Fundraisers organize events and campaigns to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization. They also may design promotional materials and increase awareness of an organization’s work, goals, and financial needs.
Fundraisers typically do the following:
Research prospective donors.Create a strong fundraising message that appeals to potential donors
Identify and contact potential donors.Use online platforms to raise donations.Organize campaigns or events to solicit donations.
Maintain records of donor information..Evaluate the success of previous fundraising events.Train volunteers in fundraising procedures and practices.Ensure that all legal reporting requirements are satisfied
Fundraisers plan and oversee campaigns and events to raise money and other kinds of donations for an organization. They ensure that campaigns are effective by researching potential donors and examining records of those who have given in the past.
Fundraisers who work for political campaigns must be knowledgeable about campaign finance laws, such as the contribution limits of an individual giving to a specific candidate.The following are examples of types of fundraisers:
Annual campaign fundraisers solicit donations once a year for their organization. Many nonprofit organizations have annual giving campaigns.
Capital campaign fundraisers raise money for a specific project, such as the construction of a new building at a university. Capital campaigns also raise money for renovations and the creation or expansion of an endowment.
Major-gifts fundraisers specialize in face-to-face interaction with donors who can give large amounts.
Planned-giving fundraisers solicit donations from those who are looking to pledge money at a future date or in installments over time. These fundraisers must have specialized training in taxes regarding gifts of stocks, bonds, charitable annuities, and real estate bequests in a will.
Did you know that 85% of Non Profit Fundraising every year is acquired from direct individual donations?
That 85% consists of large and small donations but it is the steady stream of small donations that keep most nonprofits afloat.
One should plan and forward his or her steps careful if the organization is new and they are not sure about the process of Non Profit Fundraising.
Ideally, first step should be to cultivate donors in the local community and than move on to Internet Fundraising.
How does one raise funds?
One can raise your funds through grants, product sale and special events and by phonathons. Online fundraising is very popular around the world these days.
Primarily one has to find one or two donor who will make a large donation (known as major donors).
Let us discuss some simple steps to get prospective donors interested and involved in the project.
1) Create a list of prospective donors who may get interested in organization’s activities.
2) Primarily one should concentrate on friend-raising activities rather than a
fund-raising one, like organizing some special events (a spaghetti dinner, carnival, concert, or some other fun activity) with several door prizes.
3) Now create a mailing list of those persons who are somewhat interested or may get interested about the organization. One should include the following points in the mailing list-
a) detailed address of office and residence
b) phone number
c) personal & detailed information
4) Within 3 days mail a nice letter to every listed individual. In addition, tell them-
a) how the organization is helping someone in the community.
b) that it is only possible with the support (monetary and otherwise) from
good people like them.
c) ask them for contribution and include a pre-addressed return envelope to make it easy for the donor.
5) Try to invite the prospect to come as a volunteer.
a) have a volunteer coordinator well prepared in advance to accept all calls, and to put them to good use.
b) the coordinator should introduce them to the staff, and make them feel to be a part of the organization. Once a volunteer feels to be a part of the
organization, he or she (and friends) is more likely to contribute.
6) Send letters and newsletters to those who did not volunteer. It may work to good effect if they are asked to speak to their civic groups, church groups about the organization. A good relationship always pays. .
7) Thank anybody and everybody whenever and however possible on whatever occasion.
Finally, maintaining donors’ involvement over time is indispensable. Try to get them excited about what you are doing with their kind help.
When your youth group is doing a fundraiser, it is imperative to make sure that the proper safety precautions are followed.
Never allow door-to-door sales without direct adult supervision. Period.
In a sad case, an 11-year-old boy selling candy for a PTA fundraiser came to the door of a 15-year-old boy who was home alone at the time. The youngster was invited inside, sexually molested, and then murdered.
This is not an urban legend. The murder happened in Freehold, New Jersey on September 27, 1997 and it raised the fundraising safety issue to national prominence.
I’m not usually an alarmist, but I included the example above to heighten awareness of the safety topic.
I am by nature a trusting person, but not when it comes to my children! Nothing is worth such devastating consequences.
Develop An Appropriate Safety Focus
So, how do you build the appropriate safety focus into your program?
You start by stressing safety from the top of your organization to the bottom. You have to make sure that safety is a focal point in all your communications.
1) Use written selling guidelines
Put it into writing that all selling should be supervised. Your organization needs this as a protective measure and so do the children. If an adult cannot commit to accompanying a child, the child must not perform that type of sales activity.
Make sure that each child’s parents are aware of these guidelines. Get the message to them that their children are not being encouraged to sell outside their comfort zone by your group.
Tell them that they should focus on their core contacts – family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers of parents. In other words, e safe by selling only to individuals who know your parents.
2) Repeat the message
Put up fundraising safety posters at convenient locations to remind young sellers. Make them friendly, but firm.
Example: “What’s the last thing you do in a fundraiser? Sell without an adult present.”
Print a safety message on all of your sales literature. Look for this from a quality supplier. Put the “Keep It Safe” message on all communications.
Repeat the safety message at every opportunity. Cover it in your kickoff meeting, during sales brochure distribution, in the take home package, etc.
If your fundraiser is school-based, have teachers reinforce the safety message in the classrooms.
3) Put safety into practice
Don’t encourage inappropriate behavior such as risk taking, unsupervised sales, shopping center sales activity without prior approval and adult supervision.
Your group’s policies and procedures may vary from this approach.
The important thing is to develop a written policy and make sure those guidelines are followed.
The best way to avoid an unsafe situation is by not going there. Many other youth programs also carry a strong safety message. Make sure yours does too.
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