How's the market situation nowadays? How can we stay relevant?
Today’s nonprofit landscape in Hong Kong is increasingly crowded. There are almost 9,000 recognized charities which obtained tax-exemption status under Section 88 of Inland Revenue Ordinance* along with other non-charity nonprofits, such as art groups, schools, civic organizations and alike. It is understandable that most of them, if not all; are doing their best in securing funds in sustaining or developing their service while competing to get their voice heard for grabbing the largest possible share of mind among their audience. However, to achieve so in differentiating from one’s similar-minded organizations, it is necessary to have well planned, well-informed strategies in place to be implemented by well-trained and equipped staffers. Having a BIG heart in doing good is wonderful but it contributes merely the first half of the success formula in this sector, the other half is the ability in running and managing the organization professionally. Only by combining the two that an organization has the chance of winning the heart of prospects, donors and supporters. Consider that fundraising and marketing always go hand in hand and supporting each other, professional marketing and fundraising, therefore, play a vital role in any organization’s development. As a result, it is essential for organizations in investing in these areas in hope to achieve their strategic goals which would support bettering our society ultimately, may it be supporting elderlies, blossoming underprivileged teenagers and youths, protecting our environment or animal right.
* As at September 2016, Inland Revenue Department
What Values Will Add by Telling Our Story?
'Tell a Story! Don’t try to impress your reader with style or vocabulary or neatly turned phrases. Tell the story first.’
- ANNE McCAFFREY
From various researches and studies, it was proven stories telling have the power in triggering people’s emotion and capable in delivering messages that people remember in an appealing way rather than laying out all the facts and data. With this in mind, I specifically put the emphasis on storytelling and put “Tell My NGO Story” upfront on my website to stress the importance of doing so in hope to help you differentiate your organization from the crowd.
What are the Benefits of Hiring an Advisor?
There are a number of benefits that an independent fundraising and communication advisor can bring to your organization:
Avoid the upfront overhead of hiring and training a permanent staff or setting up a team from scratch;
With the rich experience of an advisor, it is at your fingertip for accessing the best practice for various fundraising and communication campaigns and know-how;
Being independent of your organization’s day to day operations, an advisor is capable for a 360-degree review and evaluation of your organization’s situation and therefore providing objective views and recommendation without being bound by the day to day running; and
Other than providing recommendations, regardless of strategical or tactical ones; an advisor can also conduct training for your Board members, executives and other colleagues in inspiring and empowering you to do your own work organically.
How Can I Help?
Like what you found in the Services section of this website, it depends on how much you are interested in having my involvement. I can be as simple as an extra hand in helping you to write/edit grant proposals and appeal letters. A trainer in providing your Board members, executives and other staff basic fundraising and marketing knowledge to help in creating the appropriated culture from within all the way to tailored training based on your organization’s specific needs and circumstances. On the strategic level, I am your full-service advisor who helps in reviewing and evaluating your organization’s current fundraising and marketing positions, messages and strengths incoherent to the market situation before making the corresponding recommendations to support your organization’s organic growth, of which the ultimate goal is expanding your organization’s support base that allows you to enhance the service in betterment of our society.
How do I know that Consultancy for Good is the right consulting agency for me?
There was research published in The Chronicle of Philanthropy* confirming that to win over modern donors, fundraisers and nonprofit marketers need to work much more collaboratively nowadays. Consider that I have the experience in both areas and the fact that marketing and fundraising go hand in hand, my professional background serves nicely in providing you cohering strategic advice and/or training that helps in lifting your organization to the next level. Equally important, my exposure in different types and sizes of nonprofits both locally and internationally, gives me the prestige chance of acquiring best practices in every situation and scenarios.
In addition, you can read some of the many written compliments from the Clients section and find that I am not only armed with the first-hand experience in the subject areas but also a person of very high integrity.
* The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 10th April 2018
Still have questions? Reach out and I will get back to you ASAP.