Funding Formula Stage 4

Visibility

In Stage 4, we explore the following issues:

• what is visibility?
• why your organisation needs to be visible
• how to increase your organisation’s visibility
• communications tips and strategies

1. What is visibility?

Visibility means that key stakeholders are aware of the reputation and relevance of your organisation. To increase visibility, you must promote your organisation and raise awareness of your work. Here are some questions to help determine your current level of visibility, and how you might improve visibility:

Q. What is your current public image?

Is your organisation widely known and recognized? By whom? What are you known for? What do you want to be known for?

Q. Do you have donor-targeted Resource Mobilization communications/marketing materials?

Materials and communications media created specifically for Resource Mobilization can provide a quick reference for donors. They should include information about your organisation and its work, and details as to how donors can support your work – including your organisation’s contact details.

Q. What should your Resource Mobilization materials do?

• demonstrate your goals, mission, and strategies clearly and concisely – and how they are relevant to donors and partners
• demonstrate the high standards of your programmes, governance and accounting – how you are credible
• tell donors key, new activities and achievements: too much detail is unexciting and repetitive.
• engage and maintain donor support – to help you build relationships

2. Why do you need to be visible?

An effective public image will help donors distinguish your organization from others. High visibility will help you secure funding: the more visible you are – and the more you can demonstrate your credibility and relevance – the more donors will design programmes with you in mind.

3. How can you increase your visibility?

You can use IPPF’s Visibility Checklist in this section to help increase your visibility. Other pages or ‘blocks’ in this stage will help you develop your communications materials and social media programmes.