Participants' evaluations

Every FunFun course benefits from daily evaluations and from a more detailed final evaluation by the participants.

Comments are given anonymously, and all opinions are welcome; however, 'no comment' is not an option; everyone must assess their learning experience and offer a critique.

A sampling of evaluation comments from hundreds of FunFun participants is offered below. Some have been shortened, exerted from longer comments for the sake of brevity.

Comments on the FunFun course design and structure

"The sequence in which the instrument has been laid out in a step by step process made it an invaluable learning experience. The main points came out clearly and there was logical flow. For example, before we realised we had designed a logical framework."

• "The design allowed us to think it was achievable"
• "Excellent – everything came out in such a short space of time."
• "Though time was strained we managed to cover all the important points"
• "Every point in the course design and structure was systematically presented and very effective"
• "Every part linked nicely together and it was easy to follow complex activities such as the budgeting process"
• "This course has been long overdue"
• "You successfully caught the attention of every participant, who are adults. Was agile throughout"
• "Use of good examples -- the mark of experienced consultants"
• "Concepts that before the workshop seemed straightforward suddenly took another perspective. … Finally the jigsaw puzzle fell into place"
• "Illustrations made the points clear"

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Comments on the course materials including exercises and the Workbook:

• Almost every participant agrees that small group sessions are invaluable. Making these sessions work well is always a challenge.

  "Great preparations and innovations, especially when supported with practical experiences, i.e., group work"
• "Exercises reinforce the concepts and where clarification was required the presenters made themselves available in the small groups"
• "The exercises not only reinforced learning but also gave ample opportunity for sharing of experience and for learning in a non-threatening environment"
• "The materials can now serve my organization as a reference for future programs."
• "The [Work] Book will be useful, especially when I am a new grantseeker in Grantsland"
• "Excellent handbook but there needs to be follow up to keep contact with facilitators in case there is need for clarification."
• "This workbook is a marvelous idea. It will be my Carrol and Jonathan whenever in difficulty because they are very clear and precise."
• "The exercises were quite challenging. Through it I learnt a lot."
• "The exercises will always help us when lost!"
• "I intend to go through it anytime I do a research proposal"
• "The step-by-step checklist is a useful one that can be taken anywhere"
• "I wish the manual begins from history of fund raising and giving, who gives to whom and why"
• "It was designed in such a way that you can always add your own notes and modify it to suit you"

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Engendering participation, while avoiding chaos.

Comments on course facilitation: the pedagogical approach and the presenters' skills.

• "The facilitators were exceptionally skilled and exhibited team work."
• "Experienced consultants maintained class control but also allowed a lot of fun"
• "It's the best training approach I have ever experienced."
• "Participants were made to feel comfortable and their skills and knowledge taken into consideration."
• "A very non-threatening environment; learner centered. Opportunity to work on our own proposals was spaced out and a welcome exercise."

• "It amazes me how Jonathan and Carrol are able to make something as complex as proposal preparation very interesting and easy to learn. Their skills are state of the art in fundraising internationally"

  "The presenters were well prepared and delivered the course material in a very professional way. Their approach was non-threatening."
• "They have taught me the actual concepts of proposal writing from scratch."
• "Very good – you have a great way of getting everyone involved'
• "… The motivational tactics of the facilitators helped to hold my undivided attention for the entire 5 days. A follow up of this course would be good to further ratify what we have learnt and help to further sharpen our skills."
• "Jonathan and Carrol are so talented and skilled that the presentation of the course is just excellent. Born experts."
• "You know how to keep participants alert. Even the ones that easily sleep in the afternoons remained awake during the five days of training."

• "Fantastic. Very appropriate teaching methodology. Created no artificial distance between facilitators and teachers. I am very impressed, that's all I can say!"

  "Humorous approach and a lot of group work was excellent"
• "I think this was one of the most excellent workshops I have ever enjoyed. You were very much prepared"
• "Very interactive teaching"
• "The Facilitators were so wonderfully informed in this field of fundraising"
• "Full of Fun but covering technical issues that would have been difficult to understand"
• "You are just wonderful – thanks for keeping us engaged and for hands-on assistance"
• "Presenters showed excellent mastery and were very humorous. The flow between them is a wonderful achievement. Great teamwork"
• "The presenters were not only knowledgeable, they were versatile, pleasant and really good natured."

• "Putting the members into the small groups make sharing methods, knowing each other better, work so well. The group was probably too larger for two facilitators. On the whole, individual attention was given throughout"

  "Course presenters were wonderful. They interacted with almost every participant intimately and made each workshop session very interesting."
• "It is a catchy approach that made me stay awake throughout without seeing the time go. Both Jonathan and Carrol understand themselves and work, talk and teach exceedingly well."
• "The facilitators have the patience to deliver their skills in a simplified manner that could be understood by all"
• "I feel the most effective learning I have received is from this couple. They showed equal commitment and fully supported the other."
• "I thank the Ottos who have demonstrated knowledge, experience, skills and perfect harmony. I envy the understanding that went between you two"

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Question: In what ways could this course be improved?

This section begins with a summary of critiques that are common to many workshop evaluations, and then quotes individual comments.

• Some respondents suggested a longer course, or a refresher course after a period of application, such as this comment: "Increasing on the number of days from 5 to 10. How fantastic when increased. I shall miss because you're finished with us"

  In most courses about 5-10% of the respondents said they needed more time to master complex skills, as typified in this comment: "Due to the congested programme, there was too little time for participants to read through the material and integrate it into the training."
• In several FunFun sessions, a few respondents noted that they found the comings and going of other participants who arrived late and/or left early to be disruptive or wasteful of time. In cases where the course was offered at participants' workplace, some suggested a residential course, away from everyday distractions. This comment is typical, "Organize it outside UDSM [University of Dar es Salaam]"
• In each course a small proportion of respondents requested more time for specific topics they felt were especially challenging, such as timelines, budgeting or fundraising planning, as in this comment, "More time needs to be given to the writing side"

• "I would not have thought a fundraising workshop could last a week. This week went by pretty fast."

  "The course was well presented. There may be room for improvements – but I am not aware of them."
• "More pictures in the workbook"
• "More practical works (critique) of life proposals"
• "Add a table of contents for the workbook"
• "Vary the name/title of the course to reflect participants, e.g., resource mobilization or project design instead of only fundraising"
• "Ensuring that all participants come with a proposal on which they have done some preliminary work"
• "Discussing some methodologies of research"
• "Integrating more homework"
• "By making more time for absorption, internalizing by slow learners"
• "This course may be repeated at appropriate intervals to sharpen the skills of trainees"

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Skills acquired. "As a result of participating in this course I will be able to…":

• "Define clearly the broad problem, goal, objectives and components, budgeting indicators MOVs and assumptions"

  "Make recommendations as to how my organization may strengthen its grantseeking potential."
• "… and have more successful fundraising events."
• "Write grants with greater confidence and ease"
• "Understand the donor demands."
• "Improve my proposals and pass information and skills onto other members of the organization and community groups."
• "Approach seeking funds in a much more structured and thought about manner."
• " … Feel that I have more friends with whom I can interface."

• Grant funding is one element of a balanced fundraising strategy that includes income from use of assets and other fundraising activities. Grants often provide larger funding for specific projects with less effort, while other funding sources provide discretionary resources. It all adds up!

  " … prepare a more effective budget."
• "Go forth and help my fellow co-workers in teaching them how to write an effective proposal"
• "Seek funding from other sources outside of Jamaica."
• " … work with the executive director in putting proposals together."
• " … I feel confident in initiating fundraising activities and I have honed my listening skills and feel positive about my stress management techniques."
• "To play a more vital part in the implementation of a proposal or even be able to undertake one from a leadership standpoint."
• "Try to look for donors before writing proposals, unlike before"
• "Dust my proposal and polish them for transmission"
• "Sit down and analyse the real problem and formulate a project design"

• "Give wings to proposal ideas that have remained unattended to in my workplace"

  "Write a meaningful research proposal"
• "Spearhead fundraising activities"
• "Revive some of the proposals that are already seeking funds in my office"
• "Construct a timeline for my projects"
• "Manage a project that I believe I would have planned effectively with my knowledge of this course"
• "Go to Grantsland confidently and make progress

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Final question: Other comments you wish to make about this learning experience:

• "Let me make a confession. When signing for this course I had my doubts, but by Wednesday I was convinced I made the right decision. Both of you are wonderful teachers and know what to do, when to do it and how to do it … I can go on and on but will stop here on the promise that you will come back very soon."

  "Course was definitely very beneficial and needs a definite follow up to ensure that what has been learned is being put into correct practice."
• "Thanks a million for the wealth of knowledge and experience!"
• "It has empowered us and given us the opportunity to interact with each other."
• "It is very useful as a means to assist Makerere to diversify sources of funding its various projects."
• "Thank you for being very lovely and supporting the course participants"
• "Very enriching and very well done"
• "I enjoyed participating in the course even though official responsibilities distracted me from maximum attendance"

• "Some of the materials are going to be useful for other purposes than grant seeking. The teaching process is an example. It is a very good approach to learning. One hardly knew that time is passing as the workshop goes on."

  "To be replicated to more people at the university"
• "This has strengthened my capacity to plan and develop strategic planning"
• "It was a good experience for me and I learned a lot. There is a need for fundraising training for trainers to widen the knowledge of people"
• "It has been a very good experience to have this course especially the information on what the donors expect."
• "I am really grateful to the facilitators, Carnegie Corporation and the university for making it possible for me to participate"
• "Keep it up to more. Reach out to more."

• "The learning experience was the best in terms of participatory group work I ever had. It has greatly influenced my way of imparting information in others. I feel privileged to be part of this course."

  "Just wonderful. Wish this course was available to all academic staff of our university"
• "The experience will be very useful to my faculty, NGO and personal projects "
• "Very fruitful, very interactive, worthwhile"
• "The Fun aspect of the entire workshop is incredible"
• "The group learning experience has been terrific"
• "Excellent delivery and educative"
• "I look forward to knowing of the opportunity of similar courses by the same team in the near future. "
• "New and highly recommended"
• "I have been richly blessed by the interaction"
• "Wonderful end of course. Very rewarding week of training"

• "I have learned so much in just one week. It is the first time I am awarding "A" (excellent) in all the questionnaire areas. It is a once in a life experience."

  "The learning experience has widened my academic horizon and my grantseeking behavior"
• "This is like the introduction phase of leukemia chemotherapy, so I will be needing consolidation and even maintenance treatment!"
• "It has been a wonderful experience. You must come back even if you have to make some sacrifice! God bless you real good."

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Pamoja Inc.
1462 Green Mountain Turnpike, Chester, Vermont 05143 USA
email: pamoja@sover.net tel: (802) 875-4727