to as New Business Development. The idea is being able to develop new streams of income and new skills that will grow the organization and give back to society more than what the organization would have done before with limited skills and only one source of funds.

Why is resource mobilization so important?

Resource mobilization is critical to any organization for the following reasons:

1. Ensures the continuation of your organization’s service provision to clients
2. Supports organizational sustainability
3. Allows for improvement and scale-up of products and services the organization currently provides
4. Organizations, both in the public and private sector, must be in the business of generating new business to stay in business

What is meant by sustainability?

An organization should then put in place a strategic plan on resource mobilisation. The strategic plan is the anchor, in which an organization’s programs, structure, and systems, as well as financials, are reviewed and new business opportunities are identified. These new directions or new business opportunities are then pursued using distinct resource mobilization strategies, such as writing proposals, submitting grant applications, or drafting business cases or business plans. All of these instruments are designed to display an organization’s programs, institutional structure, and financial health. Below are ten to know things by nonprofit organisations;

1.      Organizations are not entitled to support; they must earn it.

2.      Successful resource mobilization requires a lot of work and takes a lot of time.

3.      If your organization needs additional revenue one year from now, start today!

4.      Be ready, willing, and able to sell your organization and the programs for which you are raising money.

5.      Resource mobilization efforts should align with your organizational mission, objectives, and strategic plan.

6.      Resource mobilization is also about the needs of the (prospective) funder.

7.      Understand the needs of your clients (target population/funders).

8.      Be prepared to provide evidence-based results.

9.      Your organizational performance today impacts your ability to generate resources tomorrow.

10.   You must establish and maintain organizational credibility and reputation.

 

KFM Consultants comes in to assist nonprofits with the development of resource mobilisation and fundraising strategies, developing Prospects Sheet, project proposal writing, and resource mobilisation training to build, direct, and redirect organisations towards their main goal of transforming societies.

By Nobukhosi Ndlovu
Marketing Coordinator
www.kfmconsultants.com