Mid-term Report on a Capacity Grant to Synergos by Ajay Dahiya
To accelerate the growth of the GPC globally and strengthen Synergos’ ability to address systemic problems in countries such as Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Tunisia, a $75,000 grant was made to hire a full-time development professional dedicated to researching prospective GPC members and identifying grant funding opportunities.
With the dedicated funding, Synergos hired a skilled Development Associate with international development experience who was supporting the Aspen Institute’s Leadership Division with fundraising and mission-aligned donor research prior to joining Synergos. In six months, the Development Associate has:
- Developed a pipeline of over 60 HNWI prospects in key regions (US East Coast, US West Coast, Europe, India, Singapore) and created pathways for engagement with the team.
- Identified and created a list of over 30 institutional prospects, including foundations, governments, and multilateral organizations for Synergos’ regional in-country programs in Ethiopia, South Africa, and Nigeria.
- Researched philanthropists and foundations for Synergos’ Collaborative Communities’ events, including Spiritual Civilization, Global Dialogue Initiative, NextGen, Climate and Environment, and Regenerative Food Systems.
- Designed a new prospecting process for the GPC team and created new research briefing templates and material.
The prospect research and support provided by the Development Associate has increased the capacity and efficiency of the GPC team and led to several individual and institutional leads that, in time, will generate new income and deliver ROI well beyond the initial investment.