Thread by @amerix

The "ABCD" of founding a CBO

Agenda
Branding
Certification
Design
Engagement
Funding

Here is how to build a Community Based Organization (CBO)

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A CBO is a registered private or public non-political, non-profit organization representing a community or a segment of a community.

Its primary aim is to harness and share resources with its community or the section of community it represents.

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1. Agenda

Before thinking of founding a CBO, have an agenda.

- Problem
- People

What is the problem you want to address? Maybe the problem needs a different kind of organization.

What kind of people do you want to help/support or represent?

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1 b) Agenda

Maybe you have realized that pupils in your community are performing poorly because they cannot afford lunch.

Or, people in your community can't access clean water because the streams are drying up.

These are problems that can be addressed by a CBO.

1 c) Agenda

Once you have figured out the 2 Ps

- Problem
- People

Now figure the third 'P'(Partners)

Sell your agenda to your close team of acquaintances. It could be a youth group, a church group, a sports club and so forth.

2. Branding

Once you bring your Partners together through a shared vision,

Start branding your CBO.

- Give a good name. Avoid the long boring names (Hallelujah Zion Community Self Help Group)

- Give it a simple, creative, memorizable name.

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2 b)

- While giving it a name, remember to have a name that can be easy for a domain, Websites

- You can also use relatable acronyms. My CBO is called SPACE

( Sustainable Projects Accelerating Community Empowerment)

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2 c)

Still on branding,

- Pick theme colours that represent your themes. For example,
Green colour - the environment
Yellow colour - hope
Blue - life

- Also, envision your logos and catchphrase or tagline.

Look at the attached example 👇

3 Certification,

Your CBO is null until it is legally registered.

In Kenya, CBOs are registered at the Sub-County department of gender & social services.

It is a very simple process but first here are the steps,

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3 a) certification

- Your team which should have at least 10 members

Sit with them and write minutes with the following agenda;
- objective of CBO.
- the consititution.
-seeking registration.
- election of officials.
- bank of choice.

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3 b) certification

- Take the minutes, constitution and a signed list of members with copies of their IDs to the Subcounty gender/social service officer.

- For Kenyans, carry a registration fee of Ksh 5,000

- You will be given a Govt form to be filled in again by members.

3 c) Certification

- Take this Govt form back to members to fill and attach their ID copies.

- The form captures a summary of your goals, officials and address.

- The form must be filled and authorized by your chief or assistant county commissioner.

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3 d) certification

Take this form back to the social services office and once it is approved, wait for your certificate.

The certificate can be prepared instantly or after 1 day.

The CBO certificate looks like this 👇

4 Design

- Once the certificate is ready, its time to design your CBO. (Your bank account should also be ready. I find @Coopbankenya friendly to CBOs)

- Get a domain. Build a website.

- Don't worry about an office. You can borrow some space or build your CBO from home.

4 a) Design

Build an innovative template design for your CBO's thematic pillars.

My CBO's thematic pillars is called HEADS

- Health
- Education
- Democracy
- Sports & talents

You don't have to have many themes, it depends with your vision. You can stick to one.

4 b) Design

Build a sustainable internal system.

Turn your members into executives. Create an organogram.

- Board (Chairman, secretary, treasurer)
- Director (usually Secretary of the board)
- Coordinators of different themes.
- Field officers.

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4 c) Design

-build your website.

- Visit @TechSoup, they will give you free google grants where you will get free premium emails from gmail eg ([e-mail])

- Use .org or .or.ke or or.ug or or.tz depends with country.

5. Engagement

Once the systems are in place, start community engagement.

Don't spend time pushing the CBO on social media.

Go to the community and start something. Meet community leaders and start an activity together.

5 a) Engagement

Have metrics and data for every activity you do.

Start picking lessons about project management while learning online about monitoring and evaluation of projects.

Store your data.

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5 b) Engagement

Dont miss community meetings.

For every meeting, write minutes and build a lasting bond with community leaders.

Your activities should be impactful and must influence every community conversation around your themes.

6 Funding,

Now, it is time to apply for funding.

Reach out to bigger or global NGOs operating in your community and apply for small grants. They usually support CBOs.

Subscribe to websites that share funding notices like @fundsforngos and apply for any opportunity.

6 a) Funding

Note that you can apply for 20 opportunities and get none.

Don't lose the momentum. Keep applying while looking for other streams of funding.

Don't forget to continue with your self-funded community activities.

6 b) Funding

Remember to apply for SAM number for USA federal recognition

You can find out more at @grantsdotgov

Be part of the melee. Don't be left out. Squeeze yourself among the big boys.

I wish you good luck.

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