Organizational Development Practice

Internal OD Funding Question Asked

Hi. I'm heading OD in my organisation and found this website very useful and resourceful as a reference point for learning. One of the major challenges that we face is financial sustainability for the OD functions, since the donors do not give financial support to OD per se. They are mostly supporting programs as a whole.
My question is,
'What is the best way to raise funds for OD and how to sustain the functions?'
Please do share some advice. Thanks and regards.Z.R., (Nov. 1, 2011)

...you get donor support when program line managers buy in to an OD effort, seeing its synergy with overall, long-term program success.

OD Synergy Team's Response

Dear Z. R., Thank you for using ODSynergy.com.
The primary way to get financial support for an OD effort is to demonstrate to donors the practical advantages a specific OD effort has in the long-term success of the program they are supporting.
Look for specific ways of how a particular OD effort is integrated to some current program goals and show this to the program managers in practical terms.
Begin by conducting a self-assessment review with them and—through a data feedback approach—show gaps and inadequacies which could be effectively and efficiently addressed by specific OD efforts. Essentially, you get donor support when program line managers buy in to an OD effort, seeing its synergy with overall, long-term program success. Dr. O. Akin-Ogundeji, President, ODSynergy.com