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The EIR program, part of the Strengthen Entrepreneurship and Innovation pillar under the Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei) initiative, is co-implemented by Khmer Enterprise and Swisscontact and funded by Khmer Enterprise (KE), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The program connects international experts with local ecosystem actors to strengthen capacity and drive innovation.
Thida Sam is the Development Director at Code Platoon, a Chicago-based nonprofit, where she leads philanthropic strategy and partnerships. With experience at the United Nations, she bridges fundraising strategy with program impact, helping mission-driven organizations build sustainable funding models. During her mission, she led three insightful workshops.
The first workshop on Unlocking Fundraising Potential: Aligning Mission, Value, Strategy, and Case for Support, was held on May 27th. This session helped entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs,) and nonprofits clarify their mission and value, develop compelling cases for support, and explore diversified fundraising strategies. Participants sharpened their proposal writing skills and gained tools to align fundraising efforts with organizational strategy.
The second workshop, Turning Numbers into Narratives: Mastering Impact with Data-Driven Storytelling was organized on May 29th, participants learned how to transform metrics into compelling narratives that resonate with funders. The session emphasized selecting meaningful indicators, balancing qualitative and quantitative data, and using storytelling techniques to highlight impact.
The third Workshop Mastering Strategic Communications: Reach the Right People with the Right Message was conducted on May 30th, this session focused on building clear, audience-centered messages and creating practical communication plans tailored to stakeholders. Participants walked away with actionable outreach strategies.
Thida also provided tailored one-on-one mentoring to Enterprise Academy Vision, SprintX, Cambodia Japan Center of Cambodia (CJCC), Phum Impact Battambang, and C’nai Accelerator, focusing on strengthening donor engagement and strategic growth.
Participants came from a range of sectors, including accelerators, NGOs, academia, and business associations. Across the three workshops, 43 individuals participated: 13 in Unlocking Fundraising Potential (55.6% female), 19 in Turning Numbers into Narratives (52.6% female), and 11 in Mastering Strategic Communications (44.4% female). Feedback indicated strong knowledge gains—88.9% in Workshop 1, 68.4% in Workshop 2, and 66.7% in Workshop 3 reported significant improvement in understanding the topics.
Participants highlighted key takeaways such as donor relationship management, storytelling of key successes, structuring fundraising approaches, using data to communicate impact, and aligning messages with stakeholder needs.
Thida’s engagement demonstrated the high demand for practical, strategic support in fundraising and communication. While ESOs show strong commitment to mission, they often lack tools to articulate value and demonstrate impact—gaps Thida helped address. As future EIRs continue this work, these foundational skills will be crucial for building a sustainable and compelling entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cambodia.
The Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) program, of the Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei), is funded by Khmer Enterprise (KE), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and co-implemented by Khmer Enterprise and Swisscontact.