The Search For Sustainability

A little while ago I wrote about the concept/issue of sustainability as applied to Nepal Schools Aid, especially important given the current economic climate.

At the turn of the year there was a number of reports in the media of how charities were struggling to maintain their previous level of operation due to reduced donations. Understandable? Yes. Acceptable? No, not in our opinion anyway! Now this may sound a bit "high and mighty", but as a young and immature charity we have no sympathy with any large charity who live beyond their means taking their donors for granted. In the good years you save, in the lean years use some reserves. You owe it to your beneficiaries to act responsibly and manage your "business" sustainably.

Let's be a bit more specific. In 2008 we raised around ₤12,000, but the core of our work in Nepal needed a budget of only ₤6000, so what should we do? We could expand our work to spend more (₤12,000), or save ₤6000 in a high interest account to give regular interest. Maybe unsurprisingly, we chose to save ₤6000 and to live/work within the planned budget. So, most importantly, saving the excess has contributed to our sustainibility and in a worst case scenario we have capital to fund a whole year's work even if we receive NO donations in 2009!

Now, there is a second way of looking at sustainability and this concerns the TYPE of donation received from supporters. One-off donations are wonderful but even more wonderful are the guaranteed repeat donations as typified by monthly standing orders or annual repeat grants. This year we have had a real breakthrough in each area. Firstly, at the half way point in the year we have received ₤3,500 from annual repeat grants which are specifically targeted on our Value Added programme of textbook provision and teacher salaries. Secondly, we are being most generously supported by 11 donors via monthly standing orders to the value of around ₤1,700 per annum. This means therefore that we are receiving sustainable donations to the value of ₤5,200 which is almost sufficient to fund a whole year's work.

In summary then, sustainability is a combination of what WE do, and what YOU do:

We promise to uses our financial resources responsibly, spending within our means each year, saving extra funds during the good years.

What we ask of you, is to consider making regular donations by monthly standing order or an annual grant for larger sums. Please contact us at info@nepalschoolsaid.co.uk if you can afford from as little as ₤5 per month.