Muhammad Babangida | Philanthropy

Muhammad Babangida is a committed philanthropist from Nigeria

Tag: Community Engagement Page 7 of 8

How to Find Purpose in Your Projects

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On February 23, 2022

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida

Some projects may not fully project their purpose during conception. However, these projects become helpful with time, and they manifest their usefulness in their implementation. Therefore, it is important not to judge any project before it is implemented because you cannot tell what it will yield in the future. It is therefore essential to evaluate business projects.

 

The following are key points to help you find purpose in your business project.

  • A Good Starting Point

The purpose of the business is the crucial point to determine the project’s value. However, with time the business executives may opt to find the actual use of the project case. The value of the project is not measured with the gains it’s giving back to the company at the moment, but the real gains it will bring to the company in the future. A project is not set for short-term goals but long-term goals. 

 

Some projects may go beyond the constraints of the projected budget, but it does not mean that they are not worth investing in. This is because other projects went way far beyond their projected budget, and they still stand to date as iconic monuments worth the investment. However, if they could have been cut short, their importance could not be celebrated today.

  • Why Business Case Is Not the Only Rationale

Business executives should invest in building the case for a project. Still, they must be conversant with the project and understand its potential impact on its development before implementing it. They will be required to conduct in-depth research to ensure adequate information on what the project can offer. However, this approach requires a viable use case on top of its purpose. However, only 2.5 percent of the companies can complete their projects in this approach.

  • Building Purpose Into a Project

To ensure that you have built the true purpose in a project, you will have to ensure that you have established the reason why the project exists. This way, you will identify the importance of business on the owners and the employees. These are the key issues that give the project meaning beyond its profitability.

  • Finding Out the Why of a Project

The most effective way to understand the purpose of a project is by answering the recurring questions. If the business cannot answer the endless questions, it may not have any practical purpose. Therefore, a good project must give answers to ensure that it has saved huge expenses and avoids losses.

 

How to Make the Most of Crowdfunding

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On February 23, 2022

In Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Many organizations rely on crowdfunding to raise money in today’s economic climate. In the case of organizations like museums and other cultural institutions, crowdsourcing is a viable option that they can use to create an educated and diverse audience and a robust network of financial supporters. How then can they make the most of crowdfunding?

 

Deciding What to Crowdfund

Before going any further, it is essential to understand what they are attempting to get funding for. Depending on the nature of the project and its level of interactivity, several different goals could be established. From an institutional perspective, one could create a foundation for future development or provide a platform for current events.

For an individual project (such as a film), the backing would be used as an element of motivation or perhaps as seed money to get things moving in the right direction. Other objectives, such as those that are more altruistic, might include using crowdfunding to start or bolster nonprofit initiatives or simply bringing in additional funds to support an important cause.

 

Selecting the Right Crowdfunding Platform

There are several different crowdfunding platforms and sites available to use. One option would be to set up and run one’s platform. However, this is often impractical if one attempts to raise capital for an event or project that can occur over a reasonably short period. For that reason, several options are available to help facilitate the project and meet the funding goal. One option would be to partner with a platform that has already built up a large volume of backers and investors. Of course, in some cases, the platform may not have the right features, or it may not have enough of them to meet the required specifications. In that case, it may be better to create a site of one’s own.

Whatever the case may be, it is vital to have a platform to meet the project’s needs. In some cases, this will mean integrating crowdfunding into an existing site or creating a dedicated platform for crowdfunding. Regardless of the potential drawbacks and costs associated with such action, the end goal should be getting as much money through crowdsourcing channels as possible.

 

Identifying Potential Backers

Backers are located once a crowdfunding campaign is launched and the goal is set. There are a variety of methods that they can use to identify backers. One can use a dedicated page for advertising the project by reaching out to various groups and organizations or social media. Another option would be through a site that has been designed exclusively for this purpose.

These sites often require a small fee for the use of the platform. However, getting a single site to handle all needs can be worth it. The site also serves as an excellent way to update backers and keep them engaged throughout the campaign. It is essential that backers are kept informed about the project and provided with opportunities for involvement in both aspects and events related to said project.

Growing Community Engagement For Your Small Business

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On November 5, 2021

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Just as your business is integral to building a thriving economy for your community, a community is vital to succeeding as a business at all. Community involvement allows businesses to build relationships with their consumer base, increase brand awareness, and further their visibility and outreach. No matter how it’s done, business owners should encourage community members to get involved with their business to build customer loyalty and increase the overall benefits for both the community and the business. 

 

That being said, it’s not as easy as someone snapping their fingers to create an engaged community, nor can a business expect its community to engage with it at every opportunity presented. Business owners need to put in work if they want their community to actively engage with them and further their presence in the community.

 

One thing many business owners forget is that their community is made up of people. Social media makes it easy to forget that a community is more than accounts on a screen; though beneficial, the human aspect of engagement should never be forgotten. This goes for both the consumer and the employees running the social media accounts: everyone is human, so everyone should be treated as such. Additionally, social media takes away the all-important face-to-face interaction that many clients and businesses need to build a lasting relationship. When possible to meet face-to-face safely, encourage in-person interactions, and take advantage of the human aspect of relationships.

 

Engagement doesn’t all fall onto the business owner, however. Employees are just as vital in creating community engagement and connecting with others, so they should be encouraged to become involved with local organisations related and unrelated to work. Connections aren’t kept to one place—they can form anywhere. It’s vital that businesses support their employees, then, so that they can pursue interests outside of work and create these lasting connections.

 

Another way to engage with the local community is by being completely transparent with customers and overcommunicating. If there are big changes coming to the business, communicate those changes and the reasoning behind said changes prompt; if possible, let people know about it in advance. Overcommunicating is better than under-communicating, and customers deserve to know what decisions are being made. If they are kept in the loop, they are much more likely to be supportive of a business. 

 

For the biggest impact on a community, business owners should get themselves involved in community initiatives. These can often be found on the local municipality website; cities, villages, and townships are likely to post important initiatives to their municipality site. If any questions arise, simply talk to the local city administrator or clerk to ask how to get involved.

How Your Company Can Include Philanthropy in its Culture

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On November 5, 2021

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Corporate philanthropy can be extremely beneficial not just for your community, but for your business’s visibility and reputation within the community you’re located in as well. Whether you’re volunteering in your community, supporting causes you care about, or donating to charitable causes, partaking in corporate philanthropy has an abundance of positive benefits that make it worth considering. You can build a strong sense of community with your employees and customers, give back to your community at large, and become more appealing to younger employees who seek out businesses that hold philanthropy in high regard. 

 

How can you start getting involved in corporate philanthropy?

 

An easy way to start on your business’s philanthropic journey is to offer volunteer time off to your employees. This will give your employees time to support organisations and causes that they hold dear to their hearts while not having to worry about using up precious PTO or taking an unpaid day off to get involved. Having volunteer time off, or VTO, will encourage your employees to become socially responsible and dedicate their time to charitable causes. It will also help attract and retain talented employees for your business.

 

More internally, corporate philanthropy should start with ethical labour practices. You must adopt fair pay for the work your employees put in—their time isn’t worth nothing, after all. Once you adopt ethical labour practices, you can go to your company’s social media pages and encourage your followers and other industry leaders to follow in your footsteps. You can even take it a step further by creating and hosting events that surround this topic for other companies.

 

Perhaps your product or service will be beneficial to others when offered charitably. Businesses can participate in philanthropy by offering their services to others pro bono; ideally, you’ll be offering these services to organisations that are involved in charity work. It’s a great way to build awareness for a cause you care about while helping those around you by doing something within your field of business.

 

Lastly, you could partner your business with a charitable organisation that means something to you. This will offer ongoing opportunities to become involved in philanthropic deeds and show your community that your business is committed to giving back. Charitable organisations can become an integral part of your business model and give new meaning to yourself, your products or services, and your efforts at large.

Check Out These Great Podcasts If You Love Philanthropy

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On August 29, 2020

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy, Youth Philanthropy

Podcasts have become immensely popular in recent memory and they can be great sources of entertainment, knowledge, and news amongst other things. If you’re interested in philanthropy, charity, or nonprofits, podcasts can be an invaluable resource. You can hear so many perspectives on various social issues as well as how you can help and there are so many different podcasts out there. Here are a few great podcasts about philanthropy.

The Business of Giving

If you’re looking to hear possible solutions to social problems throughout the world, check out The Business of Giving. This show is hosted by expert philanthropist Denver Frederick, and every week he invites various philanthropists, social entrepreneurs, and nonprofit experts onto the show to discuss these social problems. With Frederick’s 40+ years of experience and the knowledge of these various experts, they dissect these social problems and try to come up with possible things we can do to solve them.

Futures in Fundraising

If you’re passionate about fundraising and want to know more, check out Futures in Fundraising. Every episode you’ll learn something new on topics such as using your organization’s data for good, advancing careers in development, or just new ways for you to give. They often provide great tips as well, just in case you decide to become a professional in the fundraising world. Every episode features an interview with someone who went on their own fundraising experience where they experienced both highs and lows.

Nonprofits Are Messy

Running a nonprofit organization isn’t easy. There are so many different aspects to think about and as host Joan Garry would put it, they’re messy. In her show, Joan discusses topics such as marketing, leadership, fundraising mistakes and so much more. Practically everything you can learn about nonprofits is discussed in this show, making it the ultimate resource for anyone wanting to improve their own organization.

The Important Podcast

The reason people become philanthropists or decide to work with nonprofits often comes down to one thing: they want to help people. The work they do is ultimately meant to serve those who are in need, and that’s exactly what The Important Podcast is all about. Each episode features inspirational stories of people helping others with an important mission to share these stories to as many people as they can.

Is Your Board Ready to Get Hands-On?

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On July 15, 2020

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy, Youth Philanthropy

A problem with boards across the United States is that they lack diversity. The reason is likely that boards recruit members that have similar thought processes as the existing members. However, it is important to note that a diverse board can lead to many successes. 

 

To get the board ready to be hands-on, a few things will have to occur. 

 

  1. An open mindset.

To get hands-on, the board has to open their minds to new thought processes. Things will be uncomfortable at first because change is not comfortable. However, once this period of discomfort passes, the board will reap the successes of multiple viewpoints. 

 

  1. Organizational Goals

Once a more diverse team is established, it will likely be necessary to reflect on the organizational goals and possibly expand them. This will allow room for growth within the organization and allow all members to feel a sense of belonging and inclusion. 

 

  1. Time Commitment

Establishing a diverse team and equity is no easy task. The board members have to be ready to put the time in to achieve this huge goal. This will likely need to be a discussion in which all board members are present, and the expectations are clearly outlined. 

 

  1. Multiple Leaders

The board cannot set out on this journey with a sole leader. To be effective, multiple people on the team will need to be passionate about this change and dedicate themselves to the project. This will put the board on the right track for success.

 

How to Get Loved Ones to Start Giving

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On July 13, 2020

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy, Youth Philanthropy

When a person is passionate about a cause, it is natural for them to want family members to join and support. Most nonprofit contributors are individuals who want to see a change in society. They are not staff or prominent people. However, asking a family member to donate can be awkward, and an individual can be unsure of how to start the conversation. Here are ways in which an individual can encourage a loved one to start giving.

 

  1. Tell a Story

Encouraging a loved one to donate may require more than dry statistics. An individual needs to use storytelling to show the impact of the cause on people and society.

 

  1. Use Different Ways to Reach People

The use of social media can be of great benefit in reaching friends and family who are not in close contact. But for those that are close, a phone call or an email can be effective. An individual can also request loved ones to get involved in the cause other than making donations.

 

  1. Make it Easy

It is important to have a proper donation channel. Eliminate guesswork and consider the various ways in which people make donations. Let them understand whether the organization can receive gifts.

 

  1. Organize a Birthday Fundraiser

An individual can demonstrate commitment by asking friends to donate in honor of a birthday. Online platforms such as GoFundMe can be effective for this campaign.

 

5. Express Gratitude

An individual should always thank the potential donors even before they reach out for their wallets. It is also important to express gratitude when sending the message or when sharing the online platform link.

The Biggest Trends In Philanthropy for 2020

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On July 1, 2020

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy, Youth Philanthropy

As the world evolves, philanthropy evolves as well. People are always finding new ways to give back and make a difference in the world, regardless of the obstacles they may encounter. While we’re halfway through 2020 and things are much more complicated than many expected in the world due to the global pandemic known as COVID-19, many trends are still occurring or can be expected to occur. Here are a few of the biggest trends we’ve seen and will continue to see in philanthropy as 2020 continues. 

People Will Continue To Give Regardless Of If It’s Seen

While it can sometimes be hard to believe, people are giving back more than ever nowadays. The biggest difference is that you don’t always see people giving back to a charity. Many Americans give to crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe, or will try and raise money or needed supplies for families that are struggling. GoFundMe says that a new fundraiser is started on their site every 8 seconds, which is mind blowing to think about. More than ever people are trying to do better regardless of whether or not it makes them look good, and many are trying to make sure those donations go directly to the people in need as opposed to the organizations that act as intermediaries.

Philanthropy May Become More Polarized

With the 2020 presidential election fast approaching, many people will begin to donate to causes that may be the focus of some political conversations. This is commonly called “rage giving” and isn’t always the greatest way to approach philanthropy. This political polarization can cause larger funders to shift the way they approach their charitable giving, such as funders adopting a non traditional “charitable” LLC which helps them engage in policy debate more.

Tech Will Move Philanthropy More Than Ever

This trend likely doesn’t come as much of a surprise, and will also be a trend that we see for years to come. As time passes, technology becomes better. This is only inevitable, and the better tech becomes, the more people will utilize it to make their lives easier. This can be seen with philanthropy as well. Due to mobile phones and the existence of apps on our phones, it’s faster and easier than it ever has been to vet a nonprofit. They allow us to give to the causes we choose almost instantly, and it’s even easier to share that with our friends and family in hopes that they will also give back.

The Case for Team Fundraising

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On May 24, 2020

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy, Youth Philanthropy

Usually, when one thinks about fundraising, you picture the efforts of one determined, and probably exhausted, person. But, nowadays, that isn’t usually the case, since many that support a given cause come together to fundraise in the form of a team. These teams consist of family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues that band together to raise funds for charities.

 

This approach often yields better results than working alone. Here are three reasons why you should give it a try:

 

It Gives Confidence to New Supporters

If you are more of an occasional supporter or you are brand new to fundraising, you may feel more comfortable working within a group. The work will not seem as nerve-wracking if the responsibility of hitting a targeted goal is shared by several people.

 

You Can Appoint a Team Captain to Organize the Effort

Team captains can give everyone the encouragement and motivation they need to keep going. They also make a huge difference because a team campaign can become disjointed with so many “cooks in the kitchen.” 

 

A seasoned leader can set appropriate, realistic goals and, based on every individual team member’s strength, assign tasks that each will excel at.

 

It Allows the Charity to Expand its Reach

Teams, by their very nature, are formed by many people, each with their own friends, families, and professional networks. These individuals each probably have social media, as well, and that means the fundraising pages can be shared many more times than through one person alone.

 

In conclusion, team fundraising is a great way to help others through charitable means while also improving upon and streamlining the process.

Creating People-First Culture

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On January 28, 2020

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Our society has gradually been moving closer to a people-first culture, but some workplaces are finding it difficult to adapt to this trend. While there are many benefits to putting people first, it can be a challenge to make this a successful transition. As an employer or business owner, the following tips can help you set the standard for your staff.

Practice Patience
You should begin practicing a people-first culture in adapting your hiring process to be more focused on the candidates you attract. While it will take a greater investment of time, choosing the ideal candidate will help you build a better workplace culture. You should use your hiring process to ensure each employee brings value to the team.

Set the Example
Your employees will look to you to learn how to conduct themselves, so it’s important to set a good example. When you take on the role of their leader, you will want to embody positive traits that reinforce the people-first culture. This means being as honest and forthright as possible. This should involve creating open lines of communication between you and your team, while also encouraging them to communicate more freely with one another.

Know Your Team
Switching to a people-first culture requires that you take the time to get to know your employees and express empathy for them. Partly, this involves learning more about their roles in your organization and the skills they possess. It can be helpful to get to know them on a more personal level, so you can understand how their personal lives contribute to their performance at work.

When you adopt a people-first culture in the workplace, you’ll be helping your employees to create a more positive environment for everyone. This will encourage feelings of trust and mutual respect. It will also boost the overall morale of your team and. As a result, you’ll see an improvement in productivity.

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