Alumni association workshop stimulates vibrant conversations

Twelve African alumni associations took part in the final training module of the 2024 Sustainable Alumni Association Campaign in the form of an in-person Fundraising Skills Workshop in Cape Town, South Africa on 16 and 17 September 2024. Inyathelo, the South African Institute for Advancement delivered the workshop on behalf of Australia Awards Africa at their offices in Woodstock.

The workshop was the highlight of the Program’s Sustainable Alumni Association Campaign that ran during 2024 and included a series of online training sessions about the Ten Principles of Advancement and associated content. As part of the selection criteria, those in attendance had to complete the preceding training podcasts and webinars as part of the campaign and submitted expressions of interest with draft fundraising plans.

The goal of the Sustainability Campaign is to build the capacity of associations to become better not-for-profit organisations that are more sustainable and more attractive to potential members, supporters, and donors. The training focused on building the professional operations, conduct and sustainability of existing alumni associations and exposed the associations to key fundraising and resource mobilisation topics such as the fundraising cycle, developing a fundraising plan, proposal writing, sustainable budgeting and budget proposals for several types of donors.

The alumni attendees appreciated the feedback from Inyathelo’s Feryal Domingo and Soraya Joonas about their Fundraising and Resource Mobilisation Plans on the first day of the workshop. The feedback was followed by group work to revisit and strengthen the plans and to learn from one another. On the second day of the workshop the alumni presented their revised Resource Mobilisation and Fundraising Plans to a panel comprising of Inyathelo staff and two external fundraising experts. The panelists gave thorough feedback to each association on completion of their presentations.

According to attendee, Patrick Karugaba from Uganda, “the training is well-timed and very useful as associations need to become more sustainable.” Matsie Mokoyane from South Africa felt the training “opens her mind broadly to look at all possibilities and scenarios that could assist to let her association sparkle again”.

The workshop facilitators commented: “We were particularly impressed by the vibrant in class discussions, which demonstrated the commitment and dedication of the alumni to the growth and development of their countries. Their passion and enthusiasm were inspiring, and we are confident that they will continue to make a positive impact in their communities”.

Following the training and the implementation of the new policies and practices, the associations are better positioned to receive support from members and potential donors. The association representative vowed to form a support group that will share expertise and guide and support the different associations. The Program looks forward to monitoring the associations’ progress in 2025.