Proposals Are Not Converting Into Funding
The organisation is submitting proposals to donors and development partners but struggling to secure funding despite a genuinely strong programme.
How we can help
Donor & Development Partner Advisory
Strengthening the case, delivery and accountability behind development funding.
Overview
Organisations seeking development funding often understand their programme well but struggle to present it in a way that meets the specific expectations of donors, development finance institutions and other development partners. The gap between a genuinely valuable programme and a fundable proposal can be significant.
Equally, once funding is secured, organisations face the ongoing challenge of managing delivery against donor expectations, reporting requirements and accountability structures that can be demanding and highly specific to each funding partner.
At Concinnity, we help organisations navigate the full relationship with donors and development partners, from understanding funding priorities and building a credible case for support, through to managing delivery and accountability once funding is in place.
Donor & Development Partner Advisory
We help organisations build stronger relationships with donors and development partners, from funding strategy through to delivery accountability.
The objective is a stronger, more sustainable relationship with development partners, built on a credible case for support and dependable delivery.
Donor Landscape & Funding Strategy
Assess the funding landscape to identify donors and development partners whose priorities genuinely align with the organisation's mission and programmes.
Proposal & Concept Note Development
Develop compelling, evidence-based proposals and concept notes that meet the specific requirements and expectations of individual donors.
Development Partner Due Diligence Preparation
Prepare organisations for the due diligence processes donors and development finance institutions require before committing funding.
Grant & Contract Management
Strengthen the systems and processes required to manage grants and contracts in compliance with donor requirements throughout the funding period.
Donor Reporting & Accountability Systems
Design reporting systems that meet donor accountability requirements while remaining manageable for programme teams to sustain.
Multi-Donor Coordination
Support organisations managing relationships with multiple donors simultaneously, helping align differing requirements, timelines and reporting expectations.
Signs You Need This
Donor relationships come under strain when the gap between programme value and funder expectations is not actively managed.
The common thread: the value of the programme is not the constraint; the ability to present, deliver against and account for that value to development partners is.
Due Diligence Processes Repeatedly Create Delays
Funding decisions are slowed or jeopardised because the organisation is not adequately prepared for donor due diligence requirements.
Grant Management Capacity Is Stretched
The organisation has secured funding but is struggling to manage the compliance, reporting and financial management requirements that come with it.
Reporting Consumes Disproportionate Programme Resources
Donor reporting requirements are absorbing significant staff time, limiting capacity to focus on actual programme delivery.
Multiple Donor Relationships Are Difficult to Coordinate
The organisation manages several donor relationships simultaneously, each with different requirements, creating operational strain.
The Case for Support Has Not Evolved With the Programme
The organisation continues to present the same funding narrative even as its programme, evidence base and track record have developed.
Donor Confidence Has Been Shaken by Delivery Issues
Previous delivery or reporting issues have created doubts that are now affecting the organisation's ability to secure or renew funding.
Our Approach
We begin by understanding the priorities, requirements and expectations of the specific donors and development partners the organisation is engaging with, rather than treating all funding relationships as interchangeable.
We help align organisational strategy with the funding landscape, positioning programmes in a way that is both authentic to the organisation's mission and genuinely compelling to relevant funders.
We strengthen the case for support, developing proposals, concept notes and supporting evidence that meet donor expectations while accurately representing the programme's value.
Once funding is secured, we help build the grant management, reporting and accountability systems required to manage delivery against donor expectations reliably, protecting the relationship for future funding cycles.
The result is a stronger, more resilient relationship with development partners, built on credibility earned through both a compelling case for support and consistent, accountable delivery.
