Real People, Not Just Data: Let's Redefine Donor-Community Dynamics!

As civil society and particularly NGOs working for criminalized and vulnerable communities, we often find ourselves at the mercy of donors' priorities. While a handful of donors genuinely understand and prioritize the well-being of the communities they serve, the stark reality is that a significant number seem to view these communities as mere data points. For such donors, communities are reduced to mere statistics that showcase the success of their financial contributions.

However, it's crucial to remember that every statistic represents real people with genuine needs, aspirations, and dignity. The disconnect becomes evident when funding doesn't address the real needs of these communities. As they stand today, many grants merely offer temporary solutions – akin to placing a band-aid over a deep wound without addressing its root cause.

Thankfully, some donors take a different approach, aligning their strategies with the community's needs rather than dictating how their funds should be utilized. Such donors are beacons of hope and are genuinely impactful in their efforts. Yet, they are the exception rather than the norm.

Donors must focus on core funding for lasting change and genuinely engage with their grantees. Listen to us. Understand our challenges. Understand the transformation we aim to create instead of setting rigid expectations for your highly demanding monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly reports. Our capacity shouldn't be constantly under the microscope, nor should you berate us for staff turnover. These challenges would diminish if we had sufficient resources and the freedom to offer fair wages.

Furthermore, we never question your stability as organizations evolve and leadership changes. So, we humbly ask for the same grace. Abrupt shifts in donors’ strategy and leadership have caused major overhauls and sudden shifts within donor organizations, leaving us without essential funds, which can jeopardize our initiatives. All this with complete disregard for their past investments.

If the goal is to instigate real change and touch lives meaningfully, it's time for a more empathetic and collaborative approach. We can bridge the gap together and work towards a brighter, more inclusive future. Listen to us!