1. What is 'resource mobilisation' in social entrepreneurship?
Finding and organising money, people, materials and skills to support a social project
Only asking government for funding
Giving up a project because resources are scarce
Hiring staff to work on commercial projects unrelated to the social goal
Explanation:
Resource mobilisation means identifying and bringing together financial, human and material resources needed to run and sustain a social venture, not abandoning the project or limiting sources.
2. Which of these is an example of an in-kind donation for a school-based social enterprise in Kenya?
Crowdfunding money deposited via M-Pesa
Selling products to customers at a market
A local shop giving exercise books and pens to learners
A loan with interest from a bank
Explanation:
In-kind donations are goods or services given instead of cash; exercise books and pens are tangible items donated to support the project.
3. Which method is best when a youth group wants many small local supporters to contribute quickly using mobile phones?
Sending letters to international donors
Asking for a bank overdraft
Collecting payments via M-Pesa or a mobile payment platform
Applying for a large government grant that takes months to process
Explanation:
Mobile payments like M-Pesa are fast, familiar and accessible in Kenya, making them ideal for collecting many small contributions from local supporters.
4. Why is having a simple budget important when mobilising resources for a community project?
It replaces the need for record-keeping
It guarantees that the project will receive funding from donors
It allows you to ignore costs until after you start the project
It shows how much money is needed and how it will be spent, helping to build trust
Explanation:
A clear budget communicates needs and planned use of funds, which helps attract donors and manage finances responsibly.
5. What is a social enterprise's 'income-generating activity'?
A charity event where all proceeds are wasted
Only receiving grants from NGOs without any sales
Hiring expensive consultants unrelated to the mission
A product or service sold to generate revenue that supports the social mission
Explanation:
Income-generating activities are commercial actions (sales of goods or services) that produce revenue used to sustain the social goals of the enterprise.
6. Which source is most appropriate for a small school club starting a clean-water project with little experience in writing long proposals?
Ignoring planning and expecting funds will appear
Taking a large high-interest loan from an unregulated lender
Complicated multi-country donor grants that require long technical proposals
Local fundraising (school bazaars, community contributions) and small grants from county youth funds
Explanation:
Local fundraising and small county grants are accessible for youth groups with limited proposal experience and help build initial proof of concept.
7. What is a partnership in resource mobilisation?
Working with another organisation or group to share resources, skills and costs
Competing to keep all resources secret
Only relying on volunteers without any agreements
Giving away all project control to an external donor without agreement
Explanation:
A partnership involves collaboration where partners pool resources and expertise to achieve shared goals, improving reach and efficiency.
8. When preparing to approach a potential donor, what is the most important thing to include in your request?
A long list of complaints about lack of support without a plan
A demand for unlimited funding with no details
A vague idea without measurable outcomes
A clear description of the problem, your plan, expected results and budget
Explanation:
Donors need to know the issue you address, how you will act, the outcomes you expect and how funds will be used to decide whether to support you.
9. Which practice helps maintain transparency and trust with supporters in Kenya?
Sharing simple financial reports and updates on how funds were used
Never telling anyone where money goes
Changing the project goal to suit whatever funder asks without informing the community
Paying friends without receipts
Explanation:
Transparent reporting builds donor and community trust, showing responsible use of resources and improving chances of future support.
10. What is crowdfunding and how can a Kenyan youth group use it?
A private investment requiring giving up majority ownership
An online appeal where many people contribute small amounts; the group can use social media and mobile payments to collect funds
A method of hiding project costs from the community
A government loan that must be repaid with high interest
Explanation:
Crowdfunding uses online platforms and social sharing to gather many small donations; Kenyan groups can combine it with M-Pesa and local publicity to raise funds.
11. Why is mapping stakeholders useful when mobilising resources for a community project?
It replaces the need for a project plan
It means you only work with people you already know
It helps identify people and groups who can support or influence the project and plan how to involve them
It discourages community participation
Explanation:
Stakeholder mapping shows who has interest or power over the project and guides engagement strategies to gain support and manage risks.
12. What is an example of a sustainable resource mobilisation approach for a youth-run agricultural social enterprise?
Giving all produce away without any plan for future income
Borrowing large sums without a repayment plan
Selling produce at local markets and reinvesting profits into the project
Only depending on a single donor who may stop funding next year
Explanation:
Generating regular income through sales and reinvesting profits helps the enterprise sustain itself without always relying on external funding.
13. When applying for a public youth fund in Kenya, which document is usually important to include?
A list of jokes and stories unrelated to the project
A blank application form
Only a verbal request without any written details
A clear activity plan and a simple budget showing how the funds will be used
Explanation:
Most public funds require an activity plan and budget so the reviewers understand the project's aims and cost and can assess feasibility.
14. What role do volunteers play in resource mobilisation?
They are the only resource needed and replace money
They always demand high salaries that drain the budget
They prevent the project from receiving any funding
They contribute time and skills that reduce costs and increase capacity for the project
Explanation:
Volunteers provide valuable labour and expertise, lowering operational costs and helping deliver activities, though some financial resources are still needed.
15. Which is an ethical practice when collecting donations for a social project?
Using donated funds for personal expenses without telling anyone
Being honest about how donations will be used and giving feedback to supporters
Refusing to allow donors to know project progress
Promising results you cannot achieve to get more money
Explanation:
Ethical fundraising requires honesty and accountability; reporting back to donors maintains trust and protects the project's reputation.
16. How can a social entrepreneur use a pilot (small-scale test) to mobilise more resources?
By doing a pilot with no records so you can change numbers later
By showing evidence of results from the pilot to convince donors and partners to support scaling up
By refusing to involve the community in the pilot
By hiding pilot results so others cannot copy the idea
Explanation:
Successful pilots provide proof of concept and measurable results that make it easier to attract larger funding and partnerships.
17. What is 'cost recovery' in the context of social enterprises?
Borrowing money without a repayment plan
Generating enough income to cover running costs so the project can continue
Never charging anyone for services under any circumstances
Only accepting donations without tracking expenses
Explanation:
Cost recovery means earning revenue or getting funds that at least cover the project's operating expenses, improving long-term sustainability.
18. Which local Kenyan institution can youth groups approach for small startup support (training or micro-grants)?
An unrelated foreign embassy without proposal
A random international corporation without any contact
A bank that only lends to large corporations
County government youth offices or local youth funds
Explanation:
County youth offices and local youth funds often offer training, mentorship and small grants targeted at young entrepreneurs and community projects.
19. Why keep simple records of all donations and expenses during resource mobilisation?
To confuse potential funders with false numbers
To hide money from the community
To show accountability, track spending and make reporting to supporters easier
To avoid planning and budgeting
Explanation:
Good records help manage funds responsibly, make it easier to report back to donors, and support audits or future funding applications.
20. What is a proposal narrative in fundraising?
A clear story that explains the problem, your plan, who benefits and how you will measure success
A legal contract between unrelated parties
A list of your personal hobbies with no relation to the project
A secret document only you read
Explanation:
The proposal narrative tells donors why the project matters, what you will do, who will benefit and how you will know it worked—key for convincing funders.
21. Which is a benefit of forming a community group or cooperative for resource mobilisation?
Making it impossible to open a bank account
Pooling members’ contributions and skills increases bargaining power and access to loans or grants
Forcing everyone to work for free without any agreement
Preventing members from learning skills together
Explanation:
Groups and cooperatives can demonstrate collective commitment, access group loans, qualify for grants and share costs and skills, making mobilising resources easier.
22. What should you do before accepting a partnership or funding offer?
Sign any agreement without reading it
Check that the partner’s values match your social mission and agree clear roles and reporting
Hide the agreement from your team
Accept any offer immediately without questions
Explanation:
Ensuring alignment of values and agreeing roles, responsibilities and reporting terms prevents conflicts and protects the project’s integrity.
23. Which measure helps show impact to potential social investors in Kenya?
Using only fancy charts that mean nothing
Collecting simple data like number of beneficiaries, stories of change and before/after results
Avoiding any monitoring so you can claim any result
Only promising future success without evidence
Explanation:
Practical, understandable evidence such as beneficiary numbers and success stories helps investors see real social impact and justify funding.
24. Why might a social enterprise choose a mix of funding sources (diversification)?
To rely only on a single big donor forever
To avoid creating any records
To reduce risk if one source stops and to increase financial stability
To make accounting impossible and confuse supporters
Explanation:
Diversifying income (sales, grants, donations, partnerships) spreads risk and makes the project less vulnerable if one source ends.
25. What is a memorandum of understanding (MoU) useful for in resource mobilisation partnerships?
It is a secret note that prevents meeting donors
It sets out agreed roles, responsibilities and expectations between partners in writing
It cancels the need for communication
It guarantees instant money without any work
Explanation:
An MoU clarifies what each partner will do and helps avoid misunderstandings, supporting smoother collaboration and accountability.
26. How can storytelling help when mobilising resources for a community service project?
By discouraging people from supporting the project
By explaining the human impact of the project and making supporters care enough to give time or money
By only focusing on financial figures without people
By hiding the real situation and making up false benefits
Explanation:
Good stories show how lives change because of the project, which motivates donors and volunteers to contribute.
27. What is a realistic first step for a 15-year-old school club wanting to fund a tree-planting project?
Borrow a large amount from a bank without collateral
Wait for a government minister to notice your idea
Demand sponsorship from a national corporation without a plan
Organise a school fundraiser (bake sale/market day) and seek small support from parents and teachers
Explanation:
School fundraisers and local support are practical, achievable first steps that build experience, funds and community buy-in for small projects.