A six step action plan to turn vision into results Fundraising 101 A six step action plan to turn vision into results

Brother, can you spare a dime? A not-for-profit organization is defined as a corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public, without shareholders and without a profit motive. There are more than 1.8 million not-for-profit organizations in the United States. This includes a variety of entities such as public charities, private foundations, fraternal organizations, schools, etc. In Iowa, there are more than 38,000 active not-for-profits registered with the Secretary of State.

By and large, America is a nation of givers In 2016, Americans donated more than $390 billion to not-for-profit organizations. Individual contributions comprised 72% of this total ($282 billion) 2016 giving increased 4.2% over the previous year The average household gave $2,520 to charity in 2016 Iowans give more than $7 billion to charity each year The average is 3.03% of household income The Des Moines metro area ranked #7 in a 2016 study of most generous cities, with 87% donating to some form of not-for-profit. Data Source – National Philanthropic Trust

Why people don’t like to fundraise The “M” word Quid pro Whoa! Where do I begin? It’s not you, it’s your request (and kinda you) I don’t know any rich people Mirror, mirror, on the wall

How to turn intention into action Creating a fundraising plan A good fundraising plan has six key elements Defining the project Setting the goal Mission check Detail planning Setting the timeline Measuring outcomes

Defining the project Establishing a clear, specific and unambiguous objective for your fundraising effort will provide focus to the team, and a sense of scope to your prospects. Some questions to ask in this phase: Is the project realistic? “End world hunger” is noble, but is it achievable by your group? Who are your potential/necessary partners? Synergistic organizations, government agencies? Will you just fundraise, or will you also execute? Key for determining division of responsibilities How will this project benefit the public at large? How will we define success?

Setting the goal More than just the dollars you hope to raise, goal setting begins the strategic process of identifying, cultivating, and soliciting prospective donors. Some sample goals may include: By *month* we will identify a list of *XX* prospects capable of making a gift of at least *YY* Number of initial and follow up contacts made with delivery of proposals Projected end date for the fundraising phase, or initiation of the program phase How much money do we need to fully fund this project?

Mission check You aren’t raising money to raise money. You are raising money for a purpose to serve a common good. Compare your mission statement to the goals you established. Are they complementary? Will use of the money you raise achieve your mission or move towards that in some meaningful way? Your efforts should produce money that creates action. That action should accomplish your mission.

Detail planning Now that goals and mission are in sync, it’s time to develop the plan of execution. Your plan should be detailed, but not static. The world is a fluid place! Based on the goals that were set, assign responsibilities based on skill sets. Determine your primary tactics for outreach. Personal asks (face-to-face, telephone) Social media outreach, including crowdfunding Corporate support Grants and Foundation support

Setting the timeline This is the battle plan, set down on a schedule that provides regular checkpoints. If this is a six month project, bi-weekly goal checks. If it is a year-long project, monthly checks. Be mindful of external factors that will influence the potential for staying on track, both positive and negative. Track ALL necessary resources in this document Volunteer hours Estimated expenses/income Goal met by this activity Notes/changes

Measuring outcomes When the dust clears, it’s time to assess the effort, and the results. Were the overall goals achieved? What worked especially well? What didn’t work so well? If this is an ongoing project, how will future efforts adjust based on current experiences? What kind of feedback did you get? How is that data being curated? DID THIS PROJECT MOVE YOUR MISSION FORWARD? Celebrate your effort, and your success!

We give thanks to thee, o donors (and volunteers) There is no surer way to guarantee a one-time donation than to let the first one go unthanked. Recognition and appreciation should be a part of every fundraising plan Have a recognition plan in place before solicitations begin Don’t forget to include volunteers in your recognition plan. Time can be just as critical as treasure in achieving your goals.

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