Summary
In order to increase awareness on MEDA´s many activities and raise funds for especially the scholarship programme and the renovation of the children´s playground an entire day of fundraising among children and their parents, and the community at large was organised.
During the day children were allowed to play after making their donations. In the evening MEDA presented its work to the adults, including the plan for the proposed project. Chief guests also gave their remarks. Donations and pledges were collected immediately afterwards.
Tips and lessons learned
- Early preparation prevents last minute decisions which in most cases are not good as they increase cost of operations and frustrations. Therefore, there is a need to start the preparations early enough to prevent this.
- The community supports MEDA's activities when they are sensitised and find that there is a positive correlation between the activities and their aspirations.
- Involvement of the board of trustees and religious leaders proved to be essential. Networking and wider stakeholder participation is a must in local fundraising.
- The awareness com fundraising day proved to be very successful and it has been decided to repeat it as an annual fundraising event during the month of Ramadan.
Review by Wilde Ganzen Foundation
This is an excellent example of making use of a festival to raise funds. The activity resulted in a high return on investment. It is also a good example of involving the communituy including children to create awareness for the cause. Another strong point is that the event has been evaluated for future improvements and that the event will be repeated annually. Very important too: there was a follow-up of pledges.
Details
Short description of the organisation the funds were raised for
MEDA was established in 1997 with a view of promoting education of children, youth and adults in Malindi, with a strong emphasis on community participation and ownership. The programmes range from early childhood development to the promotion of girl child education, a secondary school bursary and holiday tuition scheme, college & university revolving fund, professional training, careed guidance, youth job placement and micro finance programme and finally youth peer education on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse.
Short description of the project or programme the funds were raised for
Funds were raised for MEDA's scholarship programme and for the renovation of the children's playground.
Objectives
- Increase awareness level on MEDA's projects' objectives, activities, achievements and lessons learned among the community.
- To raise funds for MEDA's community demand driven project activities espesically scholarships and the renovation of a children's playground in Malindi town.
Targeted donors
The local community (local business people, religious leaders, teachers, parents and partner organisations).
Results
| Cost/benefit |
National currency (KES |
Euro |
| Total amount raised |
5,143,400 |
42,565 |
| (-) Total amount invested |
526,355 |
4,355 |
| Net amount raised |
4,617,045 |
38,210 |
Accounting details
Costs were made for:
- food & refreshments for guests and children on the fundraising day
- transport incurred in planning for the event
- printing of invitation cards, postage of invitation letters
- accommodation of guests traveling from far (out of Malindi town)
- charges for public address system and local media coverage costs
Description of preparatory work
Steps:
- Discussion on objectives and targets of action in Board of Trustees meeting.
- Planning meetings by Board of Directors and management.
- List of potential Guests of Honor for the fundraising dinner prepared and approved by board and management.
- Invitation cards for guests and contribution cards for soliciting donations from the local community were prepared and distributed widely buy staff and volunteers.
- Volunteers assembled and were assigned tasks 2 days before the event.
- Reports, pledge forms, venue, food and refreshment were prepared for the event.
- Collection of donations took place the entire day, first when children in the playground made their contribution and later during the fundraising dinner for adults.
Description of implementation
During the day children were allowed to play on the playground after making their donations.
In the evening the adults were served coffee and dates to break their fast. After evening prayers food and refreshments were served. The MEDA report was thereafter presented.
This included plans for the proposed project. Chief guests gave their remarks and donations were immediately collected in cash or any other payment mode preferred by individual donors.
The majority preferred to give in cash or by cheque. The dinner and fundraising thereafter took three hours.
