Fundraising 101 The Basics

Before undertaking any fundraising event, ask yourself the following questions: What is the primary need for funding? What is the primary need for funding? How much money are you looking to raise? How much money are you looking to raise? Who will be donating the funds? (Or what is your target audience?) Who will be donating the funds? (Or what is your target audience?) Who can you rally around yourself to put this plan together? Who can you rally around yourself to put this plan together? What is your time frame? What is your time frame?

Why Have a Fundraiser? To generate income for a cause you believe in. To generate income for a cause you believe in. To take the burden of financial support off of other members of your organization’s constituency. To take the burden of financial support off of other members of your organization’s constituency.

Why to have a fundraiser, cont. To gain the support of a wider audience. To gain the support of a wider audience. To highlight and promote the work of your group or organization. To highlight and promote the work of your group or organization.

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 organization’s needs are and what exactly the money will be used for.

Setting a Goal, cont.  Having a clear goal not only keeps the organization on track, but also inspires confidence!  Remember—Do your homework. Have data to support your need for funding.  Communicate your selected goal clearly to everyone involved!

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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…

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

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…

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.

Formulating a Plan, cont. You’ll 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.

Formulating a Plan, cont. Your idea won’t become a full- fledged “plan” until you have the support of others involved with the organization. Your idea won’t 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! 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!

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!

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….

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. 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 everyone’s needs. Determine what activities may best help you reach your goal, then narrow your list down to the options that best fit everyone’s needs.

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?

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 doesn’t appeal to those who will be forking over the funds. Don’t let this happen to you!

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 ?

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

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

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

Good Luck!! “If charity cost nothing, the world would be full of philanthropists.” -proverb