Feryal Domingo, acting Executive Director, Inyathelo
In the world of nonprofit organisations (NPOs), funding is the lifeblood that keeps missions alive and initiatives thriving. Securing financial support is a constant challenge, one that demands innovation and adaptability. In this pursuit of sustainability, NPOs must harness every resource available to them, and one that deserves greater attention is an Investment Readiness Tool (IRT).
An IRT is designed to help NPOs discover where there are gaps in attracting external support, and what they need to do to address these. This process of introspection can help NPOs to better align their organisations to attract funding.
While some may argue that such tools introduce unnecessary complexity to the already demanding world of NPO management, there are compelling reasons why NPOs should embrace their use.
Capacity building: Going through the IRT process encourages organisations to scrutinise their governance structures, financial management and operational efficiency. This self-examination can lead to improvements in these critical areas, making NPOs more resilient.
Risk mitigation: Investment readiness tools can help NPOs identify and address potential stumbling blocks before they become insurmountable obstacles.
Strategic clarity: An IRT forces organisations to clearly define their strategies and desired outcomes. A well-defined strategy is not only attractive to potential funders but also improves an organisation’s overall effectiveness.
Investor confidence: When NPOs present themselves as investment-ready, they inspire confidence in potential funders, who are more likely to commit resources to organisations that are clearly ready to use them efficiently.
Efficient resource allocation:. By identifying areas that require investment or improvement, organisations can focus their efforts and resources where they will have the greatest impact, achieving more with less.
Competitive advantage: In an increasingly competitive landscape for funding, organisations that can show their readiness for investment stand out from the crowd.
Inyathelo, whose mission is to support other NPOs to become more sustainable, developed such a tool, known as the Investment Readiness Tool, in 2019. The system has become a valuable asset in much of the training the organisation offers.
Inyathelo developed the tool by initially researching an array of organisational capacity systems, particularly the Organisational Mapping Tool of the Ford Foundation, and adapting them to the local context and sustainability framework.. This enabled Inyathelo to determine benchmarks for each of the 10 elements of Advancement, which is a holistic approach that Inyathelo encourages clients to adopt in order to build donor relationships and attract funding.
The tool is designed for NPOs of various sizes, capacity levels and development stages, whether newly founded or well-established. The tool is intended to be completed by staff and, if possible, board members. The more responses received, the clearer the picture of where there are gaps that could limit support from funders, and also, more positively, the organisation’s strengths.
The tool helps organisations to make a simple capacity development strategy map to reach the goal of becoming attractive for support. It links the concrete goal of securing investment and increasing sustainability with a step-by-step action plan to grow organisational capacity.
We facilitate the process of completing the tool and prioritising key areas requiring attention. Interestingly, we find that many organisations are initially hesitant about using the tool precisely because of its efficacy in revealing organisational weaknesses. However, once they engage with the process, they have found it very beneficial for honing in on organisational needs.
Organisational assessments are sensitive processes that need to be facilitated with care. The tool provides a common language to discuss difficult organisational issues and, although these conversations aren’t always easy, they can lead to productive directions for the organisation. They should be undertaken in a spirit of openness, improvement and collaboration.
The process of using an IRT is not a one-time exercise, but an ongoing journey. The underlying philosophy is that organisations are organic and change over time. NPOs can use it as a framework for continuous learning and adaptation. As they evolve and grow, organisations can revisit the tool to ensure they remain aligned with their mission and are making the best use of their resources.
In conclusion, an IRT can serve as a powerful signal of an organisation’s commitment to transparency, accountability and impact. It is a tried and tested, structured approach to assess an NPO’s financial health, operational capacity and strategic direction. While the time and effort required may seem daunting at first, the long-term benefits far outweigh the initial investment.
About Inyathelo
Inyathelo works to sustain and strengthen civil society organisations and grow local giving in support of a vibrant democracy in South Africa. Find out more at https://www.inyathelo.org.za/