Grameen Foundation

Project Summary: Grameen Foundation helps the world's poorest, especially women, improve their lives and escape poverty by providing them with access to small loans, essential information, and viable business opportunities. Through two of the most effective tools known – microfinance and technology – we work to make a real difference in the lives of those who have been left behind: poor people, especially those living on less than $1.25 per day. We do this by helping local microfinance institutions and other poverty-focused organizations become more effective and efficient, enabling them to reach more poor people with small loans. We work with these organizations to help them find financing, improve their IT systems, ensure that their staff is as productive as possible, and ensure that their efforts are reaching the poor. Working with local and global allies, we also are leveraging advances in mobile-phone technologies to address the devastating effects that “information poverty” can have on people. Our work is helping the poor to better manage their health, their crops, and their finances, and even to find new business opportunities, enabling them to improve their lives and break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their families. Asia’s increasing economic prosperity and growing interest in philanthropy leads Grameen Foundation to believe that there is tremendous potential for increasing the scope of our current fund-raising activities in the region, which are currently limited to Hong Kong. Grameen Foundation has identified four key geographies – India, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines – for possible expansion of our fundraising activities. Grameen Foundation is looking for a team of four volunteers (one volunteer, preferably locally-based, will be assigned to each country) to conduct research and present a comprehensive report which: 1) analyses the potential for fundraising for Grameen Foundation’s activities in each country (or in the case of Singapore to support our work across the region); 2) identifies factors of success (including local human and other resources required) in raising funds in the local geography; and 3) articulates risks and possible mitigants to moving forward with fundraising in the geography. Please note, a legal review of each geography is being carried out in parallel to the landscape assessment detailed herein. Project Description: The research should cover the following points: 1 ) Overview of Fundraising Potential o Provide a quantifiable “best estimate” of available local philanthropic funding sources: current environment and potential for future growth. Funding sources could include but are not limited to foundations, individual donors, corporate partnerships, local and international government agencies and multilaterals as well as others. o Highlight emerging trends in fundraising in the country, creative ideas and out-of-box solutions. o Analyze top 5 leading global/international organizations raising funds locally and their fundraising strategies. o Present a prioritized list of the top ten high potential philanthropic funders who may be interested in funding Grameen Foundation based on a congruence between their philanthropic/ CSR focus areas strategy and Grameen Foundation’s social mission. Indicate their current partnerships with non profits and support provided, if any. o Estimate the potential amount and brainstorm a minimum of five ways to tap into each of the ten donors highlighted above. 2) Identify Factors of Success to Tap into the Local Fundraising Potential o Identify what GF as an organization would need to do in order to take advantage of the fundraising potential (e.g. human resources required, new relationships it would need to establish, etc.) 3) Identify Key Risks and Potential Mitigants (as appropriate) The volunteers are expected to present a detailed report covering the above at the end of the project period. Volunteer Requirements: Grameen Foundation seeks a small team of 4 volunteers, (one volunteer, preferably locally-based, will be assigned to each country). Previous experience in fundraising or fundraising landscape analysis is a plus. Project duration and location: The project duration is from March 1, 2011- May 15, 2011. The project can be completed remotely. Bi-weekly phone check-ins with all team members together will be required.