Fundraising Training Course

Why Learn To Fundraise? l Skills l Career Development l Organisation Support l Organisation Development

Fundraising What Is It? Ideas Selling Resources Support Relationships

The Funders l Charitable Trusts l Corporate Sector l Government l Europe l National Lottery l The General Public

The Funds l Donations l Sponsorship l Gifts In Kind l Grants l Employee Volunteering

Charitable Trusts Do’s & Don’ts Plan A Strategy Plan Ahead Select A Good Project Believe In What You Are Doing Select A Target Write An Application Tailored To The Needs Of The Trust Use A Personal Contact Prepare A Realistic & Accurate Budget Be Concise Be Specific Establish Your Credibility Keep Records Of Everything You Do Send Reports & Keep Trusts Informed Try To Develop A Partnership Or Long Term Relationship Say Thank You  Send A Duplicated Mailshot  Ask For Unrealistic Amounts  Assume Trust Will Instantly Understand The Needs You Are Meeting  Make General Appeals For Running Costs  Use Jargon  Beg

The Process l Identify Your Needs l Research Sources l Produce A Fundraising Plan l Build A Fundraising Team l Apply For Funds l Say Thank You l Keep Funders Informed l Return To Warm Funders l Keep Records

The Ingredients Of Good Fundraising l Develop good, clear key selling points. l Identify the problem and the need. l Show how effective you are. l What is the impact of your work? l What other plus points have you got?

Key Points To Success l Focus - On Your Needs and On Funders Needs l Be Succinct l Good Presentation Is Everything l State Your Case l Listen

The Techniques l Direct Mail l Written Applications l Sponsorship l Big Gift Campaigns l Legacies l Events l Membership l Schools l Appeals l Advertising l Promotions l Trading l Personal Solicitation

4 Ingredients For A Successful Event l The Media l The Sponsors l The Charity l The Performance

Fundraising Ideas l Anything - a - thons l Sponsored Activities l Ticket Events l Public Collections

What Is A Good Idea? A good idea : l Sounds fresh or interesting and captures the imagination. l Is or sounds startlingly obvious l Has a catchy title l Appears or is innovative l Is topical l Is different l Shows value for money or leverage l Complements and supplements existing provision or involves collaboration with other agencies. l Has measurable objectives and specific outcomes which are clearly of benefit l Is realistic and achievable

What Is A Fundable Project? l Specific l Important l Effective l Realistic l Good Value l Topical l Relevant l Bite-sized

Improving Your Communication Skills Always write in plain English Or Welsh! An application for funding is no more than an answer to the following: l Who You Are l What Work You Do and What You Are Proposing To Do l Why This Work Is Important l What You Plan To Do l What You Need To Do It l How The Funder Can Help You

The Cardinal Sins Of Applications l Verbicide - Using meaningless words l Verbitis - Using inflamed words l Verbosity - Waffling l Verbification - Using endless long words

Practical Exercise Rewrite the following sentences: l It would be our hope that you might fund this project. l A demonstrated commitment to cooperation and collaboration forms the cornerstone of this project. l Your grant has proved to be of great significance to this organisation and we would like to express our gratitude.

12 Tips For Better Writing l Write In Shorter Sentences l Break Up Longer Sentences l Vary The Length Of Sentences l Use Smaller Words rather than long words l Avoid jargon l Avoid unsubstantiated superlatives l Write for the reader - think about who they are and how much they are likely to know. l Talk in common language l Don’t patronise l Keep it short and simple but say everything you need to l Make it clear and logical l Improve the visual appearance and readability by using: »shorter paragraphs »Headings and sub-headings »indents

Making A Good Application A Suggested Structure l Project Title l Personalise l Proposal Summary l Introduction - Who You Are l Why The Donor Might Be Interested l The Need - Substantiate it! l What You Will Do - How you will resolve the problem l How You Will Do It l How Much You Need l The Request l Sign Off

Writing A Better Application l Build the credibility of your organisation l Support the need for you project l Develop clear, specific, measurable and attainable objectives l Justify your approach l Include methods for evaluating your progress l Demonstrate the value of the funding l Use simple, clear understandable language l Say in concisely and briefly l Prepare a realistic budget and include all your costs.

Assessing An Application l How can you improve your applications? l Think about the following: l The readability l Does the application make clear what it needs funds for and how much is needed? l Is it realistic? l Does the application make a good case? l Does it meet the funders needs? l Are you convinced? If not, why not?

The Ingredients Of A Good Application l Catchy Title l Proposal Summary l Introduction l Statement of Problem/Need l Project Objectives l Methods l Budget l Funding Plan l Request l Funding Rationale l Backup Information All on 1 or 2 pages!

Costing A Project The Key Stages l Describe The Project l Write Down Expenditure Needs l Cost Each Item l Total The Costs l Examine The Total & Amend l Agree The Budget W Always remember to look for hidden costs

Exercise Costing A Midweek Group Day What are the costs involved in the following mid week group task. l A mid week group will be going to a site in the Brecon Beacons. The task is to complete a section of wheelchair accessible footpath. A large tree will need to be felled as it is currently blocking the path. Materials will need to be brought to the site. l What are the costs?

Fundraising In TCV l National Guidelines l Wales Regional Guidelines l The Role of the External Relations Coordinator

Further Reading Required Reading For TCV Fundraisers TCV’s Guide To Working Practice - Fundraising (Available In All TCV Offices) Recommended Reading Writing Better Fundraising Applications - Directory Of Social Change The Complete Fundraising Handbook - Directory Of Social Change Step By Step, A Guide To Volunteer Fundraising - National Centre For Volunteering (All of the above are available from the Wales Regional Office on loan.)