For his final capstone project, University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service and concurrent UALR William H. Bowen School of Law student Chris Morgan of El Dorado, Arkansas partnered with Executive Offices at Heifer International and the organization’s in-house counsel department to conduct a comprehensive, in-depth feasibility study to assist in determining whether Heifer should begin a public fundraising operation through the organization’s offices in China.
Heifer International is often applauded for its domestic fundraising efforts with a great deal of attention focused on marketing campaigns in the United States, including the widely successful gift catalogue that has been a part of its fundraising campaigns for decades. Within the past 12-15 years, Heifer has expanded its fundraising to several international markets.
Due to the success of these international fundraising efforts, Heifer is investigating other countries in which it may fundraise. Before investing in such large-scale fundraising, crucial internal stakeholders and decision-makers wanted to be well-informed of factors in China that may affect a fundraising campaign such as market factors, laws regulating the nonprofit sector, and possible opportunities or threats to fundraising.
Morgan’s findings are a result of interviews and data collection in the Netherlands, South Africa, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, and China. He also provided an analysis of the legal environment and legal constraints to NGO operations in China, a capacity assessment of Heifer’s offices in China, and a summarization of a market analysis commissioned by Heifer in 2005 with updated statistics.
“The work done by Chris gives us a broader understanding of the local environment and the emerging philanthropic sector in China. This work is key to help guide our future investments and our support to our counterparts in China,” said Meredith Rolf, Director of Strategic Initiatives in Heifer International’s Executive Offices. “Chris’s specific set of skills and interests allowed for a unique analysis that will certainly contribute to Heifer’s work to end hunger and poverty.”
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