A News Magazine From Microtel Computer Education Institute

Tuesday, May 1, 2012, Edition-8

You are the best social entrepreneur

The best yogi is one who regards every being like oneself and who can feel the pain and pleasures of others as ones own, O Arjuna. (Gita-6.32) Nothing is beyond the reach of those who have others interest in their mind. Selfless service to humanity is the true service to God and the highest form of worship.

My Dear Secretaries, The word charity comes from the Latin word caritas, which is mean for love or compassion. NGOs and not-for-profits can acquire funding through several ways. Donations from the bulk of funding to most NGOs, followed by grants from corporations, foundations and private individuals. We live in an age in which companies control much of the earths resources. In today India, central govt. and state govt.s roles have been crushed in the area of welfare of the society. Therefore the private institutions /corporate coming forward in so many areas of social life. Because they are gradually realizing that they are after all created by society, hence, they must serve it. Establishing an NGO and running it successful requires a sound source of funding. NGOs have two basic choices in getting these necessities: wait for donations to come automatically or go out and get donations. Being practical by seeking donations from companies/ corporate can be a valuable way to get funds and build a relationship that will continue to bring in funds in the future. We must make a list of local companies that should be targeted for donations because local companies have a propensity to support local charities. We should also seek out companies that are in a similar activity; for example, pet stores often help animal shelters. By targeting the right companies to ask for donations, we can manage our time and have more success in getting donations. Before we contact the owner or in-charge of the companies, whether by letter or in person, we have to keep ready the information about our organization to give them. This should include our organization's mission and what the funds or supplies will be used for. For example If the funds are going to be used for staff salaries, then be prepared to clearly explain how the staff contributes to the goals of the organization. Once a company has given us a donation, we must continue to nurture the relationship. Companies tend to continue to donate to the same organizations year after year. As soon as we receive any donation, immediately we have to send a thank-you letter, if possible detailing how the donation was or will be used. At all times, you should be friendly and professional when you are seeking donations. From contact letters and emails to in-person solicitations, you want to present the best of your organization. The less professional and friendly you are, the less likely you are to receive donations. A grant is a monetary donation; it is free, but not easy money. organizations devote time, human and financial resources to find the right founders and get the resources they need for their programs. Your NGO may be eligible for a grant, but it takes planning and preparation to get it. Having an excellent project is not enough to get grants from foundations or other institutions; for that we need to evaluate our eligibility. Even when the economy is in difficult situation, many corporations and small businesses recognize the importance of providing support to area social welfare.

Go online and look for NGOs that share your interests or have a similar mission; if your organization is dedicated to empowering women internationally, search those words online. Your search will bring up websites of NGOs that have at least a program devoted to that purpose. If a NGO matches your interests, become familiar with its website information and take a look at its donors list. Subscribe to a foundation database. Access a foundation database online such as Foundation Center or Guide star. If you are interested in issues related to poverty, at Foundation Center click on 'Gain Knowledge' and click on "Global Issue- Poverty". You will access information on what is being done to solve that problem as well as the top 25 foundations that give grants to solve it. To search for Government grants. Go to Grants.gov under "Find Grant Opportunities," click "Basic Search" and write down a keyword such as "P India"; you will find grants available to assist people in India, the full grant announcement and even the application. You may also go under "Search by Category," which will give you access to grants in education, health, energy and community development, among others Craft a plan to reach those donors. Telephone, write, email or otherwise contact possible donors. Write a letter or email and have it printed or ready to send asking for donations. Drive people to your website to find out more information about your services, Send personal thank you notes to everyone who makes a donation, even if it's just a few lines in a simple card. These people would like to see every penny donated back to the services provided by the NGO. Look for grants that match your organization's missions and goals. Most granting organizations require a detailed plan. Just because a company has NGO tax status doesn't mean it can skip the basic steps of business management. Write a plan with carefully outlined financial and other goals. Granting organizations are like investors and they want details on how their money will be used. Apply for grant funds. Visit each grant organization's website and read through the requirements carefully. Every grant requires different paperwork to be completed and a missed step can throw your application out of the running. Prepare financial documents, background documents and your grant application carefully, making sure it is submitted by the deadline. Grant proposals follow specific formats. Take your time and write your proposal carefully, briefly and carefully. Your proposal is like a sales letter. You are 'selling' the grant organization on why it should invest in your NGO. Private donors are the last and most sought-after source of funding for NGOs, but they are also the rarest. Wealthy individuals often contribute through private foundations established in their names. Find these foundations in books and websites with grant information. The application process is the same as for grants, but the selection process more varied, because the foundation is run in accordance with the wishes of the family or individual. He or she may have highly specific requests on how the money is used, and may be highly selective in who receives a grant.

It is difficult, but not impossible, to obtain funding through grants and foundations. Time and firmness is the key. Make it easy for people to donate to you by providing tax information, receipts and an easily navigated website to accept donations. Never try to fool a foundation and lie about your suitability for the grant. All foundations and grant organizations require quarterly and yearly reports and paperwork to be completed detailing how their money has been used.

A grant is financial assistance given to NGOs by grantors who do not expect any monetary benefit in return. Sponsorships are commercial agreements between the NGO and sponsor, where the NGO provides a benefit (i.e. promotion, advertising) to the sponsor for the financial assistance that was given. Many individuals actively engage in fund-raising for their NGO. NGOs depend upon funding from individual donors, federal grants, and corporate sponsorships to operate and fulfill the NGOs missions. Applying for and receiving grants and seeking sponsorships require NGO to follow specific rules and instructions given by the organizations that are supplying the funding. Submitting proposals for grants and sponsorships is a lengthy process, but knowing what information funding organizations expect from you will give your NGO the best chance to receive funding. Review your budget to look at fund-raising needs. Your budget should list the funds that you already have in place, and how much money you will need to carry out the mission of your NGO. Gather your past three years annual reports and calculate the total amount of funding that is needed.

Gather a list of potential grant sources. Search the United States grant database and the Foundation Center grant database to find organizations that give grants to the type of NGO you operate. Grants are given by the federal, state, and local governments and private donors. Visit the website of each potential organization that gives grants to get the specific requirements for submitting a grant proposal. Each organization Develop a grant proposal for your NGO. Your grant proposal should have a strong cover letter that introduces your NGO organization and fully explains your mission. Include in your grant proposal an executive summary, statement of need, your goals and objectives, program design, evaluation, project sustainability, information about your organization, and your budget. Search for sponsors in your community. Look for businesses in your community that share your vision and would like to financially stand behind your organization. For example, organizations that teach computer skills to needy individuals should seek sponsorship from computer and electronics stores, while a group feeding the hungry should contact grocery stores. This is known as "cause-related marketing." Make sure that you provide accurate information on your grant proposal, and that you are honest about your purpose for the funding. Neglecting to do so will compromise your credibility as a NGO organization. Getting the initial funding for a NGO is a difficult, but not impossible, task. To get seed money for startup NGOs you must have a plan and the willingness to put in a lot of free time and labor. You will need persistence, patience and organization to get the seed money you are seeking. A NGO can be started without money if the belief in the cause is deep enough. Know the specific role area you are going to serve with your organization. Know why you are starting the NGO be it for education, awareness, aid or promotion. This information will become important in later steps. Write the business plan for the NGO. Get used to the fact that running a NGO organization is the same as running a business. This will help you understand how to raise money for your organization. Write the business plan with an eye toward having limited or no income to start with. Begin raising awareness of your organization in your community and online. Seek out donations from other local organizations to help start the process of funding; both awareness and money are needed to continue the process of starting up a NGO. Display items connected to your cause at local libraries, businesses or public places where people can purchase items for support.

PROJECTS FROM FOREIGN Commonwealth Foundation: Civil Society Responsive Grants 2010-11
Overview: As part of our work to support civil society, we award small grants to civil society and cultural organisations in Commonwealth Foundation member countries. This document provides information about these grants awarded under the Civil Society Responsive Grants programme. It sets out what we do and do not support, how much you can apply for, and how you can apply for a grant. For more information on the Commonwealth Foundation and projects we have funded previously, please go to www.commonwealthfoundation.com/grants. Amount of Grant: You can apply for up to 12,500. In exceptional cases, the Foundation can award grants of up to 25,000. The average award is about 5,000. Applications for grants of over 12,500 must be considered by the Foundations Grants Committee which meets biannually in September and March. Application date: There are four grant application rounds per year. The deadlines for the rounds are 31 December, 31 March, 30 June and 30 September. Application Deadlines Grants for activities in October, November, December January, February, March April, May, June July, August, September

Application must be received by 30 June 30 September 31st December 31st March

Applicants hear from the Foundation in Beginning of September Beginning of December Beginning of March Beginning of April

How to Apply? There are two ways to submit an application to us: 1. You can download the Responsive Grant application form on the website and submit it by email to geninfo@commonwealth.int 2. You can download the Responsive Grant application form from the website and submit it by post to the following address: Grant Applications Commonwealth Foundation Marlborough House, Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HY United Kingdom

The Global Fund for Women: Call for proposals

About The Global Fund for Women: The Global Fund for Women is an international network of women and men committed to a world of equality and social justice. We advocate for and defend women's human rights by making grants to support women's groups around the world. The Global Fund for Women was established in 1987 by Anne Firth Murray, the Global Fund's founding president and first CEO. Since 1987 they have awarded over $71 million to 3,800 women's organizations in 167 countries. Grant Amount: The majorities of grants range between $500 to $30,000 per year for operating and project expenses. First-time grant awards generally range from $4,000 to $10,000 per year. Types of Grants: General Support Grants: These are flexible, small grants to cover general operating and project expenses. Please click here to download the application form for General Support Grant. Travel Grants: These are small grants that allow members of an organization to attend conferences and events. Please click here to download the application form for Travel Grants. Organizing Meeting/Event Grants: These are small grants to support organizations planning a time-sensitive conference or event. Please click here to download the application form for Meeting Grants. How to Apply: Please send completed applications to: Anasuya Sengupta Program Director Email: asiapac@globalfundforwomen.org Address: Program Officer for Asia and Oceania Global Fund for Women 222 Sutter Street, Suite 500 San Francisco, CA 94108 USA phone: (415) 248-4800 fax: (415) 248-4801

PROJECTS FROM CENTRAL GOVERNMENT Ministry of Agriculture

Name of the Scheme Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Sponsored by Description Both: Central & State Government Aims at achieving 4% annual growth in the agriculture sector during the XI Plan period, by ensuring a holistic development of Agriculture and allied sectors. Individual, Family, Community, Women, Children Name of the Scheme Sponsored by Description Livestock Insurance Scheme Central Government Aims to provide protection mechanism to the farmers and cattle rearers against any eventual loss of their animals due to death and to demonstrate the benefit of the insurance of livestock to the people and popularize it with the ultimate goal of attaining qualitative improvement in livestock and their products. Individual, Family, Community, other, Farmers (large/small/marginal) cattle rearers and

Beneficiaries

Benefits Beneficiaries Benefit Type Eligibility criteria How to Avail Material, Loan, Subsidy, Other Beneficiaries All the States and Union Territories Contact Ministry of concerned State Departments Agriculture or Agriculture Benefits Benefit Type Other Benefits Eligibility criteria Others, Material, Subsidy, Insurance Benefit Farmers (large/small/marginal) and cattle rearers having the crossbred and high yielding cattle and buffaloes. Need to contact Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries

Validity of the Scheme Introduced On Valid Upto Reference URL 01 / 08 / 2007 06 / 08 / 2012 http://agricoop.nic.in/Rkvy/Rkvyfinal1.pdf (138 KB)

How to Avail

Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

Name of the Scheme Sponsored by Description Hill Transport Subsidy Scheme Central Government Hill Transport Subsidy Scheme is meant for the States/ UTs, which are predominantly hilly with little or no railways and poor road communications. Community,other,

Validity of the Scheme Valid Upto Reference URL http://dahd.nic.in/schemes/livestock_insurance_scheme.htm 11 / 01 / 2013

Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

Name of the Scheme Ongoing Schemes/Activities Universal Service Obligation Fund Central Government Subsidy support from USO Fund of Sponsored by

Beneficiaries Other Beneficiaries Benefits

States/ UTs Funding Pattern

Ministry/Department Department of Telecommunications Benefit Type Eligibility criteria Subsidy, Description The following minimum criteria will be required: 1. For Snow Bound Areas – the place should be located at a minimum distance of 25 kms. from existing PDCs/FCI base depots, 2. For Other Hilly Areas – the place should be located at a distance of more than 50 kms. from the existing PDCs/FCI base depots and should be a Sub-Divisional Headquarter. Food Corporation of India can contacted for availing this scheme. be How to Avail Successful process Bidder through bidding Rural Telecom Services(Individual/ Community) supported by USO Fund other, Rural Community

Beneficiaries Other Beneficiaries Benefits Benefit Type Eligibility criteria

Subsidy, Licenecd Telecom Service Provider

How to Avail

Validity of the Scheme Reference URL http://www.dot.gov.in/uso/usoindex.htm Valid Upto Reference URL http://fcamin.nic.in/dfpd/EventDetails.asp?EventId=669&Sectio n=Policy&ParentID=0&Parent=1&check=0 24 / 12 / 2015

PROJECTS FROM STATE GOVERNMENT

Andaman and Nicobar Island Financial Physically Unemployed 31/12/2013 Financial Allowances to Permanently Disabled Persons 01/01/2014 Financial or Assistance and for MADHYA PRADESH Rani Durgavati Anusuchit Jaati/ Anusuchit Jan Jaati Swarojgar Yojna Development Schemes JAMMU & KASHMIR Jammu and Kashmir Rural ANDHRA PRADESH INDIRAMMA (Integrated Novel Development and Rajiv in Rural Areas Model Gandhi Municipal Vidjutikaran ARUNACHAL PRADESH Permanent and Continuous Lok Adalat with Conciliation Centre and Counseling Scheme, Employment Guarantee Scheme (JKREGS). CHATTISGARH Rajya Chhatravritti (Pre-Matric) 30/06/2020 Metrikottar 30/06/2016 Asvachh Dandha Chhatravritti Yojna 30/06/2015 Chhatravas 30/06/2015 Chatragrih Yojna 30/06/2016 Vidhyarthi 30/06/2020 Kanya Saksharata Protsahan Yojna 30/06/2015 in PWD
GUJARAT Interest subsidy or Investment subsidy to small scale industrial units scheme, 2000 valid upto 25/10/2011

ORISSA Swajaladhara Scheme RAJASTHAN Jan Shree Bima Yojna Revised Scheme Integrated 2005 for Housing Beedi

GOA Goa Cyberage Student Scheme, 2004-05

Assistance

to

Handicapped Persons

CHATTISGARH Asvachh Dandha Chhatravritti Yojna valid upto 30/06/2015

Workers, etc. Akshat Yojna for unemployed graduates HIMACHAL PRADESH Fishermen Relief Fund Scheme KERALA Handloom Export Scheme valid upto 31/03/2015

Rehabilitation, Purchase of Aids Appliances to Medical Phy Treatment 01/01/2013 Cattle Programme 03/03/2015 Assistance to Needy Widows valid upto 31/12/2013

Chhatravritti

Yojna

2007 valid upto 31/12/2012 Integrated Low Cost Sanitation Scheme upto 31/10/2013 Scheme for Labour Department 31/08/2012 Drinking Water Supply under Bharat Nirman 31/12/2012 Prime Ministers Employment valid

Kalyan

Yojna

Areas)Scheme 31/07/2017 Scheme 31/07/2016 National Project for Cattle & Buffalo Breeding 31/05/2014 Schemes of Disabled Welfare Department 22/07/2015 Rajiv Swagruha Scheme 07/07/2014 Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana 30/04/2013 Rajiv Janani Scheme Udyogasri Scheme

Generation Programme (PMEGP) 25/11/2012 Yojana and Sukhibhava CHANDIGARH Chandigarh Model Milch Cattle Centre Scheme, 2008 31/12/2012

Scheme for Integrated Horticulture Development Programmes valid upto 01/01/2012

24/07/2015 Suraksha

Scheme 30/04/2025