The UK remains a strong source of support for non-for-profit organisations in southern and South Africa. However, many myths and misunderstandings about raising funds from British donors abound. Having raised many millions from the UK, I hope that these tips help:

• Fundraising from UK trusts (the largest source of donations), does not start with meeting their trustees or staff in person or online. They don’t have the time, nor will they advantage a few organisations over others. All fundraising from these donors must happen in writing, following their stated requirements. These could range from one needing to await a funding call and adhering to stipulated processes, completing and submitting only an initial concept note (which effectively only asks if one may apply) to populating and submitting application forms, developing funding proposals within donors’ guidelines, or writing them with no specifications.
  
  And even in the odd and rare case of one managing to secure an appointment, a written request is the next step.
  
  

• South Africans living in the UK are not going to fully fund all local non-profits’ needs. There are around 300,000 NPOs, thousands of schools and faith-based entities, as well as universities in SA – all competing for funding from Saffas in the UK. Simply hailing from Mzansi does not mean that they will respond positively to funding requests.
  
  As they assimilate into UK life, sometimes marrying a Brit, and raising children, their (often limited donations budgets) are not exclusively reserved for SA organisations. They are inundated by fundraising requests!
  
  Sadly, not all Saffas abroad are well disposed to South Africa. Many felt forced to emigrate due to BEE legislation preventing them from securing jobs, a collapse in the services that their taxes were meant to fund, or being victims of crime or living in fear, or ‘wanting a better life for their families’.
  
  

• Fundraising from UK donor trusts requires having arrangements in place whereby money can be given to a UK entity that takes responsibility for its use, enters into contracts, oversees the activities within the projects carried out by the SA organisation, and demonstrates the impact made.
  
  This can be addressed by setting up a sister entity in the UK, arranging a partnership with a UK-based and registered charity (all non-profits in the UK are known as ‘charities’) or joining an organisation such as the UK Fund for Charities. (This requirement is often misunderstood to mean that British donors require tax receipts.)
  
  

• Staff at the South African High Commission in London are unable to assist in fundraising! Nor does this mission have money to donate.
  
  

• The South African Chamber of Commerce, UK is active serving its members and fostering business ties, but it is not a donor.
  
  

• Fundraising events are popular in the UK, and most are held in London. However, like events anywhere, a drawcard (well-known sports personality or entertainer) is vital. Simply having a trustee, chair or CEO from South Africa present, is not enough of a draw. Nor is a great venue such as the House of Lords, where events are held regularly. It is also important to avoid over-charging for tickets.
  
  

• Thirty-one years after the end of apartheid, in the minds of UK donor trusts’ staff, nothing sets South African organisations’ needs ahead of those from the many other developing countries also seeking funding in the UK. The ‘ag shame’ factor has long gone.
  
  

• The constant media reports about corruption in SA are of concern to UK donors (trusts and individuals). Therefore, having been verified by iZinga Assist adds credibility to funding requests.
  
  

• Sound monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) systems are non-negotiable for securing UK support. The absence of a well thought through theory of change (not AI-generated) and good MEL, means no possibility of funding. UK donors report that too many SA funding requests are weak in this area and a worrying proportion focus on quantitative (numbers and stats) info, rather than demonstrating how MEL happens (the system/method used to monitor and evaluate the success or otherwise of project delivery with donor money).
  
  They also lament that too many theories or change and explanations of MEL systems focus on outcomes, ignoring the most important aspect and what donors fund: impact.

• It’s important not to presume that potential UK donor trusts’ staff members understand South African terminology. They don’t know what a ‘bakkie’ is – to them it’s a van, light delivery vehicle or small truck; ‘mielies’ are ‘corn’; references to ‘grades’ at school should be qualified by the addition of children’s ages (they don’t say ‘learners’, rather ‘pupils’).
  
  

• Budgets must be done in ZAR (as financial statements will be in ZAR), but a column should be added with GBP, with the date and exchange rate. And of course, budgets must be transparent and should show the unit cost (how much is needed per person, per animal, per km of river or beach to be cleaned).
  
  

• It is imperative to adhere to donors’ deadlines and peculiarities, such as wanting proposals or applications posted, rather than emailed – yes! In this day and age, some do still want to receive hard copies. With South Africa’s postal services virtually collapsed and definitely unreliable, it’s best to ask a friendly UK-based person to receive documents by email and print and post them. Never have them sent by registered mail! This requires a signature and is reserved for important or valuable items. The Royal Mail is superb, fast and reliable. Few things anger a potential donor and ensure no funding, more than sending a proposal by registered mail.
  
  

• Most UK donor trusts will not fund foreign organisations that are new/young. Generally, they expect five years of local support and organic growth. Also, they will rarely make a first donation a large one, preferring to make smaller first donations (under £5,000) and have relationships grow based on the quality of impact reporting.
  
  

• Organisations wanting to raise money in the UK must have websites. Simply being on social media is insufficient. And all organisations must have their policies on their websites!
  
  

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Reprinted from Fundraising from UK Donors, by Jill Ritchie

Available from: Papillon Press or available as an E-book on Google Play, Amazon and Kobo.