Nonprofit Fundraising
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Nonprofit Fundraising
Mystery Shopping
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For example, you may want to raise money to build an animal shelter within two years time. Casting your net wide ensures that you will be able to find the money you need. Many conflicts among volunteers can also be avoided with a little planning. That way, each person will know what they are to do and by when. Presumably, they are raising money in order to do some good, but have they the energy and volunteers left to actually implement the money in a positive way?
fundraising feasibility study
Schools and libraries are often willing to help advertise or support this type of event, as well, so you can be sure of getting help with this type of project. Donor Information - You will need to file away information about those who have donated to your fundraising - not only will you want to take care not to contact those people again too soon, but you will want to contact the same donors again after some time as they are likely to contribute again. Who are you potential donors? Long term idea or one-shot deal?
Person to person
Talking to another person is one of the most challenging forms of communication for most us, especially if we are naturally shy. However, if you are fundraising for your non-profit, this is a form you will have to master (especially if you are canvassing door to door!). You need to make sure that each person in your group who deals with the public (this includes sellers at the bazaar, door to door volunteers, and marathon organizers - anyone dealing with donors and potential supporters) has good personable manners. Attributes of good person to person contact include:
Eye contact: Making occasional eye contact (not staring) lets people know that you see them and that you are listening to them. It makes the people you are talking to feel more comfortable.
Manners: Being polite and kind helps put people at ease and allows them to focus on what you are saying.
Good body language. Good body language means that your movements and posture (the way you use your body) is pleasant rather than jarring. Smooth movements and a minimal of hand movements put your listener at ease and allow him or her to focus in what you are saying. A hunched posture, shoulders raised nervously and jerky movements will make your listener uncomfortable and may cause him or her to try to avoid you - not exactly the reaction you want if you are fundraising!
A smile. Smiling gives a listener the message that they are liked and accepted. It also makes you seem less threatening.
Good distance. Standing too close or far away can put your listener on the defensive.
Congruence. If your voice is pleasant and kind but you are scowling or your movements are agitated, you will not seem very trustworthy. Your movements, body language, voice, message, and appearance should match.
Pleasant voice: A well-modulated voice that is easy to hear and understand will go a long way in making someone listen to you.
Pleasant speaking style. If you are personable (making small comments or engaging with a listener in some way) will put your listener at ease and will help ensure that your request for fundraising is listened to. Simply listing your groups mission and request for money will not inspire anyone. A lively speaking style, a joke, or even a comment on the weather will make you seem less like an automaton and more like a person who should be listened to.
Appearance. Although looks are obviously a personal issue, a clean-cut and pleasant appearance is still most likely to result in yes responses to fundraising. People simply do not trust people who look dangerous or frightening to them.
For some lucky people, these basics of talking to others are automatic - they seem to make friends wherever they go. For everyone else, person to person contact is a learned skill. You may not think it has much to do with fundraising. But if your style of communication is unappealing to people, you will not be able to make much headway in fundraising.
If you can appeal to people by communicating with them, you are more likely to succeed as a fundraiser.
It does not take much to acquire people skills that can help you fundraise. Practice talking, smiling, and making eye contact in the mirror (yes, it feels silly, but it really works). Better yet, video tape yourself and note what areas of personal communication you need to work on. There are toastmasters clubs that can help give you some tips and practice with oral communication, and these are well worth checking out if you want to become a master communicator who can convince donors to support your group.