Ten(ish) top tips for an appealing appeal Steve Baylis Head of Development – Archdiocese of Birmingham

Me Top Ten Tips Q&A That’s it……. Introduction Me Top Ten Tips Q&A That’s it…….

Background Previously worked for Sandwell Council of Voluntary Organisations – Large Group Fundraising Ran a large community venue in Leamington Spa (until it burnt down) Worked for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Yes my boss was John Prescott ) Both intro

All the visual indicators of an area in decline, showing all of the symptoms associated with urban decay. The need for a paradigm shift in regeneration thinking, looking at the human scale through the development of new physical structures. Being transformed from a utopia to a civic pigsty.

Tip 1 Make sure you have an appealing Project Only with a Strong and viable project can you have a compelling appeal or ask

Get the vision right – what does the finished article look like? Tip 2 Get the vision right – what does the finished article look like? 1 – Know the why 2 - A clear case for support

WHY When launching a campaign, make sure can clearly answer the “Why?” Imagine for a moment that you are presented with three possible giving opportunities: your organisation and two others. Why should a donor give you money (instead of another organisation)? Why are you raising money? Why do you need money now? Why is this urgent? Why should I care?

Evidence of Need Feasibility Consultation / Surveys / Questionnaire Results Results from Open discussions Letters of Support Funders are very keen to know why this is the best course of action. What options have been considered? Could we do a smaller version? Would it have the same impact? Has any consultation been done already? Who will take the lead on this? Letters of Support – local schools, organisations

Create some key objectives for the appeal Tip 3 Create some key objectives for the appeal

Be honest about your other objectives. Tip 3a Be honest about your other objectives. Is it just to raise money for the project? Do you want to create new regular donors?

Tip 4 Understand the donor.

People want to give. They give because it makes them feel that they’ve made a difference. Giving gives them joy. A successful campaign understands what the audience cares about. To grow your audience, you have to know where to reach them. Ask yourself two questions: 1. Where are the people who care about what you care about? 2. How can you share your story with them?

Understand your resource requirements Tip 5 Understand your resource requirements

Volunteers – Do I have enough and do they need training Money – Can I fund this campaign Sponsorship opportunities – Are there any, and who makes contact and manages the relationship Events which could be converted into fundraising opportunities? – Can I use an event to raise the project profile or recruit regular donors

Create a Plan Then……… Review your plan - often Tip 6 Create a Plan Then……… Review your plan - often

Forming a Plan: The What’s Where’s, When’s and Who’s   When What Who is responsible? Who is it for? Required outcome? Income Expenditure Notes 1 You may wish to have a ‘Income received and an ‘Income Pledged’

Plan the other stuff Will you need staff? How many, how will they be paid Who will co-ordinate volunteers? Are there similar projects you could partner with? Is there other local infrastructure to support your plans Steve

Monitoring and Evaluation – make sure you know what success looks like? Business Plan – Make sure you can articulate how this project fits into the bigger picture of the charity and its objectives Progress – If we are not an target, what does my plan B, C, D etc look like Steve

Get researching Look at all types of Fundraising Tip 7 Get researching Look at all types of Fundraising

Ways to Research Funding Internet research – Grant Net Similar organisations – how did they fund it? Use their websites/ accounts (Charity Commission) Are any of your parishioners on committees or boards of local charities? Family Trusts

Researching Grants and Trusts Research - going to meet with similar sites to see how they are doing it Private Phase (the parish and potential HND supporters) Public Appeal (when at least half is raised) HND events / Community Fundraising events Marketing and publicity Regular catch-up meetings for the Fundraising Committee Feeding back to the Parish This should be adapted to We will send an electronic version over to Fr. Paul

Types of Fundraising Parishioner Giving Reserves Legacies Local Corporate Sponsorship HND Community Fundraising Steve

Catholic Funders Landfill Community Funds Loans Online Giving Grants Types of Fundraising Catholic Funders Landfill Community Funds Loans Online Giving Grants Steve

Are you just chasing the money? Tip 8 Check back and make sure everything you are planning meets your objectives… Are you just chasing the money?

Do you know the difference between: Objective, Output, Outcome? Tip 8(a) Do you know the difference between: Objective, Output, Outcome? The Objective is the aim of the project, what you are trying to achieve The Outputs are what and how much gets delivered The Outcomes are the difference your work will make in the short and long term

Put the Campaign Brand Front and Centre Tip 9 Put the Campaign Brand Front and Centre

Put the Campaign Brand Front and Centre - Be Mobile Friendly With the rise of smartphones and tablets, your organisation and donation page can and should be easily accessible from anywhere! Show Results Instead of sending a scripted, automated “thank you” email, send out personalised thank you messages including a picture or video depicting how their donation makes a difference Create a Donation Page Branded to the Campaign Link Donations with Relevant Impact

Pull it all together – Make the Ask Tip 10 Pull it all together – Make the Ask Complete the Case for Support Put a full fundraising plan together Resource it Start implementing the plan All the planning in the world falls short if you don’t ask.

Tip 10(a) Review & Demonstrate Think about the difference you project will make –Impact or the Enduring Change Show how you will monitor and evaluate your work How do your outcomes match the funders’ outcomes and priorities How do you demonstrate that your work is effective !

Tip 10(b) Celebrate the successes !!! MAKE SURE TO THANK EVERYONE!

Verbicide Short-term respite care and flexible day care are the two most valuable forms of support for sufferers of Alzheimer’s disease, which allow the carer to cope longer in the community. What is flexible day care and short term respite care? Why are they valuable?

Final Exercise Achieving a positive budget variance Making a skills adjustment Making staff redundant Achieving a positive budget variance Making a lot of staff redundant Meaningful downturn in aggregate output A recession

Final Exercise High-quality learning environments are a necessary pre-condition for facilitation and enhancement of the ongoing learning environment Children need good schools