The Institute was founded to develop projects that enhance the capacity of non-profit organisations to deliver their missions.
From the start, we offered training programmes in fundraising skills and mentoring support for trained fundraisers.
We improved communications capacity through paid services such as:
- Research and writing funding proposals, concept notes, letters of enquiry and donor reports.
- Editing and writing copy for media, marketing and corporate copy.
- Research, writing and production assistance with learning materials.
While we still provide these services, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed a broader level of incapacity in society. Many non-profits were forced to close and some could not be started up again. Available funding in the region reduced as the global need for support increased alongside corporate citizens focusing on the survival of their businesses. The economy shrunk, joblessness increased and millions of people were almost overnight unable to guarantee their next meal.
We realised that our successful model of addressing incapacity in one organisation at a time could make little impact on the social crisis the region was experiencing. We also realised that a new opportunity had emerged during COVID-19 to simultaneously reach mass and individual audiences and particularly new ways to inspire action and promote agency. The Zimela Agri-Production project will be the first product of our fresh approach to capacity building.