Fundraising Services

Jessi McCafferty asked:


Everyone who is involved with organizing fundraising events is pressured to come up with great and innovative fundraising events ideas to collect funds for their causes and organizations.

This is especially necessary today, since more and more people and companies are feeling the effects of the financial crisis. They think that brilliant and imaginative fundraising events ideas can easily entice people to donate or support the endeavor. And they can. The number one rule of fundraising is that if your idea is good, your fundraiser will most likely be profitable. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to come up with fundraising event ideas. So what can one do if he or she needs these ideas for the sake of their fundraising event? Here are some suggestions:

Brainstorm

The organization should have a meeting, where everyone is required to suggest ideas for their upcoming fundraiser events. This way, every idea is heard, and the part can decide which ideas to try. The group can also collectively try and come up with fundraising events ideas on the spot. Having a group of people come up with ideas for fundraiser events removes the pressure of the responsibility from one person and passes it to everyone on the organization. Two heads are better than one, they say - so the heads of an entire organization can definitely come with better ideas for the fundraising event.

Hire the service of experts

Not all organizations can come up with fundraising event ideas. Furthermore, not everyone can organize these events by themselves. Beginners and those who are just starting out with this endeavor should consider hiring the service of professional fundraiser. These professionals are usually paid a pre-determined amount or a percentage of the revenue acquired through the fundraising event. Many are against this since this will obviously decrease the revenue, but it is a smart option for those who are not sure if they can pull off the effort.

Research

The best way to know what type of fundraising events succeed is through researching. There are many resources available on this topic, so this shouldn’t be too difficult. For instance, one can go online and look for tips and ideas. Others can go the traditional way and consult other organizations and individuals who have already successfully organized a fundraiser. Ask them what factors helped make their fundraising event succeed. Go to different fundraising events to see what attracts people and donors.

Improve previous ideas

Finally, when all else fails, one need not come up with imaginative fundraising events ideas - he or she can merely elaborate previous fundraising events of the group or the organization that worked and succeeded in collecting funds. In fact, this is what a number of major non-profit organizations are doing now. Instead of using new ideas, they stick to their old ones, since they are already tried and tested. In short, they are already guaranteed to work. One can merely improve some details and points in order to make it an even bigger success. This is less risky compared to trying out new ways to raise funds.

Juan Franco asked:


Copyright (c) 2008 AIM Fundraising

Why is it most schools doing fundraising do not apply the principals you see discussed below, I have no clue. Maybe because most schools are trained to focus on the wrong things while choosing and planning a fundraiser.

School fundraising companies by nature emphasize their product lines and brochures. But that doesn’t answer the question why the school down the street that picked your second or third choice had a better sale! Your fundraising success has less to do with which brochure you pick (Don’t they all look pretty much the same anyway?) than with how you run the sale. Even profit % means little in how much money a school makes if the sale lacks the one key ingredient… MOTIVATION!

Here are the top 2 secrets on school fundraising that if heeded will make all the difference in your final profit.

First Secret - Run Your School Fundraising Event as Early in the School Year As Possible.

Deciding when to start the fundraiser can mean thousands in profit gained or profit lost. It is a well known fact that the first group to go into an office or neighborhood with their fundraising materials to ask for orders has higher sales than the groups that follow second or third or forth. Timing, however, is not the number one reason schools have profitable fundraisers.

Each month delay from the start of school that you put off starting your fundraiser will take $6.00 off every students sale! Multiply that by 500 students and a mid October kickoff and that school is missing out on $6,000 in sales simply by choosing that date on the calendar! Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that waiting till close to Christmas would be a good time to start your sale. It seems to make sense, but the statistics don’t confirm that to be factual. THE Main secret coming next…

Second Secret- (The Main Thing!) The Thing That Affects Your School Fundraiser Most is How You Run Your Sale.

Two similar elementary schools can have excellent leadership and both be excited and they both start their sale on the same date. They both can do everything they know to maximize their sale, so WHY can there be $5 - $10,000 difference in results?

Ready? Here is the number one, the most important, the “Big Kahuna” secret of all. Program Management (how you run the sale) is the most important element in running a successful fundraiser. You may Say, “I knew that but what is wrong with the way I run our fundraiser now?” The main problem I think is that not many fundraising companies train the fundraising sponsors in how to properly run their sales. In the interest of “getting the sale” they let the school have the lead, especially when dealing with a “headstrong” sponsor.

The are several key elements in Program Management that are key:

1) Set Goals

2) Have a Memorable Fundraiser Kick Off

3) Keep the Excitement Up During the Sale

4) Place Emphasis on Motivating Students and Teachers

The most important factor for changing the results for a better school fundraising event is the motivation you provide to the students and the teachers. The main reason why one elementary can have an $19,000 sale while the another, very similar elementary, will have a $40,000 sale is the way they do their incentives for students and teachers! It would surprise you how easy it is to do.

Veronica Scott asked:


Raising funds within a corporate setting takes creativity and good time management skills. With a little bit of planning and teamwork, however, your office can raise a large amount of money for purposes such as charitable donations or community resources. Regardless of the purpose behind the fundraising, there are a number of common principles that can be employed in order to maximize results and get the most out of the fundraising experience.

Decide What You Need

One of the first and most basic principles associated with corporate fundraising is to realize how much money or resources you intend to raise and work with that goal in mind. A solidified, concrete goal with which to work impacts the process of fundraising by allowing for accurate goal-setting. This will also assist in organizing the fundraising event and compiling the various resources needed to begin the fundraising.

By discovering and deciding on the fundraising goals, you can also begin to plan the basics. Watch out for any hidden costs associated with the fundraising process, as these can take away from your goal and can impact the amount of funds it may take to set up the fundraising venture in the first place. Hidden costs such as shopping for prizes or setup materials can impact the overall experience of fundraising.

Take Time to Prepare

Taking adequate time to prepare the fundraising event is critical. Select your fundraising program as early as possible to give a lot of time between the start date of the event and the present date. You will need ample time to collect materials, assemble a team of assistants, and advertise your fundraiser. Promote the fundraiser with posters and advertisements in schools, church groups, community centers, and other public places for the best turnout.

Stay Motivated

As the fundraising event continues on, it is important to keep your team motivated and excited. A lack of motivation can hamper the fundraising results and negatively impact your company’s image. Instead, offer incentives along the way and organize your event properly so as to give sufficient time for breaks and time off. If the fundraiser is stretched out over several days and involves order taking, substitute workers frequently to avoid fatigue. Set a limit of ten to twelve days on order taking for the best results.

Communicate Clearly

Communication is of significant importance. It is vital that communication is accurate and timely, especially between fundraisers and potential clients. If people do not have a clear idea as to where their money or donation is going, they are not as likely to give a generous donation. Having clear and concise information to communicate with the client can make the fundraising process easy and exciting. It’s also a great way to provide a good reputation for your company.

Have a Variety of Options

If you are selling items or auctioning off various goods in your fundraiser, make sure you have a wide variety of items. Dollhouses, rocking horses, and toys make great fundraisers for family friendly events, while other fundraisers may feature the auctioning of time-saving products or even vehicles.

Jessi McCafferty asked:


If you want to arrange any special event at your school, remember healthy fundraising is not impossible. In fact there are more healthy fundraisers available than those that would be considered unhealthy. A healthy fundraising initiative deserves a strong support from the school as well as students. It accomplishes three things all at once: increases your health, raises money and support, and draws your school together as a team with the satisfaction of a mutual goal.

Fundraising doesn’t focus on selling products only, rather it brings all students under one roof to share their ideas and to have fun with interesting and healthy fundraising ideas like skating night, selling handmade items, or holding a fun event like a walk-a-thon. Just remember that the more unique the fundraiser and the more dedicated your group is, the more profit you will make!

So What Are a Few Healthy Fundraisers?

So your school has made the decision to be healthy and wants wonders where to start with ideas for fundraisers. There are tons of different ideas, but in this case, the more common ones are often the most successful. The key to good fundraising is to have fun and be exciting. A fundraiser that involves physical activity is always well-liked and attended. For instance, you could organize a walk-a-thon. This excellent idea not only is a fun event, but also assists to publicize the cause as kids interact with people for pledges. Walk-a-thons are more effective since a lot of visibility is gained when people notice the kids walking around town during the event. Here people become more aware and conscious about the school group’s need for funds and this prompts them to action.

Other healthy fundraising options might include a skating night at the local skating rink. Kids love to skate and the rink operator will love the traffic. Another fundraising activity could be holding a movie night. With student’s participation and tireless effort, hosting a movie night can easily benefit a group’s fundraising efforts. Movie night once or twice a month will offer a safe hangout for students with a perfect fundraising opportunity. However, you need to create the right ambiance with comfortable with good seating arrangements and good projectors. Some volunteers will need to manage the ticket checking department, while others are needed to promote the event as well as to help make the movie choices.

Finally, if you are ready to try a super-healthy fundraising option that is also a lot of fun, consider holding a farmers’ market type event at your school. Asking permission to set up stalls, you can easily engage yourself in selling items like fresh fruits and vegetables along with some other off-beat items including candles, gift wraps, cards, coupon books, magazines, or cook books in your school premises. Everyone will love and join eagerly in such a unique and creative event.

Let’s Sum Up

Healthy fundraisers are always a good way to earn some support for your school as well as have a great time. The community will always appreciate a fundraiser that includes exercise, healthy foods, or safe events for kids and teens. So give one of these fantastic ideas a try and see for yourself the benefits of healthy fundraising!

Frank Bennett asked:


Fundraising in a soft economy offers unique challenges to nonprofit organizations.  The bad news is that you will find many doors that were historically open to you suddenly closed.  The good news is that the most effective fundraisers are still able to raise significant funds.  The first understanding your organization must embrace is that fundraising in a soft economy is not a yes or no question.  While you may not be able to tap some resources that have historically contributed to your organization this does not mean that the funds are not replaceable.  To be effective you must rethink your assumptions, broaden your scope, and approach your fundraising efforts with a clean slate.  When you take these steps you will find opportunities in places that you never previously considered.

In this article we offer 10 tips for maximizing your fundraising efforts in a soft economy.  These tips come directly from organizations and fundraisers who have shown the ability to consistently achieve or exceed fundraising goals during soft economies.  We hope that these tips will help your organization grow during these challenging times.



Focus on the Prospect’s Needs:  In difficult times the organizations that make the most convincing case for support get the funding.  As Tom Ralser states in his book ROI for Nonprofits, “When investors are shown that their money is making a difference and their investment is paying off, they are more likely to keep investing”.





Match the Message to the Prospect:  This sounds similar to #1 but it’s somewhat different.  Once you have developed a compelling case for support, in challenging times it is more important than ever that you match your message to each individual prospect.  Remember the 80/20 rule.  20% of organizations are going to get 80% of the dollars available.  The ones who win are the ones who present a case for support that matters most to each individual prospect.





Widen Your Net:  This is the time to analyze your current list of prospects and expand it.  Every organization has corporate, foundation, and individual potential donors who have never been properly solicited for support.  Don’t limit your opportunities by assuming you can’t broaden your base. 





Know Your Industries:  Historically speaking, in soft economies some industries are significantly impacted while others see only a minimal effect.  It is important to understand this when approaching prospects.  Failure to understand the importance of this concept can greatly impact your returns.  We once had a business executive at a medium-sized organization tell the following story: “I had this guy representing a local museum see me about getting involved during the recession in the early 90’s.  Before he came in I was fairly receptive.  By the time he had spent the first ten minutes of our meeting talking about how bad the economy was I was no longer interested.”  It just so happened that the executive’s business had only been marginally affected by the economy and the presenter’s assumptions caused the conversation to spiral down hill.  Don’t assume that things are bad everywhere.  Do your homework before you go in.





Know Your Foundations:  Understanding the historic tendencies of foundations in your community can lead to large commitments. Regardless of economic cycles, many foundations are required to give out an amount of money every year.  Understanding each foundation’s rules for giving will lead to increased funding for your organization.





Focus Long-Term:  Even organizations that are struggling understand that the economy cycles and it will eventually get better.  Often in soft economies nonprofit organizations can procure 4-5 year pledge commitments from even the most economically impacted companies.  History shows that with an effective investor/donor relations program more than 95% of these long-term commitments are fulfilled for the length of the commitment, which makes this a very effective tool to use during challenging economic times.





Keep the Goal in Mind:  While we have found that fundraisers may get a few more “no’s” in a soft economy, they can still achieve overall funding goals through sound campaign strategy.  It may take more “asks” or more creative and effective approaches than it typically might, but your fundraising efforts can still be successful.  Keep the end result in mind.  Adequately funding your program or project is what really matters.





Do It Now:  Too many organizations reflexively delay fundraising efforts because of economic cycles.  Our research has found that this is the wrong choice to make in almost all instances.  When you consider the dollars you are trying to raise, the true impact of economic forces, and the competition in the market, it is usually best to move forward with your fundraising initiative instead of delaying.  In many cases the slow economy causes the competition for money in the market to decrease substantially, which actually throws the balance of dollars available relative to organizations asking in your favor. 





Don’t Interrupt an “In Progress” Fundraising Initiative: When you interrupt a fundraising initiative mid-process you do far more damage than you think.  First, you negatively affect your brand.  Many of the people you called on during the feasibility study or who have been cultivated by early campaign efforts shouldn’t be left hanging.  If they do not hear back from you they assume that something is wrong at the organization and may be less likely to respond favorably down the road.  Moreover, a key element of most winning campaigns is projecting success and creating momentum.  Nothing kills momentum or broadcasts impending failure more than calling a time-out.  Any small advantage that might be gained by waiting for an improved economic climate will be greatly outweighed by the daunting psychological and strategic hurdles of trying to re-start a previously abandoned effort.





Be Positive:  Often the language leaders use within an organization dictates the tone of fundraising and other efforts.  Sage Labs recently conducted extensive research on the impact of the economy on nonprofit fundraising and found that the largest difference between the organizations who continued achieving their goals and those who did not was the attitudes of the leadership.  The organizations who consistently achieve better results saw the economy as a challenge that could be overcome.  Those who over perceived the significance the soft economy was going to have on their fundraising efforts saw a much greater impact on their bottom line.  It’s a self fulfilling prophecy.  Stay positive and you will see better results.



References:  Ralser, Tom.  ROI for Nonprofits:  The New Key to Sustainability. (New Jersey, John Wiley and Sons)