My biggest lesson in business and life was echoed very strongly in 2022 which was hands down the toughest year for me, professionally.
By the end of the year, @FundiBots had grown to 115 staff members across Uganda.
Before this, I'd never employed more than 7 people.
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By the end of the year, @FundiBots had grown to 115 staff members across Uganda.
Before this, I'd never employed more than 7 people.
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Our Kampala office moved into a space that was almost 8 times the previous office.
In one year, we trained more than 10,500 children, which was almost the number of children we'd trained in the last ten years combined!
All this meant that our fundraising targets were high.
In one year, we trained more than 10,500 children, which was almost the number of children we'd trained in the last ten years combined!
All this meant that our fundraising targets were high.
Typically, fundraising for small orgs is the work of the founder. (I've talked about this extensively elsewhere).
For the past few years, I've been building a strong foundation for leadership in the organisation. But I've also been focusing on expanding our fundraising capacity.
For the past few years, I've been building a strong foundation for leadership in the organisation. But I've also been focusing on expanding our fundraising capacity.
We knew we had a big year ahead: we were piloting an incredibly capital and human-resource intensive science pilot in 33 schools with 6,500 students.
We were also expanding our work in other areas of science education.
So the fundraising team knew our workload would be heavy.
We were also expanding our work in other areas of science education.
So the fundraising team knew our workload would be heavy.
But boy did we underestimate how tough it would get.
First, the Ukraine war shifted things in ways we hadn't anticipated: costs of goods & fuel shot up sky high, affecting our general operational expenses.
Then, some funders we were talking to pivoted to humanitarian response.
First, the Ukraine war shifted things in ways we hadn't anticipated: costs of goods & fuel shot up sky high, affecting our general operational expenses.
Then, some funders we were talking to pivoted to humanitarian response.
Second, the world's economy imploded. Most donors (and VCs) get their philanthropy money from investments they make in other assets like the stock market.
And everything crashed, which meant that the pace of responses grew slower and longer as funders assessed their finances.
And everything crashed, which meant that the pace of responses grew slower and longer as funders assessed their finances.
And finally, our pilot got very complex as students and schools returned from COVID and class sizes ballooned, meaning our large budget was extended even more.
We actually did not raise some funding for some programs and had to improvise to meet certain targets
We actually did not raise some funding for some programs and had to improvise to meet certain targets
But through all this, the fundraising team focused on one thing: doing the work.
I have constantly shared that it takes anywhere from 3 months to 2 years for a funder to say "Yes." And most times, it will be a no.
This year, we hit a new record: four years to a "yes." ๐
I have constantly shared that it takes anywhere from 3 months to 2 years for a funder to say "Yes." And most times, it will be a no.
This year, we hit a new record: four years to a "yes." ๐
We applied for everything we could find that fit our work. We were rejected by almost everyone. The thing with applying a lot, is that you get rejected. A lot ๐
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But we'd been here before so we soldiered on, through endless zoom calls, proposals, fatigue, shortlists, etc.
But we'd been here before so we soldiered on, through endless zoom calls, proposals, fatigue, shortlists, etc.
In the meantime, we had to navigate culture shift as our teams grew and more people stepped into leadership positions. Some regional leads went from management three people to leading over 20 people.
We also had to keep adapting to rapidly changing data from our programs.
We also had to keep adapting to rapidly changing data from our programs.
The second half of the year started & we were significantly off our fundraising targets and the anxiety was kicking in. Sleepless nights and high stress levels.
In all this, I was heavy lifting in the gym & running silly polls because you need to find balance or you'll run mad.
In all this, I was heavy lifting in the gym & running silly polls because you need to find balance or you'll run mad.
As we watched the tech world start to lay off staff, the anxiety grew even stronger, but we knew that only one thing mattered:
Do the work, build the foundation, put in the hours. And that's what we did. We learnt from each rejection, expanded our networks, consulted endlessly.
Do the work, build the foundation, put in the hours. And that's what we did. We learnt from each rejection, expanded our networks, consulted endlessly.
The third quarter reached and things were looking tight. We had to scale back some activities and focus on the core priority: to successfully complete the pilot.
I got COVID during a fundraising trip in the US and was depressed for days, isolated in a hotel room.
I got COVID during a fundraising trip in the US and was depressed for days, isolated in a hotel room.
And still we did the work. We put in the hours. We kept laying the foundation. Through high stress levels, through more rejections, through shortlists that were great but didn't give us the money we needed, we kept pushing.
And we kept training kids, despite the challenges.
And we kept training kids, despite the challenges.
And then the fruits of 9 tough months of fundraising began paying off, and the wins began coming in.
Almost every other week, there was great news: additional supplementary funding, confirmed grant renewals & contract signings.
Sometimes we were too exhausted to celebrate. ๐
Almost every other week, there was great news: additional supplementary funding, confirmed grant renewals & contract signings.
Sometimes we were too exhausted to celebrate. ๐
For twelve months, my phone and computer desktop wallpaper had one thing: a 2022 moonshot target of XXX thousand dollars a question: "What are you doing today to meet that target?"
When the year finally ended, & I did the tally, we had secured funding that was DOUBLE the target.
When the year finally ended, & I did the tally, we had secured funding that was DOUBLE the target.
I am deeply grateful for a team that rallied and worked incredibly hard last year. For a team that went through so much change and yet still stood strong together. For a team that supported and encouraged me even as the stress levels were crazy high.
And I am grateful for a board that supports, guides and advises behind the scenes, helping us make better decisions.
And for funders that step up when we need help, because they believe in the work and they trust us to navigate as best as we can.
2022 was one hell of a ride!
And for funders that step up when we need help, because they believe in the work and they trust us to navigate as best as we can.
2022 was one hell of a ride!
So, cheers to 2023, and to growing bigger, further and stronger. We have so many new partners we're excited to work with over the next few years and can't wait to change African education together.
And finally, give an entrepreneur a hug for surviving 2022. And be there for them, because 2023 is still going to be tough.
To all the friends and family who keep us grounded and supported, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Onwards & Upwards!
To all the friends and family who keep us grounded and supported, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Onwards & Upwards!
LOL. I just realized the lesson may not be clear in all this. It's simply this:
Do the work, put in the hours, lay the foundation. No matter how tough things get, no matter how frustrating or unrewarding it seems, focus on the big picture.
Do the work. The wins will come.
Do the work, put in the hours, lay the foundation. No matter how tough things get, no matter how frustrating or unrewarding it seems, focus on the big picture.
Do the work. The wins will come.
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