Transcript Whoo Hoo! Fundraising Fun and Making It Work for You

Whoo Hoo! Fundraising Fun and
Making It Work for You
Megan Turak
Military Family Network
www.militaryfamilynetwork.com
Objectives
• Expand Awareness and Build Community
• Use Online/Offline Tools for Efficiency and
Effectiveness
• Evaluate Fundraising Opportunities to Determine
Viability and Success
• Learn How to Recruit and Retain Volunteers
• Discover Fresh Fundraising Ideas and Resources
• Meet Fundraising Goals with FUN
Disclaimer
• Some Fundraising Topics in this Presentation
May or May Not Be Appropriate for Your
Organization or May Need to Be Modified to
Meet Your Program Guidelines
• Consult Your Organization’s Regulations,
Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) or Directives for Guidance
• Consult Leadership Regarding
Questions or Clarification
Community Development
Your Year Long Garden!
Why Is Building Community
Important?
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Generate Interest, Participation and Enthusiasm
Increase Support for Ideas and Projects
Create an Inspirational and Open Culture
Recruit High Quality Volunteers
Produce Income to Initiate and Sustain Programs
Build and Strengthen Relationships
Form Strategic Alliances
Engender Goodwill and Bridge the Gap
Result?
A Deep and Sustainable Pool of
Readied Resources
So, Let’s Start Planting!
Create Awareness
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Become a Storyteller
Get Seen!
Share Your Mission, Work and Projects
Be Human! Talk About Your Successes and
Failures, Your Needs and Wants
• Become a Walking/Talking Billboard for Your
Programs and Services
• Stir People with Your Passion – Have Fun!
• Communicate
Engage People
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Invite Them to Activities, Celebrations and Ceremonies
Tell Them HOW They Can Help and What You Need
Reciprocate! Help Them Create Success with Their Cause
Switch to Their Perspective and Promote WIIFM (What’s In It For
Me?)
• Present Your Story Throughout the
Community:
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Community Groups
Veteran Service Organizations
Faith-based Groups
Businesses
• Establish Your Expertise and Become the Go-To Person for Advice
and Referrals
Remember, You’re Not Soliciting –
You’re Making Friends!
What Tools Will You Need?
Tools
Online Tools
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Email
Facebook
Twitter
Tumblr
Instagram
YouTube
Calendars
Customer
Relationship
Management (CRM)
system
• Crowd Funding Sites
Offline Tools
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Telephone
Newsletter
Flyers
Brochure
Business Cards
Presentation
Organizational Resources
(e.g., experts,
professionals, educational
display, equipment, etc.)
• Program Support (e.g.,
position descriptions,
recognition, etc.)
What Would Someone Most Like to Know?
What Am I Most Excited to Share?
What Would Best Include ‘WIIFM’?
What Can I Do Today To Create Awareness and Engage My
Community?
CREATING MY STORY
Let’s Go Indoors!
Fundraising Does Not Begin With A
Need for Money
• It Begins With Knowing Your
Program
– Its Purpose, Environment, Culture
and Rules
– Its Constituents
– Their Needs
– The Services Designed to Meet
Those Needs
– The Resources/Costs Needed to
Provide Those Services
WHY IS EVALUATION NECESSARY?
Because evaluation empowers you to
move forward. Therefore, taking time
to evaluate is never a waste of time.
Courtesy of Fundraising-ideas-coach.com
Evaluation:
• PROMOTES GROWTH. This works personally as well as
organizationally. Evaluation of the past can open your eyes to the
changes needed for your future!
• PRODUCES CREATIVITY. Continuous evaluation of self, your
organization and the market can spark new and creative non profit
fundraising ideas!
• FACILITATES CHANGE. As you evaluate, you have the potential to
see past mistakes and even blind spots that can be corrected.
• BRINGS SUCCESS! The time of evaluation forces you to face the
facts of past successes (or lack thereof) and brings the opportunity
to find new successes for today.
Definitions Courtesy of
Fundraising-Ideas-Coach.com
Planning!
• Is Your Program and Its Mission Well
Known?
• Are Your Goals Outlined and Specific?
• Are Your Fundamentals In Place?
– Are People Assigned Specific Roles and
Responsibilities?
– Are Communication and Marketing
Tools Set Up?
– SOP’s On Hand? Annual Plan? Budget?
– Are You Engaged In Ongoing MarketTesting to Monitor the Strategic Fit
between Programs and Constituents'
Needs, e.g. Surveys?
Why Gather Feedback?
• If Your Services Are
Responding to the Needs of
Your Constituents, Then You
Will Increase Participation in
Your Program.
• If Your Constituents Are
Satisfied Customers, They
Will Be More Willing to
Donate to Your Fundraisers.
More Planning!
• What Are Your Resources? Cash flow? Manpower,
both Internally and Externally?
• What Are Your Expectations? Are They Reasonable?
• What Is Your Organization’s Financial Goal?
• Do You Have Goals That Are Not Monetary? How
Will You Build Them In?
• What Types of Fundraising Ideas Will Your
Organization Tolerate?
• What Have You Done in the Past? Which Were
Successful and Which Were Not?
• What Is Your Timeframe for Your Fundraiser?
• How Can You Creatively Involve the Most People?
And More Planning!
• Who Will Be the Target Audience of Your
Project?
• Who Will Be Impacted and in What Way?
• Who Are the Donors for Your Project?
• Establish a Fundraising Goal.
• Use a project budget to show total anticipated
expenses and the funds that you hope to raise
against these expenses.
Keep in mind that for most
fundraising purposes, you will
always want to show your project as
a break-even proposition.
Your organizational goal may be to surpass that
break-even point and use the excess revenues
as seed money for your next project, but if you
show that on a budget, it appears that you have
a lesser need for outside support.
Adapted from Ballet Austin Tool-kit
Texas Commission on the Arts
http://www.arts.texas.gov/
Selecting Your Fundraiser
• What Do You Enjoy?
• What Don’t You Like?
• What Is the Project and
Financial Goal You Desire?
• What Strengths and Skills
Do You Possess?
• How Much Time Do You
Personally Have To Work On
This?
• What Skills Do Others Have
or What Skills Do You Need
on Your Team?
• Research and List
Fundraisers that Appeal to
You.
• Evaluate Against the
Backdrop of Your Program
Objectives, the Strengths of
You and Your Team, Time
and Resources, General
Appeal and Anticipated
Popularity.
• Evaluate the Economy. Is It
Timely?
• Present Top Five Ideas to
Your Team for Discussion.
Managing Limited Resources and Risk
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Does Your Idea Have a Long Shelf Life?
Can You Lower, Limit or Eliminate Inventory?
Can You Obtain Funds from Other Sources?
Can You Develop Strategic Alliances, e.g.,
Establish Work or Supplier Relationships Where
the Risk is Mitigated or Carried by Someone Else?
• Can You Engage in Pre-Sale Activities?
• Are Delayed Delivery Options Available?
Seek Low Risk Opportunities that
Are Not Resource Intensive.
People: Your Most Valuable Resource
Recruit and Retain Volunteers
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Promote Your Program Enthusiastically – Share Your Passion
Remember to Include ‘WIIFM’ (What’s In It For Me?)
Delegate and Give Ownership of Tasks to Your Volunteer
Do Not Overwhelm or Burn Out Your Best People – Just
Because They Can, Doesn’t Mean They Should
Welcome, Include and Respond to New Team Members
Respect Their Opinions and Be Open to New Ideas –Let
Them Win!
Create Opportunities and Value for Others – It’s A Team
Sport!
Be Creative, Sincere and as Personal as You Feel is
Appropriate. Be Fun!
Recruit and Retain Volunteers
• Team Members Who Are Involved in the Process Make
Better Team Players
• Help Them Feel that They are Involved in a Collaboration
and That Their Participation is Crucial to Success
• People Help People, so the More Personal You Make the
Relationship, the More Likely You Will Be to Attract
Volunteers
• Address Difficulties Swiftly – Consider Establishing Team
Building Guidelines
• Show Appreciation Genuinely, Frequently and Timely
• Celebrate Volunteers Through Awards and Recognitions.
The Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) is an Ideal
Opportunity to Create Awareness and Say ‘Thanks’
Communicate
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Clearly
Frequently
Honestly
Timely
Directly
Using Multiple
Methods
When Asking for Money Is A Problem
• Fear of Reciprocal Giving: If I Ask You to Support My Cause, I May
Have to Support Yours.
• Fear or Embarrassment: Money Is a Sensitive Topic. Prepare Your
Team in Advance by Including Them in the Planning so They
Understand the Reason Behind the Ask.
• Lack of Ability: Some Simply Just Don’t Know How to Do It. Be
Patient and Supportive and Provide the Materials and Training They
Need.
• Poorly Communicated Expectations about Fundraising
Responsibilities: Lead to Misunderstandings and “I Didn’t Know I
Was Expected to Raise Money.”
• Make a specific dollar request for a
specific project – that appeals far more to
today’s donors.
And, If You Make a Mistake, Own It
Remember the Golden Rule!
Meet Fundraising
Goals by Inspiring
Cooperation, Loyalty
and Labor and
Building Fun into Your
Activities.
Seek Out Inspiration.
It's Everywhere!
Fundraising Fun!
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Don't Come Event
Do you ever feel that at times you would rather not go to that function? You feel that you would rather stay at
home, grab a quiet night and help out a really good cause by doing so? Then the Don't Come Event is something
that you should seriously consider using as a fundraising event. http://www.fundsraiser.com/apr06/dont.html
Coin Drops
The silent fundraiser is always the preferred option when it comes to raising cash donations. People don't have to
feel like they are begging. The silent fundraiser happens when you have donation receptacles placed in strategic
places so that passer-bys can drop in coins at their convenience with out feeling hassled. While it's is an excellent
way of raising cash you can make it more appealing by using your imagination.
http://www.fundsraiser.com/feb01/fundraising-idea-of-the-month-coin-drops.html
Stick Lotto
Here is a quick, easy, inexpensive and highly adaptable fund-raiser. All you need is a tray of sand, 100 sticks and
some way of colouring the tips of the sticks either by paint or marker pen. How it works is really simple, take a few
sticks and mark them as prize winning. Then stick them into the sand, marked ends in the sand. People then pay
to remove a stick to see if they have won and if they have what their prize is. Easy!
http://www.fundsraiser.com/mar01/fundraising-idea-of-the-month-stick-lotto.html
Speed Gun
Good fund-raisers are always based on what people enjoy doing, and if others are interested in doing most of the
work for you then you are on a winner. This fund-raiser is based on both these principles. One of the things kids
love doing is throwing, from rocks to all sorts of things so get them to throw balls. That’s right - throw balls but
you see how fast they throw by using a speed gun from the police. The police are always keen to be a part of
community projects and have shown in the past to be agreeable to participating in this particular event.
http://www.fundsraiser.com/apr00/fundraiser-of-the-month-speed-gun.html
Fundraising Fun!
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Answer Back
Record funny messages for people, relieve them of the hassle of doing it themselves. Help them to have a unique
message. Invite celebrities or prominent local personnel. This is a real fun way to raise funds for you project or
group. http://www.fundsraiser.com/oct99/grassroots-fundraising-answer-back.html
Souvenir Game
Pay to Play! Provide prizes for winners of the ugliest, hokiest, strangest, etc., travel souvenir.
Seasonal Fundraising Events
Next time you're casting about for a new fundraiser, look to your calendar for inspiration. Calendar related
occurrences and events like changing seasons and holidays can provide excellent opportunities for fundraising.
http://www.fundsraiser.com/mar01/focus-on-fundraising-seasonal-fundraising-events.html
Conducting a Community Clean-up Fix-up Campaign
A clean, attractive community is not only a more pleasant place to live, but the value of the good impression it
makes on prospective employers, professionals and others who visit your community should never be
underestimated. Clean-up campaigns can involve a large number of citizens and give them a sense of
accomplishment. They can even be fun. http://www.fundsraiser.com/feb00/conducting-a-community-clean-upcampaign.html
A Creative Walk of Your Local Area with A Historic, Educational Element
Military Family Network created a walking tour of downtown Pittsburgh, PA that crisscrossed the City:
underground through tunnels and subways, through buildings, up and down escalators, over skywalks, across
bridges leading into a State Park. During the journey, we planned ‘pit stops’ for cookies, water and ice cream and
concluded the day with a historic educational program offered by the Fort Pitt Museum. The collective cost was
less than $300 (offset by donations), prep time was 6 to 8 weeks and the walk lasted 4hour and was open to
family members of of all ages. It was very successful and additional offerings of the walk have been requested.
Word Travels Fast When People
Have FUN!
Summary
• Cultivate Community and You Will Have an Abundance of
Resources and Relationships for Your Program and
Fundraisers
• Use Multiple Communication and Promotional Tools like
Telephone, Email and Social Media to Share Your Message
and Engage Others
• Take Time to Evaluate and Plan Your Fundraising Ideas for
Certain Success
• Treat Your Volunteers Well and They Will Repay You Tenfold
• Don’t Be Afraid to Think Outside the Box When Considering
Fundraising Activities
• Be Creative and Have Fun –It’s Not Always about the
Money
Resources
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Common Fundraising Mistakes (Part I and II): http://www.fundsraiser.com/aug02/common fundraising-mistakespt1.html and http://www.fundsraiser.com/aug02/common-fundraising-mistakes-pt2.html
Members Resource List: http://www.fundsraiser.com/oct04/list.html
General Fundraising Hints: http://www.fundsraiser.com/jan05/general.html
Lessons and Strategies: http://www.fundsraiser.com/jan03/fundraising-idea-of-the-month-lessons-andstrategies.html
Goodwill
http://www.fundsraiser.com/aug02/fundraising-idea-of-the-month-goodwill.html
Ten Tips for Choosing a Fundraiser:
http://www.fundsraiser.com/sep00/ten-tips-for-choosing-a-fundraiser.html
Less for More:
http://www.fundsraiser.com/nov00/fundraising-idea-of-the-month-less-for-more.html
Creative Fundraising Activities:
http://www.fundsraiser.com/jul99/creative-fundraising-activities.html
Free Checklists And Sample Plans For Your Fundraising Events!
http://www.fundraisingip.com/checklists/fundraisingchecklists.html
Ten Steps To Creating Your Fund Development Plan
http://fundingchangeconsulting.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/creating_a_fr_plan_worksheet.pdf
Winners and Killers
http://www.fundsraiser.com/oct02/fundraising-idea-of-the-month-winners-and-killers.html
Market Research
http://www.fundsraiser.com/nov03/fundraising-idea-of-the-month-market-research.html
Creative Fundraising Ideas – http://www.ourmilitarykids.org/how-to-help-our-military-kids/creative-fundraisers/
Resources
• GoFundMe makes it incredibly easy to raise money online for just about
any crowdfunding campaign you can imagine. http://crowdfunding.com/
• Kickstarter is a funding platform for creative projects. Everything from
films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of
ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life
through the direct support of others. http://www.kickstarter.com/
• The Fundly online fundraising platform is used by thousands of
organizations big and small, along with individuals who need to raise
money for a cause, because we provide easy fundraising tools, online
donation processing, a donor management system, customer support, and
much more. http://fundly.com/
• 10 Crowdfunding Sites To Fuel Your Dream Project
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/crowdfunding-sites/
• How to Use Crowd-Funding Sites to Raise Money for Your Non-Profit
http://www.thefundraisingauthority.com/internet-fundraising/crowdfunding-your-non-profit/