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European Citizens´ Initiative Forum

Start Early and Build Trust: Democracy International’s Tips on Funding Your European Citizens’ Initiative

Updated on: 03 December 2024

Anne Hardt is the Fundraising and Campaigning Manager at Democracy International. She is one of the experts providing advice to European citizens’ initiative organisers on raising funds and organising campaigns for their initiatives. 

A person with long hair in a bun is standing in front of a blue background with text and an illustration of hands holding plants. They are wearing a black top and have a small microphone clipped to their shirt.

Caption: Anne Hardt, Fundraising and Campaigning Manager at Democracy International and expert on fundraising. 

Q: Hi, Anne! Let's start with an introduction. Could you tell us about yourself and the kind of services the European Citizens’ Initiative Forum provides to those interested in building their fundraising strategy?

Anne Hardt: My name is Anne Hardt, and I’ve been working as the Fundraising and Campaigning Manager at Democracy International for the past six and a half years. Part of my role is providing fundraising advice to current and potential ECI organisers of European citizens’ initiatives through the ECI Forum. The Forum offers a range of best practices that we have gathered from previous successful ECIs, and our goal is to share useful advice with future organisers.

Q: When you say "fundraising advice," what exactly does that entail?

Anne Hardt: The Forum provides two primary avenues for advice. First, there is the section which offers resources on how to raise funds for an ECI. Second, we offer organisers the option to ask for expert advice, where organisers can get tailored advice specific to their campaign’s needs. We respond to questions within eight working days, and submissions can be made in any official EU language. 

"There’s no one-size-fits-all approach"

We emphasise that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, but many proven tools and methods from past ECIs can be used.

Q: What are some of the key tips you would give to ECI organisers?

"The most important advice I can give is to start early."

Anne Hardt: The most important advice I can give is to start early. It is crucial to have a healthy funding base in place before you even begin your signature collection. Building a robust fundraising strategy and network is essential -— whether it’s reaching out to funders at the local, regional, national or European level. Once you’ve registered your ECI, you need to be prepared financially to sustain your efforts throughout the entire process.

Looking at Stop Vivisection, a privately sponsored TV campaign was crucial for the success of their initiative. Stop Vivisection was also very big on social media, which was an essential part of the success of their ECI. When we speak about social media, please remember to include the costs for social media ads in your budget for each country.

Q: Is there any estimate on how much an ECI organiser needs to raise to be successful?

Anne Hardt: It’s hard to pinpoint an exact amount. For example, the ECI “Stop Finning” collected around 17,000 EUR, while “Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics” raised over 2 million EUR. So, the range is quite broad. You can succeed with lower funds, but that often means relying on other forms of support like volunteering, pro bono work, or in-kind contributions.

"A successful strategy starts with planning."

A successful strategy begins with thorough planning. I recommend starting at least 12 months before registering your initiative. Identify and map out potential fundraising opportunities at the local, national, and European levels, considering what each can contribute. Avoid narrowing your options too soon - cast a wide net to explore all potential funding sources.

It is also essential to centralise the administration of funds, even if the fundraising itself is decentralised across different partners in various countries. This ensures transparency and coordination.

"Trust is key. Funders need to believe that you will manage their money responsibly and use it for the promised purpose."

Establishing this trust can come through personal meetings, phone calls, or email exchanges. Also, research what (else) specific foundations or philanthropists have funded in the past, and adapt your narrative to align with their goals.

Q: Could you share some examples of successful fundraising strategies from past ECIs?

Anne Hardt: Certainly, let’s look at “Right to Water”, the first successful ECI. They started planning three years in advance, building a strong network and securing funding early on. Another example is “Stop Vivisection”, which had over 250 NGOs, scientific organisations and companies supporting them, providing both financial resources and outreach.

Many ECIs also successfully engage prominent figures or influencers. For example, “End the Cage Age” had international support from stars like Pamela Anderson, and “Stop Finning” worked with 16 celebrities and over 100 organizations to boost their campaign.

Q: What about reporting requirements? How transparent does an ECI need to be with its finances?

Anne Hardt: ECIs are legally required to report donations of 500 EUR or more, including in-kind contributions. This information needs to be submitted to the European Commission regularly for publication, so it’s essential to have good reporting practices in place from the start.

And one more piece of advice:

"Don’t just focus on the European impact—highlight the local impact as well. And remember, every potential signatory can also be a potential donor."

Use the ECI Forum to deepen your understanding of the ECI process and discover valuable fundraising tips. Don’t hesitate to connect with previous successful ECIs to learn from their fundraising strategies. Remember, funding is key—money makes the world go round, and the same applies to European Citizens’ Initiatives!

 

Learn more about fundraising through other blog posts, videos and webinars:

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