Part of the effort to increase resources in a non-government organization, especially one that is non-profit, must be to improve decision-making and strategy planning in relation to fundrasing. This Web Scout suttests four portals that provide access to excellent background articles on fundraising, training materials, and information about international aid architecture and mechanisms.
The Human Interaction Research Institute is sponsored by several foundations to help non-profit organizations learn how to improve their mobilization strategies and methods. The Duke University database for nonprofit organizations provides help to find information about NGO management as well as links to the major international organizations which partner and consult with NGOs. The INTRAC database includes access to free reports, development organization links, and how-to for practitioners. The University of Wisconsin collaborates with the Foundation Center to provide links to information on the techniques of proposal writing.
Portal 1: Human Interaction Research Institute
http://www.humaninteract.org/reports/pcbrdatabase.asp
The Philanthropic Capacity Building Resource (PCBR) database contains over 350 descriptions of programs carried out by US foundations. There are also profiles of intermediary organizations that provide capacity building assistance to non-profits including links to the following:
Alliance for Nonprofit Management, www.allianceonline.org
Board Source, www.boardsource.org
Capaciteria, www.capaciteria.org
CompassPoint, www.compasspoint.org
CompuMentor, www.compumentor.org
Council on Foundations, www.cof.org
Foundation Center, www.fdncenter.org
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations, www.geofunders.org
Guidestar, www.guidestar.org
Independent Sector, www.independentsector.org
Innovation Network, www.innonet.org
National Council of Nonprofit Associations, www.ncna.org
N Power, www.npower.org
St. Paul Management Assistance Program, www.mapfornonprofits.org
PORTAL 2: Duke University NGO Databank
http://docs.lib.duke.edu/igo/guides/ngo/
Some of the links are directories of NGOs, others provide documents for NGOs including the publications and formats necessary to establish partnerships with international organizations. Several of the international organization links are:
Asian Development Bank NGO Cooperation http://www.adb.org/NGOs/default.asp
European Union http://ec.europa.eu/civil_society/index_en.htm
Also see http://ec.europa.eu/civil_society/autres_en.htm
InterAmerican Development Bank http://www.iadb.org/aboutus/VI/civilsociety.cfm?language=English
International Labor Organization http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm
Organization of American States Civil Society Participation http://www.civil-society.oas.org/
United Nations
UN Agencies Finance System Partnerships http://www.un.org/issues/ngo/n-finan.html
UN-NGO Global Issues http://www.un.org/issues/ngo/ngoindex.html
World Bank http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/thematic.htm
(Click on C, go to civil society) also see Global Development Learning
Network http://www.gdln.org/
World Health Organization Civil Society Initiative http://www.who.int/civilsociety/en/
World Trade Organization http://www.wto.org/english/forums_e/ngo_e/intro_e.htm
PORTAL 3: INTRAC (International NGO Training and Research Centre)
http://www.intrac.org/pages/resources.html
http://www.intrac.org/resources_database.php?id=281
Includes a resources database with free downloads, a directory of links to hundreds of development organizations including official agencies, NGOs, networks, think tanks, libraries, as well as methods for practitioners and a list of 40 excellent websites with tools for different aspects of civil society strengthening.
PORTAL 4: Portal to Information about Proposal Writing
http://grants.library.wisc.edu/organizations/proposalwebsites.html
This portal gives links to dozens of articles and tips on how to write proposals to request funds. The site is maintained by the library at the University of Wisconsin and links to information from government agencies, foundations and fundraising consultants.
And, to finish this Web Scout here are links to three government aid agencies:
Canadian International Development Agency Policy Suite Publications
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/acdicida.nsf/En/JUD-826145832-Q9M
US Agency for International Development NGO Strengthening Program
http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/cross-cutting_programs/private_voluntary_cooperation/ngo.html
UK Department for International Development Work with Civil Society
http://www.dfid.gov.uk/aboutdfid/DFIDwork/civilsociety.asp
