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Basic
Tips for Successful Fundraising NEW!!!
- Order my 74 page "Fundraising
Fundamental" guide for $25 (plus shipping and handling),
by contacting me directly at info@artwithaconscience.com
or by to order off my shopping
cart. The guide is packed with information like:
~The
Basic Fundraising Overview
~How
to develop a fundraising plan
~Types
of Effective Fundraising Events
~Fundraising
Implementation Plan Tips
~Using
the Web for Fundraising
~Overview
of Grants & Grant Writing
~Fundraising
Resources
~"Next
Steps" Checklist
A
great way to get any new or existing non-profit jump started!
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Free
Advice : You don’t have to be a professional fundraiser
to organize an event to raise funds for your favorite cause or group.
You don’t have to be a “super sales person” to win
the hearts of your audiences or new potential donors. You just have
to have a desire and passion to “tell your story”, do
it in a conscience and consistent manner, and organize your thoughts
and activities to get the “biggest bang for your buck”
(or best return for your time).
Here
are some FREE tips to get you started:
Start off the New
Year right! January is a great time to get organized
and plan. If you do not have a fundraising committee, organize one,
schedule bi-weekly meetings, analyze what is working and what is
not, and don’t be afraid to make changes. Ask the following
questions.
1.
Does your group conduct more than one fundraiser each year?
2. Does your group continue to run the
same fundraisers year after year, even if the revenues and interest
has declined?
3. Does your group need a plan?
If
your answer to any of these questions is YES,
it is time to get organized and plan for some new events/programs.
Statistics show that successful organizations that perform from
4-6 smaller fundraising functions a year show greater returns than
those who do one or two large events annually. Smaller events tend
to be more manageable and easier to coordinate.
~
Break complex and overwhelming tasks related to your fundraiser
into smaller more manageable events.
If
you map out your fundraising year and set a goal for your group
that includes a financial figure as well as a tangible element,
the overall goal is easier to achieve. For example, your rescue
group many need to raise $6,000 to cover overhead expenses for your
shelter. Knowing what you are raising money for helps you to communicate
your needs to those potential donors, linking it to something real,
vs. just asking for what is called "blanket money". Tie
your needs into the theme for your fundraising activities, and make
sure to offer receipts for any donation no matter how small (even
if they pay by check). And if you start a mailing list of those
donors, you can call on them again in following years! If you are
the chairperson for fundraising, make sure to break-up your duties
into smaller jobs. Use the "divide and conquer" technique
to divide the work makes things easier for everyone. Do whatever
it takes to keep things simple and easy. Give each job a special
name, such as "one-hour-job," "love-to-talk-job,"
"can't-leave-the-house-job," "gift wrapping and mailing
job" etc.! Your ability to delegate and keep it fun will help
you get the volunteers you need.
~Add
new touches to get people within your organization, and outside
to retain interest.
Focus
on "fresh" ideas such as creatively decorating your booth
or fundraising station with colorful balloons-those with and animal
theme, (it is sure to attract children and moms in tow), make sure
to bring animals (if available) as a key part of your focus to draw
a crowd, ask volunteers are wearing colorful cloths (if you are
selling T-shirts everyone should be advertising the product through
use of them, showing unity among the volunteers), etc. Capture important
information on your donors by asking people to donate/purchase a
coupon for $1.00 for a "grand prize" drawing (requiring
name and address). You can use this information for future solicitation.
Order a large artists print of your animal, which is matted or framed,
from "Art With A Conscience" or give away T-shirts as
the prize. Make visible a large donation "glass fish bowl",
stuffed with $1's $5's and $10's for those who just care to donate.
Get local merchants to offer special prize offerings to include
in the "give-always". Pick the perfect spot to perform
your event, such as art festivals, pet stores, shopping malls at
holidays, etc. Make sure the prices of your products are easily
rounded up. For example a $20 item is easier to sell than one of
$15, where change is required…. or price an item at $4.50 and
have the jar close by for TIPS which will go towards your organization.
It's easy to drop the extra .50 into a fishbowl.
~Have
your committee take a look at the last three years' total fundraising
revenue.
Try
to determine how many volunteers are needed for each fundraiser,
how much time each fundraiser takes, and how profitable they can
be. If this information is not available, gather any pertinent information
you can. Start with a discussion of current fundraisers to determine
if everyone is in general agreement that certain fundraisers need
to be changed or eliminated. You'll be amazed at how productive
a few planning meetings can be! Give each fundraiser the time and
attention it needs to be really successful. Don't assume that more
fundraisers will always result in more money. Bombarding your sellers
with too many or overlapping fundraisers can be less effective and
result in lower participation, enthusiasm and profits.
~Always
have information about your organization readily available.
This
means ensuring brochures, leaflets, business cards are available
in the event that someone may want to join and volunteer, or publicize
and promote your organization. Networking is the key to the success
of any event. If you can, make sure that you have a professional
sign (vs. handmade) displayed with your organization. People are
more willing to offer donations is you look like you know what you
are doing. Never throw your information together, the appearance
will be just what it is, unorganized and not well thought out. And
don't overwhelm them with too much printed information. Most people
will just throw away a brochure, so print out announcement leaflets,
on 8 x 11 sheet of colored paper hitting the major points for your
organization and fundraiser. Include a "thank you note"
on the back (two sided printing is only pennies more), telling your
donors you appreciate their donation and where their contribution
will go.
~Use
good publicity to tell people what you are doing and where and when
you will be doing it.
Choose
a time of year when you may be able to get the greatest opportunity
for "giving". Holidays are usually good such as Valentines
day (making your theme about "opening your heart"), Christmas
is usually a great time for donation themes especially if you are
a 501C3 status for tax write-offs, and not to discount spring and
mid-summer by taking advantage of events which characteristically
draws some times 100,000 attendees, such as art shows and festivals.
You may be able to purchase a vendor booth (like those who sell
food) for little to no cost.
~Make
sure to keep score and rate how your committee and fundraiser are
doing!
Scorecards
are a familiar item to most people - they contain important information
that helps to identify strengths and weaknesses and improve over-all
performance. Applying this concept to fundraising how would your
sellers and their families rate your committee, if given the chance?
Here are some tips on how to create a scorecard:
1. Make a chart that lists all the fundraisers your group has
conducted in the past year. List the date, description of fundraiser
(example: silent auction, garage sales, adoption days, etc.), number
of families/individuals who participated (if information is available)
and the amount of money raised. Add an additional column for any
comments they would like to add for each fundraiser.
2. Rank the top three current fundraisers in the order of preference
- The first one being the fundraiser they like the most, the second
one in the ranking and so on.
3. Ask for suggestions for new fundraising activities, advising
them to give as much detail as possible. You could make this into
a contest within your own organization and offer a incentive (dinner
for two, massage, etc.)
In
addition to the valuable input you will receive, scorecards offer
the perfect opportunity to ask for volunteers. You may be amazed
at how responsive your members will be, when given a voice and an
opportunity to express their viewpoints. Communication is vital
to successful fundraising efforts! By allowing families to rate
current fundraising efforts and inviting them to become involved,
you greatly increase your chances of success! And don't be afraid
of negative feedback. Although you are very likely to hear a few
negative comments, keep a positive attitude. If your committee sincerely
strives to improve fundraising efforts, you will soon achieve a
scorecard you can be proud of!
~Avoid Drowning Your Sellers in a Flood of Fundraising.
Fundraising
is so familiar to most all people. Whether you are involved in a
school gift-wrap sale with your child, or receiving solicitation
by phone or mail by a large organization, chances are good that
you've helped support a fundraiser. With budget cutbacks, economic
issues, and just great awareness of spending, concerned donors and
donations have had a tendency to decline. Although fundraising plays
a vital role in keeping many organizations alive, the solution to
this chaos in "flooding of fundraising" is to limit your
big fundraisers and work with your committee to make a few fundraisers
the best and most profitable they can be. Stagger them during the
year to avoid flooding your potential customers. Add a few small
ongoing year-round fundraisers. And successful fundraising requires
frequent communication with your sellers. Have your committee brainstorm
to develop a communication/marketing plan for the upcoming year.
Communication with your sellers should start at the beginning of
a particular season relevant to your cause (i.e. migration time
of humpback whales, after Christmas rush, when shelters are full
of animals which were given as gifts, etc.). Your fundraising calendar
should include the following information:
1)
Description and timetable for major fundraisers
2) Information on year-round ongoing fundraisers
3) Explanation of what the profits will be used for
4) Names and phone numbers of your main committee members
5) Volunteer info, explaining unfilled positions and who to contact
Sellers will be more committed to supporting your cause when you
keep them well informed and up-to-date on what is happening with
fundraising throughout the year. Remember the importance of "R
& R" which means recognize and reward sellers. When you
reach a goal, celebrate and remind everyone that they helped make
it possible! Timing is everything in fundraising. Setting up a fundraising
calendar will put your group on the right track for a successful/profitable
year.
~Don't
forget to say "thank you" to your volunteers for all their
efforts.
Include
recognition of fundraising on your website, at at your annual awards
ceremonies. A small certification goes a long way!
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