Project Execution

Being first time ProEngagers, both volunteers were curious about their upcoming experience. Although unsure of the outcome, their genuine zeal to make a fruitful contribution to the NGO was a path to success. 

After their initial meeting, Subham and Subhojit have learned more about the work of Kankura Masat Social Welfare Society (KMSWS). The director Sajal has explained to them that the NGO is planning to search for donors for their various projects that included providing eLearning for 500 high-school students during the COVID-19 pandemic, manufacturing of reusable cotton sanitary pads for the women and girls in poor areas, ambulance service to provide transportation to the nearest hospital and promotion of organic farming. To ease understanding of his expectation, Sajal also provided a few templates of their previous fundraising proposals. 

As they confess, the two volunteers really “clicked” and developed camaraderie during the project. Subhojit explains: “We remained very informal and Subham was on the same page. We distributed the work very flexibly and there wasn’t a leader as such. We reviewed each other’s work”. Sajal also appreciated that all of them could speak in the regional language that made the interaction between them very comfortable and easy.  

Subham recollects that Sajal would review their work and provide constant feedback: “he was very open-minded and receptive of our ideas and suggestions. I remember, he would be really amazed by our inputs and that made me really happy that I was able to help him and told him something new.” Sajal recollects: “Subham and Subhojit were extraordinary. They would be so proactive, pushing us for meetings, every week we will meet and review. That was really amazing.”

As a result, Kankura Masat Social Welfare Society received 4 different fundraising proposals. Sajal is enthusiastically explaining further: “not only they [the volunteers] saved us about 50,000 INR, but we have learned so much from them. They have enriched our team. We have gained valuable inputs, sources and knowledge.” Moreover during the time of the interview Sajal mentioned that they have already a potential donor for one of the proposals Subham and Subhojit prepared.

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Challenges faced

As much as both Subham and Subhojit were experienced in writing similar proposals in the past, the nonprofit sector and the huge variety of areas the organization wanted to cover created a few challenges to solve.

“We sometimes had to do a lot of research to understand the sector more,” Subhojit mentions. Some of the areas, like organic farming and sanitary napkins manufacturing were very new and needed expert information. Subham also seconds Subhojit: “Data collection was an issue. It would have been easier if the NGO already had some data about the projects they are working on and were able to get in touch with an expert in that area.” The volunteers eventually managed to leverage their network of friends and colleagues and collect necessary information for the proposals.