Marketing and Fundraising Project and Saying Goodbye to Swaziland
Final Project and Saying Goodbye to Swaziland
The last push to really drive the best final project collided with our final weekend in this beautiful country. While many of our Swazi friends traversed Mozambique for a weekend of relaxation, the three MBAs— with our short time here— stayed behind to ensure we were able to deliver the best work possible.
It was the best decision we could have made. Besides feeling much stronger about the fundraising strategy and action plan that I had been working on— including steps toward a cultivation and communication strategy — touring the country in which we have lived and worked for a month was a perfect end to this whirlwind and intense journey.
I didn’t know that I could be more inspired than I already have been each day I came to the office, but the 3-hr hike up to execution rock was breathtaking (only in part because I was out of breath!). We lived and worked only miles from this beautiful landmark and picturesque view of the country and had not even planned a trip! Besides that, we took a trip to Krueger National park to see the “Big 5” in a jeep on a road, when we could have walked among the animals—no fences, no jeeps, just us and the trail. It put everything in perspective and was a great way to settle myself as I anticipated my final presentation.
My presentation included a Marketing Analysis and Recommendations and a Fundraising Analysis, Recommendation and Action Plan.
The Fundraising Plan included an analysis of funding types with recommendations on where Gone Rural boMake should put its resources, recommendations on organization structure and acquiring resources and immediate and longer-term next steps.
For the Fundraising Action Plan and Timeline, I provided a yearly fundraising plan and supporting documents to be used to set financial goals and annual budget, including a target foundation research document with the structures for a grant-seeking calendar and proposal writing checklist. This laid out a format and process for the team for planning for each area of fundraising. I also initiated a “Case for Funding” to be used as a single source of information for all proposals and communication.
I hope that I have given them some tools to build their funding pipeline and given the organization ideas to cultivate a lasting development program.
I’ll miss Swaziland!