The only tip I would give is to suggest that you look around to see where support can be
found... We get major sponsorship. Most people hear about our work and approach me.
Occasionally I will search out groups of people (expat groups in Bangkok or community
groups in the UK, for instance) and talk about the Trust’s work. All kinds of support
came from talking to the wider community about the work... Be very focused about
what you need money for and make sure you know how the money will be spent. Tell the
story! If the story is right, the money will come.
If you think telling stories isn’t going to get you far, pay attention to this account from
Anthony Lunch:
The amazingly powerful testimony from one of our volunteers on site in Sri Lanka was
our launch vehicle and we raised £30,000 in one month for Sri Lankan causes. From then
on, the momentum continued and we gathered support for our causes in other countries.
In the first year we raised £70,000.
He goes on to say, ‘You must have 100 per cent belief in what you are doing and 100 per
cent enthusiasm in getting it off the ground. The rest will follow.’
Getting Help
Aid organisations are all about cooperative work. This cooperative approach needn’t be
restricted to the work you do overseas but can, in fact, play a major role in the initial set-up
of your organisation. There is lots of help available out there – and there are organisations
established for the very purpose of supporting, assisting and funding aid organisations and
new businesses. Here are just a few options listed by region:
UK Organisations
~ Association of Charitable Foundations (%+44 (0)20 7255 4499; http://www.acf.org.uk; Central House,
14 Upper Woburn Pl, London WC1H 0AE, UK) This UK-based organisation posts a huge list on its
website of its 300-plus members – trusts and foundations that fund various projects. It
also has a guide to applying and writing applications for funding. Well worth a visit.
~ Bond^ (%+44 (0)20 7837 8344; http://www.bond.org.uk; Regent’s Wharf, 8 All Saints St, London N1 9RL, UK) British
Overseas NGOs for Development is a network of voluntary organisations that promotes
the exchange of experience, ideas and information among its members both in the UK and
internationally. BOND also offers its members training, advocacy and information.
~ Business West (%+44 (0)1275 373373, 0800 980 2769; http://www.businesswest.co.uk; Leigh Court Business
Centre, Abbots Leigh, Bristol BS8 3RA, UK) Offers advice and support with all aspects of setting up,
such as writing a business plan, recruiting staff, management and website design. It also
hosts networking events and hooks you up with marketing opportunities.
~ Charity Commission (%+44 (0)845 3000 0218; http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk; PO Box 1227,
Liverpool L69 3UG, UK) The regulator and registrar for charities in England and Wales, this
body also supports and supervises charities and offers sound advice to those starting
up new organisations. Look to it for guidance on applying for charitable status and for
accountancy help.
~ Companies House (%+44 (0)303 1234 500; http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk; Crown Way, Mainday,
Cardiff CF14 3UZ, UK) The UK’s regulator for registered companies, this organisation has a
good selection of online booklets on company formation, regulations, administration,
management and legislation. It also organises seminars to fill you in on your obligations
for filing taxes.
~ Friends of the Earth England, Wales & Northern Ireland (%+ 44 207 490 1555;
http://www.foe.co.uk; 26-28 Underwood St, London N1 7JQ, UK) A grass-roots environmental network
which unites over 70 diverse national member groups and 5000 local activist groups
around the world to campaign jointly on environmental and social issues. With patrons
like Margaret Atwood and Bruce Cockburn, joining a group like this can add legitimacy
to your organisation and give you some much-needed support.
~ Funderfinder^ (%+44 (0)113 243 3008; http://www.funderfinder.org.uk; 65 Raglan Rd, Leeds LS2 9D7, UK)
This charity develops and distributes software that can help individuals and not-for-profit
organisations in the UK identify charitable trusts that they can apply to for funding.
~ Princes Trust^ (%+44 (0)20 7543 1234, 0800 842 842; http://www.princes-trust.org.uk; 18 Park Square East,
London NW1 4LH, UK) This respected and very well-established trust offers business loans,
guides to starting up a business, a legal helpline and can set you up with a business men-
tor. Its work is aimed at British ‘youth’ (ie the under 30s).North American Organisations
~ Canada Revenue Agency (www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts) This is the tax information site for
charities in Canada.
~ Charity Village (www.charityvillage.com/cv/guides/guide4.asp) In Canada, check out this site for
tips and links to relevant government authorities, helpful outfits and discussion forums.
~ Friends of the Earth USA (%+1 202 783 7400; http://www.foe.org; 1717 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 600,
Washington DC, 20036-2002, USA). The American branch of this worldwide network of organi-
sations can offer plenty of advice. There’s also a Canadian group (see http://www.foecanada.org).The Gift of Giving
You have the incentive to start your own charity but haven’t the time or energy to commit to
it. Or maybe you’ve discovered that there’s already somebody out there putting your idea
into action, so starting up your own organisation would only increase competition for scarce
funds and volunteers, and ultimately reduce the benefits to those most in need. In such situ-
ations, it’s still possible to direct your energies in a positive and fulfilling way. Supporting an
established charity or organisation with your time or money can be a practical and productive
means of both giving and receiving. The organisation will benefit immensely from your sup-
port and you’ll feel... well, good. This is exactly what Lennox McNeely has done in sponsoring
Casa Guatemala (p160), a community for orphaned and needy children in Central America.
He tells of his satisfying experience and how his sponsorship evolved:
I travelled throughout South America in a van in 1970 – one of the original travellers on
what later became the Gringo Trail. We drove from Whistler, British Columbia, to Chile
to ski and then on to Buenos Aires and up to Rio. We had been warned the most about
Colombia and Guatemala, however we found our reception in these two countries the
best of all.
About 26 years later, I took my two daughters down to Galápagos and Machu Picchu
and they were very disturbed by the poverty they saw there. In my career as an interna-
tional investor I had made many trips to South America and Asia, and felt it was time to
give something back. Shortly thereafter, I read an article in one of the Vancouver news-
papers on Casa Guatemala. Oddly enough, we had received assistance only six miles
from where the orphanage is located on the Rio Dulce back in 1970. So, I simply phoned
up the man... who was organising Vancouver fundraising and told him I would help out.
The help became more than I initially anticipated as the orphanage has borne the brunt
of four natural disasters: two floods; a lightning strike and a devastating earthquake in
July 1999. The earthquake destroyed about 75 per cent of the Casa’s structures.
The experience has been rewarding and fun, particularly being Santa on four occa-
sions, getting to know some of the volunteers and making friends. I would encourage
anyone who may have profited from travelling or investing in developing countries to
roll up their sleeves and contribute to a community project in these less-fortunate lands.
Whatever you give, you will be rewarded for it many times over through both the grati-
tude you receive and your personal sense of satisfaction.10: Start Your Own Charitable Project :Getting It Rollingcontinued on p256