Adopt a child? Not really ... Child sponsorship does raise money, but is it ethical.

Every fundraiser knows this: if you’re raising funds for children, that’s half the job done.

Voluntary organisations that work with children are among the largest resource mobilisers in the world, using a well-sharpened range of strategies to raise funds. Some social observers might have a problem with using a child’s face to make a pitch – but it’s still one of the most used techniques in mass media and in direct mail, with some of the world’s largest organisations being key practitioners.

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Should you pay your Board Member? It’s poor governance to draw compensation from an organisation while being on the Board

Does Sanjay Naik need a salary?

Subah is a (hypothetical) five-year-old voluntary organisation. It works in the area of capacity building and organisation development. Started by an enthusiastic founder, Sanjay Naik (hypothetical name), its team has grown to include 10 people. Sanjay, a qualified chartered accountant, is on the Board along with three others – the Board is an active one. Sanjay has been giving his time pro bono to the organisation and has survived on savings and consulting work that he does with for-profit entities. Increasingly, he has to spend more time with Subah as the demands from the sector are growing. Sanjay now wants to work full-time with Subah. He wants compensation from the organisation.

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