Local fundraising example:
Earning income for school fees

Summary

KAWODEP decided to raise an amount of KES 1.386.000 to construct a Community Resource Centre, to generate school fees for orphans and vulnerable children in their community. The key fundraising activities are:
Community harambees - quarterly ceremonies during which community members come together to donate to the common cause. 2017 being an election year, KAWODEP invited political aspirants as well, presenting the plans and raising a substantial amount towards the establishment of a community resource centre.
Caregivers contributions - KAWODEP designed an activity to have caregivers contribute 100 shillings every month towards the school fee programme.
Caring is sharing - the concept is borrowed from the Luo 'kisuma' practice, meaning that a person with a good harvest shared some of the produce with people who did not harvest or harvested very little. The caregivers themselves came up with the idea to use this practice during harvest, in order to raise funds. Several in-kind donations were received and converted to cash.
Contributions by Savings and Internal Lending Communities - all caregivers have joined these groups and are currently contributing 2% of their dividends towards school fee support.
Cereal business - KAWODEP has set up several income-generating projects, such as cereal business and poultry keeping. They are using cereal business to raise funds, as members buy cereals at the peak of harvesting, then sell when prices have gone up.
10% contribution from incentives - KAWODEP regularly receives tree seedlings, chicks and vegetable seeds to share between caregivers. These days they ask the beneficiaries to contributre 10% of the value of the incentive. Apart from raising funds, this strategy also improves the viability of projects, as community members tend to take better care of goods they have (partly) paid for.

Tips and lessons learned

Review by Wilde Ganzen Foundation

KAWODEP has fundraised successfully before. With a matching grant of KCDF, the national partner of the Change the Game Academy in Kenya, they were able to establish a community dispensary which is currently serving a population of approximately 5.000 people. This has impacted positively in the current fundraising. The community is passionate and confident about the present activities, since they are already benefitting from a past similar action. Gaining the trust of the local community is a very important point for any organisation, hoping to raise funds successfully. KAWODEP also deserves a compliment for their creativity. They have thought of a number of ways to raise funds or earn money for their project, involving all the groups they work with. Their presence is notable everywhere, which does not only result in financial contributions, but also in creating awareness of the importance of community fundraising and financial opportunities that present themselves.

Details

Short description of the organisation the funds were raised for

Kared Fod Women Development Programme (KAWODEP) is an indigenous women led organisation with its operations in the rural areas of Nyatike sub-county, Migori County of western Kenya. The thrust behind the formation of KAWODEP was the continued deterioration of the living standards of the locals despite the interventions by the relevant government departments. KAWODEP is the brainchild of the local people (women) in their effort to reduce the level of poverty and powerlessness within the community. The main objective of the organisation is to improve the living standards of rural communities within Nyatike, focusing on pro-poor women and their households. KAWODEP programmes include health, food security, education and governance. The organisation is moreover committed to turning the tide of HIV/AIDS in Migori County Nyatike Sub-county by providing care and support to orphans, women, old grandmothers and people living with HIV/AIDS.

Short description of the project or programme the funds were raised for

A needs assessment conducted by KAWODEP showed that 75% of the orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) of school going age in Nyatike sub-county drop out of secondary school due to lack of school fees. KAWODEP therefore initiated a project dubbed “OVC EDUCATION SUPPORT FUND” whose main objective is to raise KES 1,386.000 to construct a community resource centre which will be a sustainable income-generating source to facilitate payment of school fees for OVCs currently supported by KAWODEP. The project also seeks to instill the culture of community participation and giving which will result in ownership and long term support of community development projects by the beneficiaries and local community members.

Objectives

1. To raise KES 1.386.000 to construct a Community Resource Centre which will be source of income to support at least 20 OVCs with school fees yearly.
2. To create awareness on local fundraising and importance of community participation in local community development projects.
3. To create awareness on available financial opportunities to support  OVCs during their post primary education.

Targeted donors

Local community members, Ministry of Education, alumni, caregivers, school heads and teachers, local business people and companies, Community Development Fund, media house, religious leaders and politicians.

Results

Accounting details

Description of preparatory work

KAWODEP developed a fundraising action plan, in co-operation with the board members, caregivers, stakeholders and community members. Part of the process was the mapping of potential donors and deciding which one would match best with KAWODEP's objectives. The fundraising plan was approved by the board and a fundraising team was set up to implement the plan. The board set aside resources for the implementation of the plan. 

Description of implementation

The organisation distributed invitation letters and flyers to different potential donors, requesting for support and to attend the events.
Follow-up has been done with a potential donor who ended up giving KES 100.000.

Follow up: Donor appreciation and acknowledgement

KAWODEP developed an appreciation card that is sent out to the donors.

Plans to repeat the action

KAWODEP has decided that local fundraising will be a continuous proces and is thinking of organising semi-annual events.