Mobilization of resources I

Mobilization of resources versus fundraising

In this and the following issues of Civic World in the Concepts column we are going to write about mobilization of resources, covering its concept bases, strategies for mobilization of resources and various ways of mobilization of resources.

Mobilization of resources versus fundraising

The term “fundraising” becomes more popular among civil society associations in Macedonia, expanding its range from writing proposal-projects and applying at donors to something which involves organization of different events and activities for collecting donations from individuals, businesses etc. It is mainly about collecting funds. However, we prefer talking about mobilization of resources and it implies expanding the mobilization of things we need, that are necessary and that are not money.

Everything has its cost price and eventually we are going to show these things/resources in the budget through their financial value. Some say “you can buy everything with money”, so these two concepts could be identified. But it seems that it is not and it cannot be like that, especially in the context when Macedonian civil society organizations will have to turn to domestic support more and more.

Our organizations’ intention is to carry out planned activities, to realize our mission and to achieve planned goals. Thus it is necessary to provide/mobilize planned resources. We can get to them through funds provided by donation, but part can also be provided in another form. For a number of local supporters of our work it is very difficult or impossible to provide donation in cash, but are willing to contribute with goods, services, expertise, volunteering etc.

For example, it is likely that we cannot expect significant money donations from the local self-government, taking into consideration small and limited budgets of many of our municipalities. But some municipalities will have an opportunity and ear to provide a space where offices of some local civil society organization could be located. And this item is not to be underestimated at all in the annual budget of every organization.

For many of our activities several lines written in a daily paper will mean more than financial donation by that paper. Access to information obviously becomes more important. Latest information and updates can be relevant contribution and sometimes money is not necessary to buy it or you cannot buy it with money.     

Many projects seek support from citizens, authorities or institutions and their standing behind our attitudes. For instance, organizing protests, signing petitions, law amendments etc. In these cases our cause and the way we present it becomes key, how accepted it is, how powerful we are to mobilize people, how much people trust us, what are our relations and communication. That is, our capability to mobilize our social capital becomes key, something that cannot be simply provided by a donation, something that we have built consciously or unconsciously since the beginnings of our organization. Social capital becomes more important in seeking local support and it seems that so far we have not paid enough attention to it. 

Concept Page

Resources are all things, assets that have an economic value. In the project management terminology resources are necessary to perform project task and it can be people, equipment, facilities, money and everything necessary to complete the project activity.

Mobilization of resources – a process of collecting resources from resource providers by using various mechanisms in order to carry out organization’s activities.

Fundraising – organized effort, activity, process of seeking and collecting money through donations from individuals, businesses, charity foundations or governmental agencies. In spite of the fact that fundraising typically refers to efforts to raise funds for non-profitable organizations, this term is sometimes used in terms of looking for investors or other sources of capital for profitable organizations.