Fundraising 101Fundraising 101

The BasicsThe Basics

Before undertaking any Before undertaking any fundraising event, ask yourself the fundraising event, ask yourself the following questions:following questions:• What is the primary need for What is the primary need for

funding?funding?• How much money are you looking to How much money are you looking to

raise?raise?• Who will be donating the funds? (Or Who will be donating the funds? (Or

what is your target audience?)what is your target audience?)• Who can you rally around yourself to Who can you rally around yourself to

put this plan together?put this plan together?• What is your time frame?What is your time frame?

Why Have a Fundraiser?Why Have a Fundraiser?

To generate income for a cause To generate income for a cause you believe in.you believe in.

To take the burden of financial To take the burden of financial support off of other members of support off of other members of your organization’s your organization’s constituency.constituency.

Why to have a fundraiser, Why to have a fundraiser, cont.cont.

To gain the support of a wider To gain the support of a wider audience.audience.

To highlight and promote the To highlight and promote the work of your group or work of your group or organization.organization.

Setting a GoalSetting a Goal

Before you can set the wheels in Before you can set the wheels in motion, it is important that you, motion, it is important that you, and everyone involved in the and everyone involved in the fundraising efforts, are clear fundraising efforts, are clear regarding what the regarding what the organization’s needs are and organization’s needs are and what exactly the money will be what exactly the money will be used for.used for.

Setting a Goal, cont.Setting a Goal, cont.

Having a clear goal not only Having a clear goal not only keeps the organization on track, keeps the organization on track, but also inspires confidence!but also inspires confidence!

Remember—Do your Remember—Do your homework. Have data to support homework. Have data to support your need for funding.your need for funding.

Communicate your selected Communicate your selected goal clearly to everyone goal clearly to everyone involved!involved!

Targeting an AudienceTargeting an Audience

It is important to establish your It is important to establish your target audience before planning target audience before planning the details of your fundraising the details of your fundraising events or activities.events or activities.

It is in your best interest to think It is in your best interest to think about who will be donating about who will be donating money for your project to be a money for your project to be a success.success.

Targeting an Audience, cont.Targeting an Audience, cont.

Before you begin, ask yourself the Before you begin, ask yourself the following questions:following questions:

Can you profile potential Can you profile potential donors?donors?

Do you know who will be Do you know who will be interested in helping you meet interested in helping you meet your goal?your goal?

Can you reach these people?Can you reach these people?

Targeting an Audience, cont.Targeting an Audience, cont.

Remember-Remember-One of the biggest downfalls of One of the biggest downfalls of

local fundraisers is not knowing local fundraisers is not knowing their community. Learn who their community. Learn who comprises your target audience, comprises your target audience, what will attract it to your cause, what will attract it to your cause, and whom you may realistically and whom you may realistically tap for funding.tap for funding.

Rallying Some HelpRallying Some Help

It may seem difficult to find It may seem difficult to find individuals who are willing to individuals who are willing to carve out some time in their carve out some time in their schedules to work with you. But schedules to work with you. But there there areare many people out there many people out there who will support a good cause. who will support a good cause. You just have to find them!You just have to find them!

Rallying Some Help, cont.Rallying Some Help, cont.

You need to gather prospective team You need to gather prospective team members and promote the reasons members and promote the reasons behind the need for funding. behind the need for funding.

Most people donate time or money Most people donate time or money to a cause that they have a personal to a cause that they have a personal connection to. Try to find those who connection to. Try to find those who have been touched personally by have been touched personally by your cause or need.your cause or need.

Rallying Some help, cont.Rallying Some help, cont.

Selecting a LeaderSelecting a LeaderWhen selecting a leader for your When selecting a leader for your

fundraising activities, it is fundraising activities, it is important to consider what important to consider what actually makes a good leader…actually makes a good leader…

Rallying Some Help, cont.Rallying Some Help, cont.

A Good Leader….A Good Leader…. Listens and learnsListens and learns Takes in data and uses it to Takes in data and uses it to

effectively to persuade otherseffectively to persuade others Knows how to communicate Knows how to communicate

what it is that he or she hopes to what it is that he or she hopes to accomplishaccomplish

Formulating a PlanFormulating a Plan

The first step in planning your The first step in planning your fundraising adventure is to fundraising adventure is to establish a time frame. Part establish a time frame. Part of your goal to raise money of your goal to raise money will be to complete the will be to complete the project by a selected date…project by a selected date…

Formulating a Plan, cont.Formulating a Plan, cont.

The date of completion may be The date of completion may be dictated by the nature of the dictated by the nature of the project itself. For example, a project itself. For example, a fundraising drive to raise money fundraising drive to raise money to buy Christmas presents for to buy Christmas presents for disadvantaged children will disadvantaged children will necessarily be time sensitive.necessarily be time sensitive.

Formulating a Plan, cont.Formulating a Plan, cont.

You’ll want to make sure you stay You’ll want to make sure you stay organized. Utilize project-organized. Utilize project-planning software or simply get planning software or simply get a notebook in which to plan all a notebook in which to plan all details. Be prepared to make details. Be prepared to make changes-even the simplest changes-even the simplest event will often require many event will often require many revisions to the plan.revisions to the plan.

Formulating a Plan, cont.Formulating a Plan, cont.

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

Unless you can pull off the Unless you can pull off the entire event on your own, you entire event on your own, you will need to convince others to will need to convince others to come on board with you. Listen come on board with you. Listen to their ideas and suggestions!to their ideas and suggestions!

Formulating a PlanFormulating a Plan

Your idea should be beginning to Your idea should be beginning to take shape, but you should rally take shape, but you should rally your support before hashing out your support before hashing out the details!the details!

Remember-it is essential to be Remember-it is essential to be sure that those you enlist to help sure that those you enlist to help feel the same sense of passion feel the same sense of passion for your cause!for your cause!

Formulating a Plan, cont.Formulating a Plan, cont.

Once you have determined Once you have determined the time frame for your the time frame for your venture, and have rallied venture, and have rallied the support of volunteers, the support of volunteers, it is time to select the right it is time to select the right fundraiser for you….fundraiser for you….

Selecting the Right FundraiserSelecting the Right Fundraiser

Your method of fundraising should Your method of fundraising should reflect both the need you are reflect both the need you are addressing as well as the abilities of addressing as well as the abilities of the potential donor base you have the potential donor base you have chosen to target.chosen to target.

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

Selecting the Right Selecting the Right Fundraiser, cont.Fundraiser, cont.

Evaluate Your Resources:Evaluate Your Resources: What is the community standing What is the community standing

of your organization?of your organization? What skills or talents do your What skills or talents do your

members have to offer?members have to offer? How much money do you have How much money do you have

up front to put into the up front to put into the fundraising effort?fundraising effort?

Selecting the Right Selecting the Right Fundraiser, cont.Fundraiser, cont.

Give The People What They WantGive The People What They Want

One of the biggest failures of One of the biggest failures of fundraising efforts is not taking the fundraising efforts is not taking the audience into consideration. Too audience into consideration. Too often an organization may pursue an often an organization may pursue an idea that it loves but that doesn’t idea that it loves but that doesn’t appeal to those who will be forking appeal to those who will be forking over the funds. Don’t let this happen over the funds. Don’t let this happen to you!to you!

Selecting the Right Fundraiser-Selecting the Right Fundraiser-Consider the Costs!Consider the Costs!

There will be some expense There will be some expense involved in any fundraising involved in any fundraising effort.effort.

Carefully consider the costs before Carefully consider the costs before entering into any fundraising activity.entering into any fundraising activity.

Inventory items already available to Inventory items already available to you.you.

What can you get for free?What can you get for free? How much money is in your budget ?How much money is in your budget ?

Fundraising OptionsFundraising Options

Some common types of fundraising Some common types of fundraising activities include:activities include:

Auctions-Traditional or SilentAuctions-Traditional or Silent SalesSales CarnivalsCarnivals Car WashesCar Washes A-thons (Bikes, Walks, Bowls, etc.)A-thons (Bikes, Walks, Bowls, etc.) Charity Breakfasts, Lunches, or Charity Breakfasts, Lunches, or

DinnersDinners

To RecapTo Recap

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

RecapRecap

Determine your NeedDetermine your Need Select a GoalSelect a Goal Target your AudienceTarget your Audience Rally Some HelpRally Some Help Select a LeaderSelect a Leader Select the Right FundraiserSelect the Right Fundraiser Formulate your Plan, Formulate your Plan,

considering costs and resourcesconsidering costs and resources

Good Luck!!Good Luck!!

““If charity cost nothing, If charity cost nothing, the world would be full the world would be full of philanthropists.”of philanthropists.”

-proverb-proverb