From request to use

Every project goes through 6 steps, which in total, can take a year to complete. That might sound like a long time, but to cover the costs that we incur to refurbish the tools, to put the sets of tools together, but mostly for their transportation, we are dependent on funds and donations. It often takes some time before we can pull the necessary finance together. We also have to agree with the applicant which goods are necessary and available, to collect and refurbish the tools and to organise their transport, and this can also cost a lot of time.  

request

As applicant, you also need to provide information about your organisation (it’s objectives, ways of working and it’s financial situation), as well as a list of which tools you need, how many of them and for what purpose.  

evaluation

After receiving the request, we investigate whether your organisation and project meet our pre-conditions. We also check if the requested items fit with what we have on offer. For example, a request to provide a tractor cannot be honoured. After that, we check that it is possible to import the goods into your country. We also take up contact with the referees that you have listed.

Fundraising

Once the project has been approved, we start applying to fund the project. Without these funds, it would not be possible to carry out the project. Once we have collected the necessary amount from funds and donations, we are able to start the implementation phase of your application. 

compiling

We collect together the necessary tools and materials. Here in The Netherlands, people donate tools that they no longer use or need. If we are unable to make up complete sets of tools from what we have collected, then we will buy in the missing items. 

SHIPMENT AND CLEARANCE

We often purchase a container for shipment of the tools. However, your project will probably not fully fill a container. Therefore, we try to combine several projects for one country, which often takes significant extra time because the finance for all the other projects has to be arranged simultaneously. However, it is sometime possible for us to piggyback on the space that other Dutch charitable organisations may have available in their container.
As receiving organisation, you take care of, and pay for, the import duties on the goods, and for their transport from the harbour/place of arrival, to your own location. 

use & feedback

After receipt of the goods, we would like to receive feedback from you. This enables us to ensure that we maintain the quality of what we deliver, and where necessary, to improve it. In addition, we appreciate it if you can inform us about what has been done with the tools, and if possible, to send us some photos in which we can see the tools being used. This enables us to keep our sponsors informed about how their money has been used. In this way, funds and donors feel more committed to Tools4Change, and are thus hopefully more prepared to sponsor future projects.