Fundraising 101

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Fundraising 101

• The Basics

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Before undertaking any fundraising event, ask
yourself the following questions

• What is the primary need for funding?
• How much money are you looking to raise?
• Who will be donating the funds? (Or what is your
  target audience?)
• Who can you rally around yourself to put this
  plan together?
• What is your time frame?

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Why Have a Fundraiser?

• To generate income for a cause you believe in.
• To take the burden of financial support off of
  other members of your organizations
  constituency.

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Why to have a fundraiser, cont.

• To gain the support of a wider audience.
• To highlight and promote the work of your group
  or organization.

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Setting a Goal

• Before you can set the wheels in motion, it is
  important that you, and everyone involved in the
  fundraising efforts, are clear regarding what the
  organizations needs are and what exactly the
  money will be used for.

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Setting a Goal, cont.

• Having a clear goal not only keeps the
  organization on track, but also inspires
  confidence!
• RememberDo your homework. Have data to support
  your need for funding.
• Communicate your selected goal clearly to
  everyone involved!

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Targeting an Audience

• It is important to establish your target audience
  before planning the details of your fundraising
  events or activities.
• It is in your best interest to think about who
  will be donating money for your project to be a
  success.

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Targeting an Audience, cont.

• Before you begin, ask yourself the following
  questions
• Can you profile potential donors?
• Do you know who will be interested in helping you
  meet your goal?
• Can you reach these people?

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Targeting an Audience, cont.

• Remember-
• One of the biggest downfalls of local fundraisers
  is not knowing their community. Learn who
  comprises your target audience, what will attract
  it to your cause, and whom you may realistically
  tap for funding.

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Rallying Some Help

• It may seem difficult to find individuals who are
  willing to carve out some time in their schedules
  to work with you. But there are many people out
  there who will support a good cause. You just
  have to find them!

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Rallying Some Help, cont.

• You need to gather prospective team members and
  promote the reasons behind the need for funding.
• Most people donate time or money to a cause that
  they have a personal connection to. Try to find
  those who have been touched personally by your
  cause or need.

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Rallying Some help, cont.

• Selecting a Leader
• When selecting a leader for your fundraising
  activities, it is important to consider what
  actually makes a good leader

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Rallying Some Help, cont.

• A Good Leader.
• Listens and learns
• Takes in data and uses it to effectively to
  persuade others
• Knows how to communicate what it is that he or
  she hopes to accomplish

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Formulating a Plan

• The first step in planning your fundraising
  adventure is to establish a time frame. Part of
  your goal to raise money will be to complete the
  project by a selected date

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Formulating a Plan, cont.

• The date of completion may be dictated by the
  nature of the project itself. For example, a
  fundraising drive to raise money to buy Christmas
  presents for disadvantaged children will
  necessarily be time sensitive.

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Formulating a Plan, cont.

• Youll want to make sure you stay organized.
  Utilize project-planning software or simply get a
  notebook in which to plan all details. Be
  prepared to make changes-even the simplest event
  will often require many revisions to the plan.

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Formulating a Plan, cont.

• Your idea wont become a full-fledged plan
  until you have the support of others involved
  with the organization.
• Unless you can pull off the entire event on your
  own, you will need to convince others to come on
  board with you. Listen to their ideas and
  suggestions!

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Formulating a Plan

• Your idea should be beginning to take shape, but
  you should rally your support before hashing out
  the details!
• Remember-it is essential to be sure that those
  you enlist to help feel the same sense of passion
  for your cause!

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Formulating a Plan, cont.

• Once you have determined the time frame for your
  venture, and have rallied the support of
  volunteers, it is time to select the right
  fundraiser for you.

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Selecting the Right Fundraiser

• Your method of fundraising should reflect both
  the need you are addressing as well as the
  abilities of the potential donor base you have
  chosen to target.
• Determine what activities may best help you reach
  your goal, then narrow your list down to the
  options that best fit everyones needs.

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Selecting the Right Fundraiser, cont.

• Evaluate Your Resources
• What is the community standing of your
  organization?
• What skills or talents do your members have to
  offer?
• How much money do you have up front to put into
  the fundraising effort?

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Selecting the Right Fundraiser, cont.

• Give The People What They Want
• One of the biggest failures of fundraising
  efforts is not taking the audience into
  consideration. Too often an organization may
  pursue an idea that it loves but that doesnt
  appeal to those who will be forking over the
  funds. Dont let this happen to you!

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Selecting the Right Fundraiser-Consider the Costs!

• There will be some expense involved in any
  fundraising effort.
• Carefully consider the costs before entering into
  any fundraising activity.
• Inventory items already available to you.
• What can you get for free?
• How much money is in your budget ?

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Fundraising Options

• Some common types of fundraising activities
  include
• Auctions-Traditional or Silent
• Sales
• Carnivals
• Car Washes
• A-thons (Bikes, Walks, Bowls, etc.)
• Charity Breakfasts, Lunches, or Dinners

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To Recap

• Your event will be successful if you plan
  carefully and remember the steps involved in any
  fundraising venture..

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Recap

• Determine your Need
• Select a Goal
• Target your Audience
• Rally Some Help
• Select a Leader
• Select the Right Fundraiser
• Formulate your Plan, considering costs and
  resources

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Good Luck!!

• If charity cost nothing, the world would be full
  of philanthropists.
• -proverb