About Us

BHcrafts recently implemented the project "Center for transfer of traditional skills" supported by the European Union
Read more about the project supported by the EU

HOME

ABOUT US

HELP

>Cases of Successful Fundraising in Central and Eastern Europe

SHOPPING WITH PURPOSE

Highly commanded

Country |

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)

Organization |

Bosnian Handicrafts (BH)

CAMPAIGN SUMMARY

"Shopping with purpose" was the very first resource generating campaign of Bosnian Handicrafts. The core idea was to inform local communities about who the Bosnian Handicrafts are, and what their activities include from selling their products and offering high quality original products, to helping hundreds of women from all around Bosnia and Herzegovina to earn self-respect and have dignified living standards.

Beside the fundraising results, BH managed to inform disadvantaged women from all over the country of how they can benefit from joining the program.

Campaign date: From May to

September 2004

Campaign budget: 16 946 EUR
Partner organization: PR agency

"PRISTOP", Sarajevo

Target groups:

In terms of PR the campaign targeted:

• 46 local and national media,

• the entire population of Bosnia and Herzegovina indirectly.

In terms of FR the campaign targeted:

• Embassies and consulates with offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina (36)

• Companies (60)

• Organizations (69)

• Government organizations/ institutions (26)

• Individuals (circa 400)

OBJECTIVES

• To have Return on Investment 1:1.5 (cca27 700EUR).

• To increase local sales of Bosnian Handicrafts products in order

to ensure continuous source of business activity and income for current BH artisans and provide craft training programs to women in need.

• To increase community awareness and understanding of BH work and benefits which the organization provides to underprivileged women.

• To increase awareness on how the community can help by purchasing their products.

„I am happy to be a part

of Bosnian Handicrafts.

I have three children

and lots of home

duties to take care of

so I knit when I can. I

am satisfied with the

salary."

Muniba Hodzic, born in

1969, unemployed

artisan from Stupari.

Member of BH network

since 2002

The BH was flexible and brave enough to change their logo during the campaign to better reflect their mission



PROCESS OF THE CAMPAIGN			/

Throughout the campaign, BH used several FR techniques including sponsorship, charity event, corporate gifts program, wholesale program, continuous PR, proposal writing and canvassing, and research. During the campaign BH targeted a variety of donors, including donors from the business sector, state sector, the non-profit sector, and from individuals. The FR campaign included four main activities: The Fundraising Event On July 7th 2004, Bosnian Handicrafts hosted a fashion show in Sarajevo, followed by an auction and a small cocktail party for the guests. The preparation process for this fund raising event was through and included finding volunteer models (e.g. wives of diplomats), inviting guests, arranging space, program etc.		Wholesale Program The third segment of the campaign has focused on attracting credible shops in bigger cities of BiH and/or Sarajevo airport, and ski resorts in BiH to sell BH products through their shops. Steps: creating data base, sending promotional materials, intensive follow-up. Ongoing promotion All activities and techniques are designed to draw the attention of the public to the activities and the results; and importance of the NGO sector and BH work in particular. All PR activities were performed with the assistance of a PR agency.

The Corporate Gift Program BH has identified four products that were well-designed, reasonably priced, and relatively easy to produce for a corporate gift program. BH developed respective brochures and sample products and has directly approached businesses / organizations / ministries / embassies etc. to buy these at bulk for their business partners.	*Christmas stockings* *and Christmas tree skirt* *handmade by Bosnian* *Handicrafts,* *featured at Holiday 2004* *Sundance catalogue* *founded by well-known* *actor Robert Redford*
OUTCOMES Primary results • Income: 28 200EUR • ROI: 1.66 Secondary/additional results • Result invested to create further income generation opportunities for women. • Success indicators: 76 trained women in craft skills, trained women a year later are still engaged in producing handicrafts within the program. • Many volunteers supported the campaign, including many renown public persons from BiH. • Increased visibility of the project.	COMMENTARY • This campaign was one of the first fundraising campaigns run in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and can be characterized as a true pioneer project. The "shopping with purpose" project had professional management of a complex operation, was thorough and well-planned (a precise action plan was created for each tactic), and allowed flexibility in implementation. BH managed to build confidence in the public towards the organization and within the association itself in raising funds from local sources, and from local people.
			TIPS & ADVICE • Test other FR techniques that you can successfully Link with existing ones. • Try to lower the costs of the events with the involvement of more corporate supporters in order to achieve more ROI.