JAKARTA — On Monday (22/01/2024), the board of Dompet Dhuafa welcomed a visit from the Deputy I of BAZNAS (National Zakat Board) Republic of Indonesia at the Philanthropy Building, South Jakarta. The meeting was warm and friendly. Kicking off 2024, both parties shared overviews of their 2023 performance and fundraising efforts, while discussing developments and the strengthening of zakat.
“Today’s meeting serves as a deep dive into our endeavors, aiming to enhance the impact of our actions,” remarked Ahmad Juwaini, the Chairperson of Dompet Dhuafa’s Board, as he opened the session.
In response, M. Arifin Purwakananta, Deputy I of BAZNAS RI, extended his congratulations to Ahmad Juwaini for his recent appointment as the Chairperson of Yayasan Dompet Dhuafa Republika and welcomed the new board members of Dompet Dhuafa. He emphasized Dompet Dhuafa’s role as a trailblazer in the professional zakat movement within Indonesia.
“Dompet Dhuafa plays a pivotal role, essentially driving the professional zakat movement forward. We have learned much about zakat from them. It is crucial that we enhance our collaboration, focusing on both institutional and individual contributions, especially since many Zakat Management Organizations (LAZ), particularly in regional areas, are yet to make significant progress in leadership and management. The zakat movement needs to expand,” Arifin articulated.
During the event, Bambang Suherman, Vice I of the Board of Yayasan Dompet Dhuafa Republika, shared insights into Dompet Dhuafa’s performance over the past year. With the theme “CollaborAction Towards Sustainable Empowerment,” he highlighted Dompet Dhuafa’s Farmers’ Village program in Lembang, West Java, underscoring its organizational strength and network capabilities. The initiative aims not merely to alleviate poverty but to achieve lasting empowerment.
“Now the farmers own the land they previously rented. Their knowledge and skills in cultivating healthy vegetables have markedly improved. In our impact assessment, we focus on innovation in product development, asset management, market expansion, and institutional strengthening. The sustainability of the program is supported through cooperative ventures and the growth of community farmers’ unit revenues. Philanthropy contributes through mentorship, while partnerships involve institutional and financial collaborations,” detailed Bambang.
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Additionally, Etika Setiawanti, the Secretary of the Board of Yayasan Dompet Dhuafa Republika, dissected the 2023 fundraising dashboard for Dompet Dhuafa. She highlighted a 4.68% increase in donation amounts, an 8.2% rise in the number of transactions, an 80.4% growth in the donor base, and a significant 118.1% jump in new donors.
“This growth is certainly compelling, but it presents both a challenge and a motivation for Dompet Dhuafa to further increase the donation volume given the expanding donor base, necessitating dynamic and creative approaches. Currently, only 8% of the donations are sourced from Gen Z, Gen Y, and similar demographics,” Etika elaborated.
Fahrudin, the Head of the Digital Collection Division at BAZNAS, expressed admiration for the significant growth in transactions and new donors. He expressed interest in Dompet Dhuafa’s innovative approaches, saying, “This is extraordinary. I’m eager to learn about Dompet Dhuafa’s creative strategies. It’s also noteworthy how Dompet Dhuafa consistently invests in new ideas.”
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Continuing the dialogue, Etika explained that the idea generation process often involves collaborative brainstorming about digital fundraising and exploring new findings. She recounted Dompet Dhuafa’s experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022.
“Although the pandemic initially caused concern, we managed to shift all campaigns and transactions online, which led to significant insights. The pandemic altered people’s behavior to some extent. As we experienced growth during this period, we also focused on educating the public, ensuring to confirm transactions consistently. This effort towards transparency is a key aspect of Dompet Dhuafa’s reporting and engagement with our community,” she elucidated.
“We hold the transparency of our operations in high regard, as it’s crucial for donor confidence. Therefore, Dompet Dhuafa is committed to keeping pace with digital advancements, aligning with the dynamic behaviors of our community. We also collaborate with e-commerce partners. In addition to our donation portal, we’ve developed the Dompet Dhuafa App, not to shift transactions but to foster dynamism, transparency, and closer ties with the community,” Etika concluded.
The gathering ended with BAZNAS presenting a book to Dompet Dhuafa and Dompet Dhuafa giving a plaque to BAZNAS, followed by a group photo session. (Dompet Dhuafa/Dhika Prabowo)