AU WATCH

Fundraising and Grants Program

‘People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.’

                                                                                                                       Maya Angelou

We are an independent Fundraising Consultancy within the AU Watch structure. We fundraise for AU Watch and for other CSOs who may need our assistance. Our expert fundraising consultants work with charities and NGOs around the region to improve performance, so that they can make a bigger difference. Our work is broad and flexible. We can help with fundraising, management, and communications at every scale, from one-off capital appeals to long-term campaigns. Whether you need a fundraising consultant or a whole team we can help.

Mission Statement

We empower organizations and charities build a good financial base by providing them with training, advice and support. We advise companies, governments and international organizations on how their policies and operations can better support their objectives. In other words, we help people find financial solutions for their organizations.

Vision Statement

To empower our staff, the long suffering African citizen, especially women, young people and businesses, to help shape the decisions that affect their lives.

Values


Efficiency and Effectiveness: Resources available to us are used optimally to ensure that programs are well delivered.  We take a networking approach that takes advantage of available resources through other players.

Transparency and Accountability: We believe in transparency and accountability with regards to all matters pertaining to the organization. As such, our interactions will be transparent and open to scrutiny.

Equal Opportunities: We strive to be an equal opportunities team and welcome everyone regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

Whatever kind of fundraising you do, we can help. We’re experts in strategic development, capital appeals, major donor development, corporate partnerships, legacies and applications to grant-making agencies. We can help you galvanize online supporters and run effective street level campaigns. In other words, we have a wealth of experience – and we care passionately about what we do.

Communications

As a charity, we need to talk to a lot of people – the public, our supporters, your supporters and staff, funding bodies and corporate sponsors. If you’re struggling to find the right voice, we can help. Our consultants have decades of experience helping charities develop effective communications strategies

Management


We’re experts in organizational strategy, and brand development. Perhaps you need an action plan to bring your vision to life, or you want to make your organization more transparent. Maybe you’re considering a merger, or you feel your brand is limiting your impact. We work can work with you.

Social media

Whether you need help with a one-off project – like setting up a crowd funding project, or running a text donation campaign – or you’d like a full strategic review, get in touch. We’ll help you make the most of social media, so you can attract more supporters and more donations.

Mandate of the FGP

As experts in fundraising strategy, strategic development, individual giving, capital appeals, major donor development, corporate partnerships, legacies and applications, major gifts, bid writing, research and event management, the Grants Program is charged with setting and supervising the organization’s fundraising policies and strategies and coordinating the grant program to further the interests and goals of AU Watch by providing and approving grants to needy and deserving projects.

The Program has three main functions:

  • To assist AU Watch raise funds for its operation;
  • To act as a consultancy fundraising unit within AU Watch, assisting and working with charities and NGOs around Africa to improve their performance, so they can make a bigger difference.
  • To review and recommend to the Executive Board criteria for grant awards according to contemporary funding circumstances.

How we Work

As experts in fundraising, we are able to assist you do the following and whatever else your fundraising needs might be:

  • Online Shopping
  • Setting up and Managing Streets Shops
  • Trading and International Fundraising
  • Strategic Development
  • Capital Appeals
  • Major Donor Development
  • Corporate Partnerships
  • Legacies
  • Applications to Grant-making
  • Galvanizing On-line Supporters
  • Street Level Campaigns
  • Membership Development,
  • Fundraising Strategy,
  • Individual Giving,
  • Capital Campaigns,
  • Major Gifts,
  • Bid Writing,
  • Research and Event Management

More Information about the Directorates and Programs


The Directorates are the secretariat and administrative arm of AU Watch. Working with its Supervisory / Advisory Sub-committee, each Directorate ensures that policies are translated into practice. In other words, in conjunction with the various Chapters / Sections, governments, partners (local and international) and our thousands of volunteers, field operatives and other experts, the Directorates knuckle down and do the day-to-day work of AU Watch. The Directorates translate policies into actions.

This is the Program that looks for funding and recommends policy for its use and distribution for development projects.

Major Sources of Funds

  • Partner Funding
  • Donor Funding
  • Sponsors of Particular Projects
  • Use of Social Media – crowd funding projects, running a text donation campaign.

Welcome to the AU Watch Grants Portal

AU Watch supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful Africa.

We develop grant making strategies designed to meet specific goals. We encourage you to closely read information about each program to determine whether your project falls within AU Watch’s grant making guidelines. To learn more about AU Watch grants, Read our  Program and Funding Guidelines here.

FAQs

Q: How long does the application process take and or how soon can I expect a response?

Ans: The length of the review period for a proposal or letter of inquiry can vary depending on the nature of the project. You may expect some form of response to most letters of inquiry within 8 weeks.

Q: Do you make grants to individuals?

Ans: Yes, we do. Although most of our funding goes to community organizations or non-profits, we do make some grants to individuals. These grants, however, are closely aligned with AU Watch’s objecyives and interests and always result from a competitive and rigorous selection process involving panels of expert advisors

Can you volunteer your time or resources?

AU Watch Fundraising and Grants Program is committed to ensuring that grant-seekers, grantees, and the public have access to clear and up-to-date information about the organization and its programs, and are treated with fairness and professional courtesy.

To this end we are committed to providing:

  • Understandable, updated descriptions of grantmaking goals and strategies
  • Clear procedures for submitting a grant request to the Foundation
  • Prompt and courteous responses to all inquiries
  • Fair and expeditious consideration of grant requests
  • Clear policies and procedures for submitting grant reports
  • A named contact at AU Watch for applicants or grantees

If you feel that you have not been treated with fairness and professional courtesy at any time, you are invited to bring your concern to the pertinent staff member, the Program Director in charge of the program or area, or to the Chairperson. Alternatively, a senior staff person has been designated to receive and address concerns about our process. She Anna Mendy, who can be reached at: 00220 311 99808 or [email protected]. Anna will ensure that the matter is understood and addressed, where appropriate, by relevant staff and will report back to the concerned person.

We hope this additional way of registering concerns about our adherence to professional standards will be useful.


For more information on the Fundraising and Grants Committee and its Directorate and what you can do to assist the team, please email [email protected].