WIEGO (Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing) is a global network with international partners that supports the movement of workers in informal employment, especially women and those living in poverty. It supports workers to build strong, democratic membership-based organizations led by them to improve their working conditions.
These organizations need funding for core operations and specific projects. Funding can come from local or international donors, including trusts, foundations, institutions, and corporate bodies. To successfully access these funds, the organizations must have a clear and updated understanding of the fundraising landscape and practical skills in grant-seeking. WIEGO wanted to offer customized training to help equip these organizations with the necessary knowledge and skills.
We addressed WIEGO’s challenge by delivering tailored “Get Ready for Fundraising” training to affiliates in Madagascar, Peru, and Kenya, in French, Spanish, and English.
After an internal review of affiliates’ programmes, funding relationships, and priorities, we developed customized three-day in-person workshops covering donor identification, proposal writing, outreach, and stewardship. Training content emphasized building confidence, crafting compelling cases for support, and establishing sustainable donor pipelines. To reinforce learning, we provided supporting materials, practical exercises, and a two-month helpdesk service for ongoing guidance. This approach ensured affiliates not only gained essential fundraising skills but could immediately apply them within their contexts. We delivered:
• 3-day training session in Mauritius (English), in Kenya (French) and in Peru (Spanish)
• 100 hours of help desk provided over several months and the review of dozens of grant proposals prepared by participants
• 11 short videos delivered with online practice booklet to be filled in by participants
As a result, WIEGO affiliates gained practical skills in donor research, proposal writing, and relationship-building, enabling them to approach fundraising with confidence. Lessons learned were:
• Importance of providing tailor-made training in the language participants are most familiar with, without relying on a translator.
• Confirmed need for immediate hands-on practice during training to ensure effective knowledge acquisition, along with ongoing, personalized follow-up to address each participant’s specific needs.
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