Insights

In May 2026, The Workroom was commissioned to design and facilitate a full-day startup workshop in Cape Town, brought together by the South African-German Energy Partnership, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Southern African-German Chamber of Commerce and [...]

by Carolin Gomulia Most organisations have a grievance policy included in their HR policy. Most staff never read it unless a conflict erupts, and by then, the trust is often eroded and the relationships that make work possible are often [...]

When it comes to individual fundraising, data drives decisions. You have probably heard terms like ‘evidence-led approach’ or ‘data-based decisions’. All this refers to a system where everything is tracked, analysed, and used to improve performance. In institutional fundraising, we often [...]

“Fundraising is everyone’s job.” We hear this all the time. But is it actually true? Let's unpack the tension behind that idea. When fundraising sits with one person, it often becomes unsustainable. But when it’s labelled as “everyone’s responsibility” without clear explanation [...]

Do you really need a new strategy… or something else? In this Hot Take, we're exploring a question many organisations grapple with, especially when they already have a plan in place. Often, the issue isn’t the document. It’s what has changed around [...]

$ Content is increasingly polished, automated, and optimised, and it’s becoming harder to tell what’s real. Join us as we explore why authenticity still matters, especially for social impact organisations working in complex, local contexts.  As AI tools make it easier [...]

By Rutendo Nyaku Social enterprises have long been celebrated as hybrid innovators—entities that blend business models with a social mission. Like NGOs, they exist to fill critical gaps where governments fall short, whether in health, education, or community infrastructure. Both [...]

As we step into the new year, NGO workers are poised to tackle fresh challenges with renewed energy and purpose. However, the emotional demands of their mission can still take a toll, potentially leading to burnout. I have put together [...]

By Imaan Asmal In the bustling world of non-profit organisations, AI is stepping in as a game-changer, especially when it comes to visualisation. AI can help NGOs grab the attention of supporters, funders and stakeholders alike with stunning visuals – [...]

By Christa Robijn- van Riet One of the most critical decisions a leader must make in nonprofit organisations is whether to hire generalists or specialists for critical roles. This decision is not merely a matter of skill sets or job [...]

At the IFC2024 hosted by the Resource Alliance, Carolin Gomulia delivered workshops on including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in your Strategic planning. Download the slides here. If you want to talk more about DEI, get in touch with us [...]

NGOs are essential in driving social, political and economic changes, driven by clear direction and purposeful strategies. Yet, the road to crafting these strategies is often filled with obstacles. Through years of hands-on experience in developing NGO strategies, I have [...]

Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (DEI)into an organisation’s strategic planning process is imperative for fostering a culture of equality and belonging. NGOs can create more equitable and inclusive environments that reflect the diverse communities they serve by embedding DEI principles [...]

For the past year, I have encountered a number of organisations, particularly in the social sector, that found the process of developing an organisational strategy challenging. While there are no shortcuts to the process; here is a simple five-step guide [...]

If you missed the Pappilon Conference, you can download Carolin Gomulia’s session here. Tailored for people needing to establish and maintain relationships with institutional donors, the presentation explains the significance of establishing robust connections with institutional donors and explores the [...]

Proposal writing is a key part of institutional fundraising and a basic skill to master to raise funding successfully. Even in the age of AI, we need to understand what sets good proposals apart. At one of the Women in [...]

The 2023 InterAction CEO Insights on NGO Futures: Adapting in a changing world report is out. – It is the sixth time InterAction has asked its members’ CEOs to respond to the NGO Futures Survey. The analysis of the responses [...]

Mary Ann Clements and Tim Boyes-Watson wrote this amazing article containing honest and insightful reflections. I think the write-up is very valuable as it describes the real struggles organisations go through. Transformation is not easy (and is not necessarily meant to be). [...]

I recently facilitated an exchange seminar for VENRO on the allocation of #overheadcosts between INGO and local partners. It was fascinating to hear about the perspectives of local partners and how some don’t receive any overhead costs. If they do, many feel they have [...]