Every good cause deserves support, especially if it is helping vulnerable groups in need. Often, non-governmental organizations have to raise funds to support people in need, support civic activities, or ideas for initiatives in favor of society through financial means. Of course, the reasons for fundraising can vary depending on the goals and mission of each organization.
Fundraising is the act of raising funds for noble causes, and it is an important part of the life of every NGO. The ability to present your cause in the right way and to the right people to get support can be the basis of a successful fundraising campaign. Fundraising is a type of marketing, and your task is to sell your project in the best possible way. This is important because donors will mainly follow your commitment and ambition. When they see that you are giving your all and standing firmly behind your cause, the chance of them supporting you increases dramatically.
The participants in Initiative 2 had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the latest training, which was precisely about this topic. The training answered basic questions about fundraising, including the context of donations, tax relief, types of donors (individual and corporate), techniques for raising funds, lessons learned, and the future of fundraising.
In order to involve the participants in the topic and provide practical guidance, the lecturer, Iliana Nikolova, Executive Director of the Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation (WCIF), tasked the participants with creating a fundraising campaign for a cause of their choice, for which they could receive feedback, advice, and guidance.
The training is part of the second edition of the "Initiative for Building the Next Generation of Civic Leaders" project by Workshop for Civic Initiatives Foundation. It is funded by the Active Citizens Fund Bulgaria under the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA FM) 2014-2021, provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. The project aims to support the development of a new generation of civil leaders in Bulgaria who have the knowledge and skills to work effectively in a shrinking space for civil society and limited resources.