Plans for 2007

Net4kids was founded to give more children the opportunity to make their own happiness by implementing a new approach and method. The ever growing number of donors and supporters strengthens our resolve. The model works. In retrospect, we are also forced to conclude that such strong growth must be supported by the organisation, and that growing up takes longer than we thought.

It is becoming apparent that we are the factor limiting our own growth. Only an innovative organisation, with clear processes and solid automation, will allow us to achieve our goal of continuing to help more and more children. We want to use 2007 to broaden our insight and translate it into concrete action. Research into donor satisfaction should contribute to mapping the advantages and disadvantages of our model. More intensive cooperation and exchange of knowledge with other child aid organisations should teach us about alternative growth models. The cooperative venture under the name Change for Children can provide an impulse, but other parties such as the American Global Giving are also great sources of inspiration.

In order to create a structural, scalable organisation, a number of issues will need to be addressed differently. In 2007, the stage is set for creating conditions to facilitate further growth. With a focus on qualitative organisational growth, we predict ‘organic’ growth in project donations of 30%, for a total amount of € 685,000. In order to strengthen our added value in the area of social involvement, we will continue to develop our proposition for businesses.

Conditions for stable growth will have to be defined financially. Hiring additional paid manpower is only one of the expansion options. In 2007, we will invest both time and money in creating a new website, which should make a number of processes simpler and more transparent to both donors and the internal organisation. We also hope to find the long hoped for ICT partner willing to become a structural part of Net4kids.

As defined by our business model, we do not want to cover those costs by addressing the Continuity Fund’s capital. The goal in 2007 is once again to cover all organisation costs with the help of organisation sponsors and earnings on the Continuity Fund. The total cost level (fundraising and operation), due to one-time investments as described above, will amount to about 29% of the planned donations. The focus of our fundraising activities will also shift slightly towards finding organisation partners and new strategic partners, in line with our goals for 2007.

However, the above should in no way raise the impression that we are losing sight of our passion, however businesslike our approach: the child aid projects. In the coming year, we will spend € 685,000 on project support. A majority of this amount will benefit existing Net4kids projects. Sometimes in repeat donations. It is unthinkable, after all, to support a child for 1 year, feed, clothe and educate them, only to send them back home the second year. Oftentimes, however, donations to existing partners allow project partners to expand their activities. Scalability, in addition to sustainable aid and local anchoring, is an important criterion for Net4kids when it comes to project selection. It is fantastic to see the maximum potential of many of our partner’s projects develop locally. What these project partners achieve in often difficult conditions is unbelievable. The combination of social and person-centred aid with a businesslike approach is something we can all learn a lot from. It is once again our goal to spend about 80% of the donations to financing the growth of existing projects. Additionally, we will be adding new projects to contribute to an even better balanced project portfolio with a broader selection for donors, particularly in the areas of healthcare and AIDS.

In 2007 a minimum of 8 projects will be visited, either by Wilde Ganzen or by people from Net4kids. These trips are very valuable. Every time, they feed the fire within our organisation, pushing us to do our best to make even more aid possible. No report can ever equal the impact of a personal visit. In order to provide donors with as much involvement in their project as possible, we are working towards expanding photographic and video materials to provide 100% coverage. A special environment will be created per donor on the new website where such reports may come into their own: ‘My Net4kids’. Improvements are also planned on the input end, following up on last year’s pilot project in Calcutta. This brings the goals of various parties closer together.

It is also true that Net4kids Aid Foundation, where a careful analysis of added value lead to increased focus in activities and further professionalisation, can serve as an example for Net4kids Organisation. Starting in 2007, Wilde Ganzen will take care of contracting and monitoring of all Net4kids projects. This will keep our core anchored strongly within our own organisation: selecting high-quality, special projects, forging relationship with these parties and creating involvement between the partner, Net4kids and donors.

Registration, standardisation and outsourcing without losing that personal touch: a theme that applies to the entire organisation, also on a management level. In 2007 we hope to make the necessary progress. Net4kids meets the majority of the conditions set out in the guidelines for charity management, the ‘Code Goed Bestuur voor Goede Doelen’. Due to a lack of time, the goals set for 2006 to make further progress in the area of good corporate governance have been postponed to this next year. We hope to meet the remaining requirements of these guidelines insofar as relevant for smaller organisations, such as explicitly formalising implicit policy and guidelines in policy documents and regulation. The board also strives to expand the number of supervisory board members to three.

The theme for 2007 will be determining and defining the organisational structure and shape required to realise our ambition, continue to guarantee our performance and sustain the pleasure and satisfaction the Net4kids team experiences in the performance of their work. Because the key foundation for maintaining a high level of ambition – to help even more children – remains the enormous dedication of our project partners, the incredible efforts of our team of volunteers and the enthusiasm of our donors. And that’s something we must never forget.

Amstelveen, 27 March 2007