Zahida Noorani is a trained social worker and a certified fund raising executive. With 19 years of fundraising experience as head of the fundraising program of Chicago-based Mercy Foundation, Inc. (the philanthropic arm of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center) and 14 years as a trainer and consultant in U.S.A., Ms. Noorani is now offering fundraising training and consulting service in USA and South Asia.

In USA, Ms. Noorani taught fundraising at DePaul University and Roosevelt University in Chicago. She also conducted two fundraising workshops each month for the Donors Forum of Chicago and now offers two workshops each year. In India, Ms. Nooraniconducts fundraising workshops for the Centre for the Advancement of Philanthropy in Mumbai (Bombay), and teaches fundraising at the S.P.Jain Graduate School of Management (Andheri) and at the Indian Institute of Technology, (Powaii). Ms. Noorani has also taught fundraising in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan.

Fundraising Training
Ms. Noorani's training programs cover full day workshops as well as comprehensive weeklong courses on topics such as

• Proposal writing for grants from foundations and corporations
  
• Securing support from individuals
  
• Skills and strategies for obtaining major gifts
  
• Developing and sustaining a planned gifts program
  
• Conducting capital campaigns
  
• Working effectively with boards and other volunteers.

Consulting Service
Ms. Noorani offers grant writing services and provides consultation on various aspects of fundraising including but not restricted to developing and expanding a donor base; conducting annual funds, special events and capital campaigns; building strategic relationships with foundations and corporations; doing a fundraising audit and assessment of an organization's fundraising effectiveness and developing fundraising plans.

Recent clients:

• The Pillars Community Services, Summit, Illinois
• Saint Anthony Hospital, Chicago, Illinois
• United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago
• Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre, Madurai, India

Additional Information on Trainer

Ms. Noorani was born and raised in India. She came to the USA as a Fullbright scholar and obtained a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation, she returned to India and was a member of the Faculty of the Graduate School of Social Work in Bombay, India for five years and Director of Training, the Diamond Jubilee Trust for six months.

In 1969, Ms. Noorani returned to U.S.A. and served as Director of Social Services at the Chicago Hearing Society for 12 years. In 1981, she changed her career path to become a fundraiser and for the next 19 years, worked at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, as Executive Director of Mercy Foundation, Inc. - the philanthropic arm of the hospital. She retired from there in June 2000.

During her 19 years at Mercy, Ms Noorani headed its fund raising program. She obtained grants from foundations, corporations and public agencies; raised funds from individuals through the annual fund, direct mail, major gifts and special events. She also developed a planned gifts program and conducted capital campaigns for major construction projects.

From 1990-2000, Ms Noorani taught fund raising at Roosevelt University and at DePaul University in Chicago, and conducted two fundraising workshops each month for the Donors Forum of Chicago. She also offered customized training programs to various nonprofits throughout USA.

Since the year 2000, Ms. Noorani has expanded her base to South Asia. With offices in Mumbai (India), Chicago (USA) she offers training and consulting services in North America and South Asia.