Why does StoP need fundraising? StoP is more than a short-term project; it is not a one-off campaign against domestic violence against women. No, StoP is an innovative, long-term and sustainable violence prevention project, a comprehensive and holistic work of change in which all authorities, institutions and people in society can make a contribution to ending gender-based violence. Violence against women has a history that goes back thousands of years and it takes a long time to change awareness, behaviour, traditions and structures in society. StoP is a social movement that tackles the roots of patriarchy and aims to help eliminate the deep-seated hatred of women and the decades of discrimination and disadvantage suffered by women and people who do not conform to traditional gender norms. This requires financial resources that are secure and long term. Above all, financial resources are needed to secure both the staff and the necessary infrastructure so that once a StoP project is underway, it can be planned for the long term and be successful. StoP needs to have a basis and planning security for several years. All this is summarised under the term StoP fundraising. 

In order for the StoP concept and the corresponding community organizing work to be established and grow in the long term with all the active people and StoP organisers in the respective place or community, it is also necessary to have a sound knowledge of fundraising. All StoP initiatives, organisations and organisers should think about a fundraising concept and develop it in a targeted and tailor-made way for the respective country, city, community or region. A fundraising plan requires a certain amount of knowledge about terminology, fundraising in general, sponsoring or crowdfunding, what to look out for and what support platforms or fundraising organisations are available in the country. 

Every StoP initiative and every StoP organiser should learn about fundraising from the start. The main definitions of fundraising, sponsoring and crowdfunding are important: Fundraising is the raising of funds for a specific activity, initiative or organisation. However, it is not just limited to “soliciting donations”. Fundraising includes much more: from government funding, through projects, e.g. EU or international projects, or from private individuals, companies or foundations. Fundraising also includes donations through inheritance or legacies. Fundraising also includes in-kind donations: through the production of information materials or other in-kind donations, but also for services. 

Sponsoring
The income from fundraising and sponsoring is basically the same: you provide financial support for projects or associations. Sponsoring can be seen as a sub-category of fundraising. It is also about making financial contributions to charitable organisations. Be careful: Before accepting money and donations from foundations or companies, you should check that the donors are reputable. Companies that promote human trafficking, produce and sell weapons or cruelty to animals, are known for sexist or racist advertising, etc. should be rejected.

Crowdfunding
A combination of the words crowd and funding. A project is funded by many or more backers. This means that projects can be realised without large amounts of start-up capital. Crowdfunding is particularly popular on the internet, as there are more and more platforms for presenting projects. Backers can receive a specific offer in return for their funding.

For a StoP fundraising concept, you need a competent team or one or two people in an organisation who already have some knowledge of funding and fundraising. If this is not the case, you should acquire this knowledge, e.g. by attending a fundraising seminar or by joining forces with other StoP organisations and working together on a fundraising concept. It is important to consider all funding possibilities: violence against women is a cross-cutting issue, it concerns all ministries: the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Labour, not just the Ministry of Women and Family. It is also important to always consider the health sector. In Austria, for example, the StoP pilot project received three years of funding from the Healthy Austria Fund and a further three years for the pilot district and four other sites. Later, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health funded numerous sites. 

A fundraising concept and a StoP PPT about fundraising that can be presented anywhere. A fundraising folder is also recommended: with a nicely laid out StoP text, the PPT and all StoP materials and, if available, a StoP activity or annual report or short information on StoP activities and achievements (link to chapter 2.3 here in the toolbox). It would also be advisable to produce a StoP image video. Donation boxes for large and small events StoP activity reports to be published StoP information material (flyers, stickers, buttons, etc.)