Planning & Strategy · Free
Funding Strategy Canvas
Size your funding gap, map your donors by fit and likelihood, and leave with a 90-day plan — one canvas for Myanmar NGOs and CSOs.
Fundraising teams in Myanmar's NGO and CSO sector are usually stretched thin, yet every donor call, concept note, and partner meeting competes for the same limited hours — and depending on one or two grants is a real risk when funding is cut or priorities shift. This canvas puts the whole funding picture in one place: what you actually need over the next twelve months and what is already secured, where your income comes from today, which donors and calls deserve your effort, what you will say to the ones that matter, how to spread the risk beyond grants, and what happens in the next ninety days.
Name the organisation or strategy you are funding, then work down the canvas in order. Keep each box short, specific, and honest — real donor names, real amounts in MMK or USD, and real dates rather than vague intentions. The matrix in the middle is the heart of it: pursue the high-fit, high-likelihood opportunities now; nurture the strong-fit but uncertain ones with relationship-building; weigh the easy-money-but-off-mission options carefully; and park the rest so they stop distracting you. Revisit the canvas each quarter, or whenever a major grant ends, to keep your funding base realistic and resilient.
State what you need to fund over the next 12 months, what is already secured, and the resulting gap. Be specific about core costs (staff, office, compliance) versus project costs — core costs are usually the hardest to fund and the easiest to overlook.
List who funds you now and who funded you before, with amounts, what they restrict the money to, and when each grant ends. Note the relationship health honestly — a past donor who valued your work is often your warmest next prospect.
Strong mission fit and a realistic chance of winning. Name specific donors, funds, or calls — not donor categories. For each, list the approximate amount, the closing date, and the warmest route in (a contact, a partner who can introduce you, a consortium).
The work aligns well, but you are not yet competitive — too new to them, no track record, or the cycle is closed. Invest in relationships, site visits, and concept notes now so the next call is winnable. Note who could make the introduction.
Money you could probably win, but it pulls you off mission or strains your capacity. Take it only if it funds core costs or builds a credential — never let easy funding quietly redirect your strategy.
Weak alignment and a slim chance of success. Park these so they stop draining attention. Note them here for the record, then stop chasing them unless the situation changes.
For each donor in the top two quadrants: why they sit there (their priorities, geography, compliance and due-diligence requirements, co-funding, red lines such as sanctions exposure or partner vetting), and the case for support you will put to them — your access, track record, local legitimacy, and the specific change you deliver, with evidence. Be honest too about anything that could stop you winning or managing the money: proposal-writing capacity, English reporting, audit readiness, registration, or a banking route for receiving international funds.
Look back at your income mix and flag where you are over-reliant, then note options that fit your mission and Myanmar realities — local and diaspora giving, modest earned income, in-kind support, and an unrestricted reserve. Cross-border banking, cash-based local giving, and registration limits on income all shape what is actually feasible.
Turn the canvas into 4–6 concrete actions for the next 90 days. Each one names what will be done, who owns it, and by when. Mix quick wins (submit a concept note, reconnect with a past donor) with foundation-building (start a donor list, fix a finance or banking gap).
Tip: one point per line. Print / download keeps your layout.