wfn.org | Creative ways to raise funds for LWF activities

[FRANK.IMHOFF@ecunet.org]

GENEVA, 28 July 2000 (LWI) - Fund raisers from Denmark, Norway,
Germany, Iceland, Sweden and USA met recently at the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) headquarters in Geneva, to share experiences with
sister organizations on fundraising.

During the workshop organized by the LWF Department for World Service
(DWS), participants exchanged ideas on planning, methods and
techniques used when fundraising, presenting feedback to donors, and
the ethics applied to the work of securing funds.

They also discussed common struggles in making fundraising visible
within the respective organizations, and - not least important - in
the LWF structure.

Participants recommended that the LWF develop a strategy for improved
information on projects. On this point, they noted that to be able to
raise funds in an effective way it is of utmost importance that those
involved gain access to information from the field.

They also proposed that a news-pool be established on the LWF web
page so that written materials, photos and videos from different
projects could be shared more widely than at present.

Since Fund raisers often have the first contact with people who might
not be familiar with development terminology, there is a need for
materials and indicators that can be communicated-easy to comprehend,
convincing, measurable and simple. On this point, the workshop
participants requested that the LWF take into account that also the
general public needs to have a fair understanding of the projects
that are designed.

They also emphasized that Fund raisers' needs should be considered
when establishing the Monitoring and Reporting System (MaRS) that LWF
is working with at the moment.

Another aspect discussed at the Geneva workshop was a strategy for
branding. Participants noted that the LWF is widely unknown in the
donor countries, at least by the general public. From a fund raiser's
point of view, this was viewed as a loss of public attention that
costs us not only positive credit, but also in the long run- possible
donations. With a common brand name, the agencies could take
advantage of each other's work and do information campaigns together.
The Nordic countries were strong in advocating this idea, which
however was not of equal importance for the North American
participants.

Since the agencies have established ethics that they follow when they
raise funds, it was proposed that a code of conduct could be the
platform for a common identity.

The participants appreciated the workshop and hoped that similar
meetings in the future would discuss such subjects as earmarking of
funds; improving working relations with congregations; possibilities
for a joint fundraising campaigns; advocacy as a challenge for Fund
raisers; who are the competitors and why they are successful; and the
possibility of fundraising from private companies.

(This article is a contribution of Karin Lavenius, fund raiser,
Church of Sweden Aid)

(The LWF is a global communion of 131member churches in 72 countries
representing 59.5 million of the world's 63.1 million Lutherans. Its
highest decision making body is the Assembly, held every six or seven
years. Between Assemblies, the LWF is governed by a 49-member Council
which meets annually, and its Executive Committee. The LWF
secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the information service of the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Unless specifically noted, material
presented does not represent positions or opinions of the LWF or of
its various units. Where the dateline of an article contains the
notation (lwi), the material may be freely reproduced with
acknowledgment.]

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/