Effective Fundraising and Proposal Writing

By the end of the four-session training program, participants will be able to:

• Identify and map relevant institutional, foundation, bilateral, and multilateral donors aligned with their
organization’s priorities.
• Understand donor registration requirements, due diligence processes, and key compliance
considerations needed to become funding-ready.
• Develop high-quality concept notes that clearly articulate needs, objectives, and proposed interventions
while avoiding common mistakes that reduce funding success.
• Strengthen proposal development skills, including the design of logical frameworks (logframes),
theories of change, and results-focused programming approaches.
• Improve their understanding of donor priorities and expectations to increase competitiveness in funding
applications.
• Build effective donor engagement and relationship management skills, including when and how to
approach donors, communicate organizational achievements, and maintain strong partnerships
throughout the grant cycle.
• Apply practical lessons and feedback to improve future funding opportunities and resource mobilization
efforts for their organizations.
Access post-training mentoring support through optional concept note and proposal reviews to reinforce
learning and improve real-world funding submissions at an additional fee.

• Session 1: Donor Mapping, Registration and Due Diligence

  8 November 2026 | 10:00 am–1:00 pm (Syria time) | 3 hours

  • Mapping institutional donors, UN agencies, bilateral donors, and pooled funds.
  • Understanding organisational compliance and donor due diligence requirements.
  • Identifying funding opportunities aligned with organisational priorities.

• Session 2: Concept Note Development – Do’s and Don’ts

  9 November 2026 | 10:00 am–1:00 pm (Syria time) | 3 hours

  • Understanding the key elements and structure of a strong concept note.
  • Clearly presenting needs, objectives, and proposed interventions.
  • Identifying common mistakes and practical ways to avoid them.

• Session 3: Proposal Development – Logframes and Theory of Change

  10 November 2026 | 10:00 am–1:00 pm (Syria time) | 3 hours

  • Developing robust Theories of Change.
  • Building practical Logical Frameworks (Logframes).
  • Developing clear indicators and means of verification.
  • Strengthening results-focused programming approaches.

• Session 4: Donor Relations and Post-Award Engagement

  11 November 2026 | 10:00 am–12:00 pm (Syria time) | 2 hours

  • Strategies for engaging and developing constructive donor relationships.
  • Understanding when and how to approach donors.
  • Maintaining transparent communication and reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
  • Course synthesis and key takeaways.

Poppy Hankir

The training will be led by Poppy Hankir, a humanitarian consultant with more than 15 years of experience in
institutional fundraising, bid development, partnerships, and capacity strengthening. She has delivered
fundraising and proposal development training for NGOs and INGOs across multiple contexts and has secured
funding from major donors including DG ECHO, USAID, EU institutions, and philanthropic donors. The course
is designed for fundraising, partnerships, program, grants, and senior management staff from local NGOs, civil
society organizations, and humanitarian actors seeking to strengthen their organizational fundraising capacity
and improve funding success rates.

This training is designed for staff from local and national civil society organisations, NGOs, community-based organisations, and humanitarian and development actors seeking to strengthen their fundraising and donor engagement capacities.

It is particularly relevant for:

• Business Development, Fundraising, and Resource Mobilisation Officers
• Programme Managers and Coordinators
• MEAL staff
• Senior Managers, Directors, and organisational leaders
• Proposal Writers and Grants Officers
• Staff from new or growing organisations seeking to diversify their donor base and strengthen institutional readiness

The programme is suitable for participants with beginner to intermediate experience in fundraising and proposal development. It combines practical tools, real-life examples, and interactive discussions relevant to both local organisations and other humanitarian and development actors.