Challenges and Lessons Learned: Insights from Fundraising for Edhi Foundation

Abdul Sattar Edhi, a renowned personality, was a prominent philanthropist and humanitarian in Pakistan. He established the ‘Edhi Foundation’ in 1951, a non-profit, non-political, and non-commercial organization offering top-notch services and facilities to the community, including ambulance, free dastarkhawans, orphanages, and rescue helpline services for several years.

Following Abdul Sattar Edhi’s demise at the age of 88 in 2016, the foundation experienced a setback as its donations decreased by almost 30%. The Edhi Foundation requires around 1.5 billion Pakistani rupees ($13 million) per year to continue its operations, which involve managing a fleet of 1,800 ambulances.

Action Plans for Fundraising

• Social media platforms facilitate the promotion of Edhi’s cause and encourage donations from a wider audience.
• Visited schools and colleges to raise funds, boost donations, and strengthen community relationships.
• Used Iftar dinners to persuade people to donate their Zakat, Sadqat, and Fitrana to Edhi Foundation.
• Reached out to people directly, including relatives, friends, strangers, and organizations, to encourage donations.

A strategy that yielded positive results for us was individually sending voice messages with the recipient’s name instead of broadcasting to a group as a whole. This approach proved to be effective in collecting a considerable amount of funds as it conveyed a sense of authenticity and sincerity to the recipients, which convinced them that I was genuinely collecting funds for Edhi.

I always believe:

Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

“Being a student I knew none of the individual would be able to donate a hefty amount so by sending voice note I persuade them to donate even a small amount. “– Qirat Nasir

Challenges and Experiences

During Ramazan, we faced several challenges in our efforts to promote Edhi’s cause. We had planned to conduct door-to-door campaigns, visit malls, and set up stalls in public places such as parks, museums, and libraries. However, the intense heat and fasting made it impossible for us to execute these plans.

Additionally, our group faced the hurdle of living in different areas, making it challenging to work together on hosting stalls or campaigns. As a result, we each worked individually for two weeks.

However, one of our dedicated team members recognized the importance of teamwork and established a team in the university to overcome this challenge.

He described his experience as follows:

“During my attempts to promote Edhi’s cause by visiting universities and institutions, I encountered apathy and disinterest from people. However, after I formed a team and organized an Iftar event for children that encouraged donations, I came to realize the power of teamwork and the principle that 1+1 makes 11.” — Sheheryar Malik

Aside from it, fundraising is quite challenging in Pakistan.

“Empty words and long praises do not impress God. Show Him your faith by your deeds.” — Abdul Sattar Edhi.

Let’s see what our valuable team members have to say about this:

“I have approached my university peers, friends, and relatives for donations, but the majority of them have only contributed when asked in person. Many have dismissed my messages as spam and have declined to donate. This has made me feel uneasy, and I have noticed some individuals avoiding me as if I were a solicitor. Additionally, some people have refused to donate to the Edhi Foundation, stating that they prefer to assist those in need within their own communities.” — Jannat Rashid

“One of the primary challenges I encountered while soliciting donations was the issue of requesting screenshots. Many people preferred to donate anonymously, while others viewed the process of providing proof of donation as a cumbersome and tedious task, which led to fewer contributions.” — Abbu Bakkar

“I found that towards the end of the month, when I requested donations, many individuals responded that they had already contributed at the beginning or mid-month, resulting in fewer donations overall.” — Usman Tahir

The reflections mentioned above are a testament to the challenges faced by all group members.

In the case of organizations:

When we reached out to some organizations for donations, they expressed that they do not typically donate to foundations or charity organizations as they are not involved in such activities. Unfortunately, this made it difficult for us to secure any contributions from them.

Overcoming Failures

One of the most famous sayings is, “Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.” The same goes for this fundraising project. At least, we tried.

Let's shed light on the thoughts of our valuable assets:

One of our team members, Waleed, believes that:

We can see failures as chances to explore new opportunities. If one approach is not successful, there must be another way to try.

Husnain, one of our team members, believes that fundraising can impart a valuable lesson for life. Here are his words:

This experience provided me with valuable insight on how to handle rejection, as the majority of people I reached out to did not respond positively to my fundraising efforts. Learning how to accept rejection was an important takeaway from this experience, as it will allow me to better understand and accept other people’s perspectives and rejections in the future.

Our other team member Jannat saw disappointment as a powerful motivator during this activity. She said:

As I delved into fundraising, I learned a lifelong lesson about disappointment. Despite putting in immense effort, some campaigns simply don’t meet their targets. It can be disheartening to see potential donors walk away, or to fall short of a goal that you were confident you’d reach. However, I also learned that disappointment can be a powerful motivator to try again, to adjust strategies, and to keep pushing forward.

Sheharyar depicted his reflection as follows:

Through my experience with fundraising, I learned a valuable lifelong lesson. I learned that success is not just about the amount of money you raise, but also about the relationships you build with donors and supporters. I learned to focus on building trust, communicating clearly and honestly, and showing appreciation for every contribution, no matter how small. I also learned that fundraising is not just about the cause or organization, but about the people who are impacted by it. By keeping the focus on the people, I was able to connect more deeply with donors and make a greater impact in the world.

In my experience with fundraising, I discovered that success doesn’t always lead to personal growth, but failure can be a powerful teacher. When I succeeded, it was usually because I had applied what I already knew. But when I failed, I was forced to reassess my approach and try something new.

Fundraising taught me the value of humanity and how it can help us learn and grow. It reminded me to set aside pride and focus on the needs of others, which in turn helped me connect with donors more authentically. Through these lessons, I developed a deeper appreciation for the value of humanity as a virtue, both in fundraising and in life.

Key Takeaway

Fundraising can be a challenging but rewarding experience, especially when working as part of a team. In our team, we learned to rely on each other’s strengths and support each other’s weaknesses. We found that effective communication was essential for coordinating our efforts and ensuring that everyone was on the same page. We also learned that each team member brought unique skills and perspectives to the table, which could be leveraged to maximize our impact.

As we worked together, we experienced both successes and setbacks.

Ultimately, our collective efforts paid off, and we were proud of what we had accomplished as a team. The experience taught us the value of collaboration, teamwork, and perseverance, which we carried with us into other areas of our lives.

Verdict

Organizing a two-week fundraising campaign with my team was a new challenge for me, but we approached it with a clear plan and strong problem-solving skills. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, who graciously donated their time and funds, we were able to raise Rs. 2,26,608/-. Our success was also due to the dedication of my group members, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the fundraiser was a success. We overcame obstacles and never gave up, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such a motivated and compassionate team. This experience taught me the value of collaboration, hard work, and perseverance in achieving our goals.