Posted in NewsNotes Archive
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Nonprofit Fund-Raising Demystified
When it comes to fund-raising, there are truths and myths. The truths illuminate the path to success. The myths speak with the dark voice of “conventional wisdom” of what can’t be done and won’t work. Throughout my career I have had to overcome three myths of fund-raising that would have me give up before I start. My tools have been The Nine Basic Truths of Fund-Raising.
Myth 1: Face it, fund-raising is impossible and the process is a mystery. Anyone who has failed at it or has managed to avoid being held accountable for that failure knows this. Myth 2: Everybody knows you need a proven track record if you are to raise money. If you doubt it, just look at all the help-wanted ads for development officers that list as a qualification “successful history of managing a major annual campaign or soliciting large donations.” Myth 3: It’s common knowledge that corporations and foundations give most of the money. Just ask those who have never done any fund-raising or who would find a contribution of $50 a strain on their budget. Those three “beliefs” have helped doom many a fund-raising campaign. On the other hand, there are some insights about fund-raising that successful fund-raisers have gained. These insights often fly in the face of the myths of conventional wisdom. They offer no shortcuts. They promise no instant results. However, they are not hard to understand, and nearly anyone can profit from them. They are The Nine Basic Truths Of Fund-Raising. The Truths, The Whole Truths, And Nothing But The Truths Sometimes in this world that showers us with new technology on what seems like an almost daily basis I think we can lose sight of the basics. It’s easy to get caught up in the newest tools and the hottest theories. As concepts are wrapped in bright new language and claimed as fresh discoveries, it’s easy to forget, that at its most basic, all fund-raising is an endeavor of people, trust, and mission. By our actions, we earn from people the trust that the money they give will be wisely used to carry out a mission they support. To be sure, there are refinements and tweaks to this business of development that help ease the job of assuring a steady source of contributed income for our organizations. And yes, some approaches that worked 10, or 20, or 30 years ago, don’t deliver as well in the twenty-first century. But the basics remain. Some things do not change. They are the bedrock upon which all fundraising efforts are anchored. They are the insights that have been gained through experience—through success and failure. These insights sometimes seem old fashioned to the gurus of leading-edge wisdom. They do not have the attractiveness of shortcuts and instant results. They do not offer a new paradigm. They are not the latest style. They are not quick fixes that can be employed to relieve the ever-increasing pressure to deliver more contributed income from fewer sources over shorter periods of time. Read on . . . |
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National Volunteer Week, April 10-16 Susan J. Ellis, Energize Inc. founder and expert on volunteer management, encourages us to "Celebrate Collective Accomplishments, Not Volunteered Time" in her April hot topics. Also find helpful resources and advice on recruitment, recognition, and retention of volunteers.
You might find this online course at Charity Village useful: Building a Great Volunteer Program. Price is quoted in Canadian dollars. This affordable, day-long management conference is for nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteers. Network and learn in a wide choice of workshops. Michael J. Brennan, President & CEO, United Way for Southeast Michigan will be the keynote speaker. More information.
Michigan Nonprofit 2011 SuperConference
United Ways across the country will be participating in a nationwide day of action. Your organization has the opportunity to engage volunteers in projects that can make a difference for your agency and our community. Check with your local United Way for details and an application.
Starting Off Right: Board Member Orientation
Earned Income Strategies: a 3-day Workshop for Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofit Training: Building Your Board
Just one example of the many self-help resources available from IdeaEncore. Download this 40-screen powerpoint for free. Share your organizational skills and knowledge with the nonprofit community, too. Find a goldmine of materials at this website.
A recent email from the Independent Sector (IS), advocate agency for the nonprofit sector, summarized the letter sent to President Obama urging him to reconsider his budget proposal to cap itemized deductions, including those for charitable donations, at 28 percent for families earning over $250,000 a year. The IS encourages us to reach out to our elected officials to “make the case for why incentives are so important to our work and the communities in which we serve.”
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