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What can people in other countries learn from US fundraising?

Summary:

The fundraising climate can vary greatly from country to country. Two professionals offer advice on how to identify and overcome fundraising barriers outside the US.

Answer:

Tony Poderis is the former Development Director for the Cleveland Orchestra and author of It's a Great Day to Fund-Raise! He has nearly four decades of experience as a fundraising professional and conducts workshops and seminars around the world. His article "Greetings from America: How U.S.-Style Fundraising Can Work in YOUR Country" can be found at http://www.raise-funds.com/020907forum.html.

Jayne Cravens is the author of "Basic Fund-Raising for Small NGOs/Civic Society in the Developing World", which is constantly updated and available for free by contacting her through the following web page: http://www.coyotecommunications.com/outreach/grants.html. With over 20 years of experience in capacity-building for nonprofit organizations, Jayne also writes a blog, provides consulting services and conducts workshops and seminars.

For further insight:

Tony Poderis wrote on February 9, 2007:
For the interest of our friends and colleagues operating non-profit and non-governmental organizations in other countries:

Over the past few decades, the need for fund-raising knowledge has grown dramatically, especially coming from nations in which there was neither a tradition nor an established process of individual or corporate philanthropy toward charitable and cultural agencies or non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Yet despite such challenges, people from around the world continue in ever-growing number to seek advice and guidance regarding the U.S. philanthropic-style of fund-raising. They do so because they recognized that government support of charities, cultural bodies and NGOs in their countries is rapidly eroding and in danger of disappearing altogether. As a result, they have been both willing and eager to learn how to fund-raise in the American style.

"Just show us how to do it," they tell us. "We will find a way to make the process work for us."

Many of them have succeeded in dramatic fashion. This article on this topic is intended to convey the message that you can make it work in your country, too.

If you are in such a situation, I hope the article will be useful to you, or that you will so inform others whom you believe may benefit in some way from the article.

"Greetings from America: How U.S.-Style Fund-Raising Can Work In Your Country" is posted at http://www.raise-funds.com/020907forum.html

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Updated 02/18/09 -- YBL