Fundraising Resources
Articles with resources, tips, and strategies for fundraising.
idealware.org/You have heard lots of fundraising advice from us, but what about our personal favorite resources? Here is a list of 5 resources that we love:
1) iDonate-- This giving tool is revolutionizing fundraising for ministries. By converting non-cash donations into funds for ministries, it is an essential tool. Check out this short video which explains why it is so powerful.
2) The Treasure House-- Similar to Facebook profiles, the Treasure House provides ministry profiles that you can easily search through in order to share resources, find ways to serve, and learn who is in your area.
3) The Give Away-- The Chronicle...
posted @ Tuesday, February 07, 2012 9:48 PM |
The Generous Donut
Donuts can be generous.
Let me explain. More than 17 years ago, my wife and I decided we’d pick a place and go there year after year for family vacations. That place was Estes Park, CO. The kids have enjoyed it, appreciate the routine and things they call ours—family traditions.
Well, one of the places we’ve come to appreciate is the Donut Haus. The Donut Haus has been in business for more than 30 years. They make handmade donuts and pastries. They say their hours are 6am to 12am, but in truth, they are usually sold...
posted @ Wednesday, September 07, 2011 12:00 AM |
As a grant writer, your challenge is to be donor-driven NOT donation-driven in your asking strategy. God’s work done God’s way will produce God’s results and will NEVER lack His resources.
posted @ Tuesday, July 12, 2011 12:00 AM |
Recently, several Christian Foundation Grant subscribers have expressed interest in developing advisory boards in addition to their board of directors.
posted @ Friday, June 10, 2011 6:53 PM |
Non-profit and charitable organizations play an essential role in the economic and collective well-being of our local communities, our nation and the world. Nonprofits are designed to meet a societal need the government is not meeting or is not meeting well. They provide a structure for people to contribute their time, resources and expertise for a greater good. In short, non-profit corporations are for people, to help them achieve some common purpose.
The term non-profit does not mean the company isn't financially feasible. Non-profit organizations are a specifically defined type of corporation registered with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)....
posted @ Thursday, May 12, 2011 12:28 PM |
A frequently asked question by non-profits about grant writing is can you pay a grant writer a percentage of the grant? In the for-profit marketplace, people are frequently paid on commission. It’s a standard mode of operation for sales executives to be paid a base salary, plus commission. In other words, they are paid a percentage of what they bring in. In the non-profit arena, some consider this practice to be unethical. Donor trust is vitally important. To earn and keep that trust, every aspect of the non-profit activity must be absolutely ethical. Nowhere is ethical behavior more essential, nor...
posted @ Wednesday, May 11, 2011 7:39 PM |
Dusty, our golden retriever, has two favorite times of day—breakfast and dinner. That’s all that he gets. The vet says it will keep him trim, and so far that is the case.
In those two times of the day, Dusty devours his food. We’ve timed it—less than 30 seconds. But there’s a twist. Every now and then, instead of filling his bowl, we’ll put the entire bucket of dog food out—all 20 pounds of it.
Now if you’ve seen Marley and Me, you’ve witnessed the insatiable hunger of a big dog. They can demolish an entire bag of dog...
posted @ Friday, May 06, 2011 4:02 PM |
I’ve seen it many times. A Christian family decides they want to formalize their giving. They go get advice from their lawyers and accountants who often are not Christians. Those advisors have the frame of reference of starting a private foundation, so off they go.
The first few years may be bumpy as they learn the ropes of minimum distributions, excise taxes, the types of organizations they can support and of course filing the tax return. But the problem they miss, and their advisors miss is what happens when the founders pass away.
When the founders pass away, the foundation typically will have a...
posted @ Wednesday, February 16, 2011 11:16 AM |
Writing a Proposal
Structure, attention to detail, concise persuasive writing, and a reasonable budget are the critical elements of the writing stage. There are many ways to organize proposals. Read the guidelines for specifications about required information and how it should be arranged. Standard proposal components are: the narrative, budget, appendix of support material, and authorized signature. Sometimes proposal applications require abstracts or summaries, an explanation of budget items, and certifications.
1. Narratives-Statement of need
Purpose, goals, measurable objectives, and a compelling, logical reason why the proposal should be supported. Background provides perspective and is often a welcome component.
2. Approach
Method and process...
posted @ Tuesday, February 01, 2011 7:29 PM |
The online world is here to stay for ministries. For that reason, it’s a good time to evaluate your website from a donor’s perspective. Here are 10 tips:
1. Be concise. Most donors are scanners. Big blocks of text scare people off. Use bullet points and small paragraphs.
2. Use pictures. Show the story. Don’t just tell it with text. Pictures produce emotions, and let your readers “feel” your mission.
3. Highlight your vision, mission and key objectives. Make sure that people know where you are going, how you are going to get there and your 3-5 mission critical activities.
4. State the problem clearly. Make sure that your donors know what problem you...
posted @ Tuesday, November 30, 2010 6:24 PM |
Fundraising has changed. What worked pre-crash 2008 does not necessarily mean it will work now. It is not business as usual. The wise charity is making adjustments now.
Lisa Sargent Communications reported on a recent study on "What's Working in Donor Fundraising and Development Today." Here are some of the highlights:
1. Finding new donors remains a challenge. Non profits need to find new ways to find new donors.
2. Competition for donor dollars is at an all time high. Less dollars means more competition.
3. Social media is necessary but has not proven itself yet as a fundraising tool. Pursue social...
posted @ Tuesday, November 23, 2010 7:29 AM |
It’s October, but it is year end tax season.
I work with people all across the country. Each year, we see people set up donor advised funds in the month of December. In fact, we’ll see 50% of our activity take place in the month of December. While it’s a good thing that we have that kind of activity, it’s also a lesson for those planning now. Encourage your donors to begin thinking about it now!
A few years back, I got a call from a donor who desperately wanted to set up a gift annuity. A few days later, we got a check for a...
posted @ Wednesday, November 03, 2010 9:12 AM |
The September 9, 2010 edition of the Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that non cash donations are expected to rise as a form of year end giving.
Some of the recovery in the stock market means that some donors have appreciated stock—unlike two years ago when many only had losses. Appreciated stock is a better gift than cash because a donor can give the stock at a fair market value deduction price—assuming they’ve held the stock more than one year. Equally significant, when gifting appreciated stock, the donor pays no capital gains.
On the other hand, many donors face liquidity issues. They want to...
posted @ Sunday, October 24, 2010 3:42 PM |
In the first part of 2010, Guidestar reported that 4 in 10 charities reported a decline in giving from January 1 to May 31, 2010. Three in 10 had cut back on budgets and more than half reported they had saved money by cutting back on programs. Half of all non profits had frozen staff salaries. In light of this gloomy news, how should the non profit respond?
1. Seek a Development Partner. Whether formally or informally, all non profits should be seeking to align with those individuals, consultants, board members or organizations who can give them ongoing consistent feedback on their development efforts. That may mean...
posted @ Thursday, October 14, 2010 2:46 PM |
There’s much occurring in the non profit landscape. The astute observer should be and always willing to look behind the covers of what is happening. Here’s a few thoughts to help bring sense to what is happening:
1. 25% of non profits will lose their tax exempt status. Guidestar made this prediction as the result of non profits failing to file their annual 990. While many will seek reinstatement of their status, the implications behind this trend is a continued winnowing of the non profit field. The key trend is the push towards greater accountability and sophistication in how non profits are being run. No longer does...
posted @ Saturday, October 09, 2010 6:12 PM |
Read on for important announcements, fundraising resources, and Jessica's final summer post.
First off, we are completely excited to have released our new book "Grants for Christian Ministries and More!" You've seen a little information about it on the blog, but now we have a page up on our website where you can get more details. Whether you are an international ministry, a Christian school, a grant writer, development director, this book has the answers for you. We have been receiving phenomenal reviews from many elite groups all across the USA. Visit the webpage to see what people are saying!
Secondly, just a look...
posted @ Friday, August 13, 2010 3:23 PM |
Have you noticed it? Cell phones have been everywhere for quite some time. But here’s the new trend—what do you do with that old cell phone?
There are more and more companies who want to answer that question for you. There are now recycling kiosks. There are even companies who want to buy old cell phones for use in third world companies.
Make no mistake. For the cell phone companies, it’s all about selling those minutes. On the other hand, if you are a non profit ministry, don’t make the mistake of failing to pursue the donation opportunity.
Cell phones can be donated and recycled or...
posted @ Monday, August 09, 2010 9:30 AM |
In this final post of our fundraising guide, I want to challenge you to investigate more online opportunities. One of the most important things you can do to sustain your ministry is have a wide fundraising base. These past posts have discussed mostly ways to connect with donors, so let's think outside of the box now.
With the rise of the Internet, you now have virtually millions of resources right after your finger-tips. However, you have to be willing to invest some time in doing a little research and think creatively. Ask other volunteers to help you out in the research process;...
posted @ Monday, August 02, 2010 9:39 AM |
Christian Foundation Grants is thrilled to announce the release of their first book:
"Grants for Christian Ministries and More!"
This is not just another book on fundraising…
It’s about how your ministry or church can receive grants and More.
We obtained some of the best at their craft and had each contribute a chapter.This book contains chapters on the grant process, writing a grant, preparing a budget, and more, such as beginning a planned giving program, demographics affecting the charity crisis, and new alternatives to foundation giving. All the chapters are designed to help your ministry advance to the next level of your funding.
“Do...
posted @ Monday, July 19, 2010 9:32 AM |
Finding the right foundation can be a challenge, but with careful research, you can learn to identify foundations that would be potential matches. Consider these tips:
1) Look closely at their giving patterns:
A foundation’s 990s are an important way to find this information. Take note of the types of organizations they support and the amounts & frequency of giving to each of these types. This will help you understand if you fit into one of the categories, and if so, what would be a reasonable amount to request for a grant.
2) Cultivate relationships:
All levels and forms of relationships...
posted @ Friday, July 16, 2010 9:43 AM |
Do you want to get a head start on your year-end fundraising? A webinar is being held on July 22nd that will help you be successful in your online donations.
Care2 is hosting this webinar. They have posted the below information on the webinar:
"You might know that 40 percent of all online donations come in during December. But did you also know that year-end fundraising doesn’t just happen in December? It takes months of list building, inspiring donors, cultivating them, testing, and analyzing metrics to make the absolute most of year-end opportunities.
Join Alia McKee Scott of Sea Change Strategies, Milo Sybrant of...
posted @ Wednesday, July 07, 2010 9:04 AM |
In the USA, the death rate continues to decline, ministries need to realize that this represents a significant challenge to fundraising without appropriate action. As donors age, resources often become more limited, and the charities they support will feel this effect. However, much of this can be alleviated by ministries encouraging their donors to investigate planned giving.
At first, some donors object to this idea, because they want to make a difference right now and give to an immediate need. “However, if presented strategically, donors may better understand the importance of testamentary gifts, a gift that can keep an organization’s legacy...
posted @ Wednesday, June 30, 2010 9:10 AM |
61% of fundraisers expect 2010 giving to increase from 2009, the Association of Fundraising Professionals found in a poll of 692 fundraisers. So with this optimism, you can make this increased giving a reality. To help you, we have created a basic list of our free resources.
1) Visit our website (www.christianfoundationgrants.com) and go to our Resources page—There, you will find many grant-writing and fundraising resources to help you in the process.
2) Do a little reading and research—On the left side of our blog, you can view the different categories we have available and sign up for the RSS feed options...
posted @ Wednesday, June 23, 2010 2:52 PM |
There are many viable approaches to funding your ministry, however, you should establish a plan in order to ensure that you choose and carry out the best options.
Naturally, brainstorming must precede the actual development of your fundraising plan. Here are a couple questions to get you started:
Who are your audiences?—Knowing the different groups of people will have a significant impact on what approaches you use.
What resources do you already use?—Evaluate the resources you currently have so that...
posted @ Monday, June 21, 2010 10:10 AM |
One of the essential elements of a nonprofit is its board. This brings up the question though of how involved should board members be in their own contributions and fundraising roles for the nonprofit. As I have followed various discussions, it seems there is quite the variety of perspectives. “Give or get” seems to be the predominant mentality. However, there is not one correct mentality for all nonprofits. Let’s examine a few of the options.
1) “Give or Get”—This model suggests that board members should be active and freely generous in supporting the organization, or ‘get’ off the board.
While I am...
posted @ Wednesday, June 16, 2010 10:39 AM |
“If only we had the money for _____” For many ministries, this seems to be a common phrase. At Christian Foundation Grants, we are on a mission this summer to help ministries get rid of that phrase.
How would you like grant-writing templates, a complete handbook of ministry resources, listing of matching grant programs, step by step instructions for writing grants, and more?
The cost? It’s FREE.
Christian Foundation Grants (CFG) has offered the Free Access subscription for over a year now for ministries all across the USA and the rest of the world, and it has proved to be one of...
posted @ Wednesday, June 09, 2010 11:14 AM |
Online fundraising has become close to a fundraising "norm" now. While this is an exciting change, it means as well that now non-profits must be innovative in how they promote and use their online fundraising tools. To utilize this way of fundraising to its fullest capacity, one must seek a variety of perspectives.
Consider a few of these perspectives:
1) Offline-- Of course this sounds strange at first, offline online fundraising?? Think about it again though. Too many people rely just on the idea that people will find their website through an online search and be compelled to donate. While this can be true,...
posted @ Monday, June 07, 2010 11:27 AM |
By Tim Dykes
www.omniproconsulting.com
What kind of fundraising strategies are you implementing in your organization?
In the 2008 election, President Barack Obama raised $122 Million through the power of online social networks. It was a quick and easy way to capture millions of dollars from donors who individually gave less than $100. No doubt your organization and organizations you’re associated with solicit funds in multiple ways.
Various approaches to fundraising that might include grassroots efforts like street-side bucket/boot brigades, highly organized telethons and personal meetings might be one approach. With the emergence of social media (Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, blogging), many organizations are incorporating...
posted @ Tuesday, April 13, 2010 10:39 AM |
By Connie Hougland
Servant Christian Community Foundation
For churches looking beyond the church walls to find funding it can feel more like running into a brick wall. When we look for outside funding it is important that the church's reach is beyond the church walls as well. Grant funders typically look for community impact.
Joy Skjegsted, author of Winning Grants to Strengthen Your Ministry offers valuable insight for churches looking for funding from foundations in her article Finding Funds.
Finding Funds shares six characteristics of church programs that are most likely to receive funding from a foundation or corporation:
1) The program benefits at least...
posted @ Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:33 AM |
The Mal Warwick Associates published a study analyzing nonprofit trends recently in order to help organizations be most effective in times of recession. Their excerpts of their suggestions are below:
“1) Don’t panic. You may even find opportunities opening up in these difficult times. Other fundraisers (and, more often, their bosses) are panicking. They’re eliminating donor acquisition, canceling fundraising projects right and left, and cutting mailing quantities. If you make decisions carefully and stick to business, you’ll do better both in the short run and in the long.”
“2) Strengthen your case for giving. Your donors don’t want to hear how the...
posted @ Monday, October 05, 2009 8:31 AM |
“The bad economy is a good time for nonprofits to retool their technology and the way they use it for fundraising,” says Todd Cohen, a writer for the Philanthropy Journal.
Spending money on technology or software during a bad economy might seem to go against common sense. However, this is a misconception. One of the strengths of the software and technology available is that it helps improve communication and ultimately relationships. In a down economy, maintaining strong relationships is the number one key for success.
So how does technology help in this process? Cohen writes, “Nonprofits’ goal in using their technology should...
posted @ Friday, August 14, 2009 10:19 AM |
With summer winding down, ministries are gearing up for the fall fundraising, planning for the year end giving, and many other things. It has been quite a year already, but there still are some things that need to be accomplished.
1) Use social media—If you have been following our blog for awhile, you may have noticed that we have spent a fair amount of time following the trends in social media and making you aware of the best practices. Your job now is to do something with this information! Get set up on Twitter, start a Facebook cause, or begin your...
posted @ Wednesday, August 05, 2009 10:18 AM |
By now, almost all nonprofits have seen funds drop, even as the need for their organizations' services increases. As charities are forced to make hard decisions, they may be tempted to cut their fundraising staff. However, as Giving USA’s data shows, “strong philanthropic relationships sustain giving even when donors’ assets decline.” While every organization has its unique set of circumstances, charities should carefully consider fundraising’s role and its part in keeping the organization going.
Here are a few strategies that may assist nonprofits in their fundraising endeavors:
Build an individual giving program. Studies show that 75% of all donations come from individuals....
posted @ Thursday, July 30, 2009 3:10 PM |
In order to maintain fundraising, nonprofits need to be continually learning. In this post, we want to help you review some important topics.
Through our blog’s history, there have been a variety of posts that people have found to be the most helpful so we want to give you the chance to review, refresh, and re-learn.
1) Online giving—With this growing sector, you need to understand some of the basic statistics and background. We wrote a post titled Statistics on Online Giving: “Convio, Sea Change Strategies, and Edge Research just released the results of their national research study on the trends of...
posted @ Wednesday, July 15, 2009 10:55 AM |
Most news sources focus on how giving has dropped in all sectors; however, a new report shows that not all giving has declined. A survey by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CEDP) reported that 53% of companies increased their giving in 2008.
In 2008, 70% of all companies saw their profits fall or declared a loss for the year. Yet surprisingly, companies’ average giving only declined by a slight 7.8%. Of the companies that increased their giving, nearly 35% of them began donating non-cash items, such as employee volunteerism.
CECP mentioned three innovative and non-cash philanthropic programs that occurred this past year....
posted @ Friday, June 05, 2009 2:23 PM
The average subscription cost to most databases is $1,000. So… we are lowering the CFG Insider Price to just $99.00, until June 30th. We understand that many organizations simply cannot afford such a price; therefore, we want to do our best in offering you access to the best resources at an affordable price. For $99.00 you will receive one year’s access to: -- over 4,500 foundations that all accept applications and have given to faith based causes -- Sample grant proposals -- Complete access to all our blogs, articles, and many other resources These...
posted @ Friday, June 05, 2009 9:16 AM |
Research on difficult economic times is still progressing. However, already there are clear results emerging. As Jonathan Baker, writer for The Guardian, says, “charitable giving has been more resilient than expected when faced with a challenge; and this recession will actually be unusual if it seriously damages the third sector.” This is good news for nonprofits, but there is a second part to this. There still may be many charities that find themselves forced to close operations. Research gives us a key into understanding why this happens. Statistics show that the “one thing that characterized nearly all of the...
posted @ Thursday, June 04, 2009 9:43 AM |
Search engine optimization is becoming very important for your website to become competitive with other organizations. Generally, if your website is not on the first page or page and a half of listings then people will not view your website; therefore having good search engine rankings (where your website is listed, eg. Page 1, page 16 etc.) are essential to drawing website traffic. Chris Nastav, a Kansas City web developer, offers some insight into a simple idea that could help improve your website ranking. Nastav says, “There's things we as Web developers can do to your site to help...
posted @ Tuesday, June 02, 2009 9:32 AM |
Every spring many nonprofits host fundraising balls and galas, but this year organizations are having to find creative and less expensive ways to put on their “glitter balls.”
Organizations must be thrifty with their money not only because of money’s shortage, but because of donors’ sensitivities. Robert F. Sharpe Jr., a fundraising consultant, said “Organizations that throw a big party right now will have to answer questions about why they are spending money frivolously.” He mentioned that two large organizations (which he declined to name) lost previously pledged donations because contributors were upset by the lavish fundraisers the non-profits had organized.
However,...
posted @ Wednesday, May 27, 2009 12:00 AM
One of the most important fundraising principles is that you should develop multiple sources of contributions. Many charities are now finding that without multiple sources they are faced with financial collapse. Especially in difficult times, most donors aren’t willing to take on new large philanthropic commitments.
So how do you go about finding and using these multiple sources of funding? Some basic tips:
Avoid fundraising cuts - Edith Falk, a fundraising consultant says, “cutting your development program is a really bad idea. You are putting yourself behind by another six months to a year after the economy improves and...
posted @ Thursday, January 08, 2009 9:40 AM |
Is it possible to get grants in a recession?
Absolutely! But you have to recognize that the strategy changes some. There is little doubt that foundations have been hit hard by the stock market declines. The private foundations are invested in stock portfolios. When the market declines, so do their assets. Nonetheless, private foundations are required by law to give 5% each year. In short, private foundations will still be making grants.
However, they will be making fewer grants. The key to getting on the radar screen of these foundations is to look carefully for who is on their board. See,...
posted @ Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:43 AM |
A recent study by the Barna Group tells us that giving to non profits is down by 30% in the last three months. My own informal survey tells me the same infomation. What is normally the busiest time of the year for many non profits has now turned into a time of uneasy calm.
In looking at the months ahead, the bloom doesn't promise to return anytime soon. Some economists are predicting that it will take three years for investors to work off stock losses. This means that gifts of publicly traded stock will be down for that same period of...
posted @ Sunday, December 14, 2008 6:13 PM |
A year end appeal letter? Many ministries don't do them despite the fact that the wise ministry recognizes that 30-50% of an organization's funding may come in the month of December. So suffice it to say, it is wise, if not imperative that you write a year end appeal letter to your donors.
What are some of the basics in writing a year end appeal letter? They are as follows:
1. Keep it short. No more that 1 and 1/2 pages.
2. Tell a story. People like stories. Jesus used stories. Better yet, people share stories.
3. Use pictures. A picture tells a...
posted @ Saturday, November 29, 2008 10:19 AM |
It's the home stretch. This is the time when many ministries will receive up to 30-50% of their giving--in a single month. It's remarkable what takes place at this time of year. The question is whether your ministry is prepared to receive these kind of year end gifts.
First, what drives year end giving? Quite simply, it's the charitable deduction. Many people come to year end and are calculating their tax liability they will owe. In order to reduce that tax liability, they, and their financial professionals will often encourage them to increase their giving so they get additional deduction and...
posted @ Friday, November 28, 2008 11:14 AM |
In case you had not heard, cash is tight. Credit is tight. The stock market is unpredictable.
On the other hand, many are rushing in to predict what giving will do in the coming months. Some say up. Some say down. Some say it will stay the same. Don't let the prognosticators fool you. Things are changing.
We live in an age of relatively stable if not declining birth rates here in the United States. Meanwhile our population continues to age. In the coming years, some demographers tell us that we'll have a population where 19% of our people will be 65...
posted @ Saturday, October 18, 2008 10:08 PM |
Still worrying over the current economic situation and how it may affect your ministry? We understand the needs many people are facing so we have compiled some basic steps we would recommend that you look into to help sustain or even strengthen your fundraising.
1) Consider how you can use the latest technology to your benefit.
Online giving continues to increase in popularity. Want help on getting started in the online world? Check out our article New Fundraising Tool for Nonprofits
2) Look for ways to increase and improve your communication with donors
Donors give first and foremost because of a relationship. They continue...
posted @ Thursday, September 04, 2008 3:07 PM |
Worried about fundraising with all the economic predictions? Worried about losing donors? It is a crucial time to consider how to truly connect with your donors. However, you can set your worries aside. By simply taking a step back and evaluating the needs of your donors and working on acting on those things, you can successfully continue in your fundraising.
First, you need to understand why your donors contribute. As statistics and hundreds of interviews emphasize, donors contribute because of a relationship first and foremost. That relationship can grow deeper by continuing to pursue after the donors as people. Make your...
posted @ Friday, August 22, 2008 9:24 PM |
Steve Meyerson, a Washington fundraising consultant, asked a recent audience of fundraising professionals to think about how their non-profit would handle hard economic times “if [they] knew for a fact that there’d be no recovery until 2010.” That answer, he said, should dictate their non-profit’s planning now. At this fundraising conference in Washington, Mr. Meyerson offered several fundraising tips for raising money during a recession: Tell donors how the non-profit changes its client’s lives. “Donors are not that interested in numbers,” he said. Donors want to know...
posted @ Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:22 AM |
Having you been needing more information on the technology and networking items available to non-profits? We’ve taken time to compile several different websites, articles, and blogs for your use. Social Media is not Community – from The Social Organization, they provide perspective on the differences between “social media” and “community”, helping nonprofits in their understanding and usage of these two terms. Make Your Website About Visitors, Not About You – from Nonprofit Communications. For great advice on developing your website, read through this article. Why Facebook Connect Matters & Why It Will Win – by GigaOm. Facebook continues to grow in its strength, not just for social reasons,...
posted @ Tuesday, August 05, 2008 9:45 AM |
Selecting new right donor management software for your foundation can seem like a confusing, frightening job. The starting point for finding the right package is to figure out why you need the software and how you’ll use it. If you already have software that doesn’t seem to suit you, make sure that the product is being used to the fullest of its potential – that you don’t buy something new because you weren’t using your old software efficiently. Technological ignorance is often a bigger problem than inadequate software for nonprofits. If, however, you think that you need new software, you...
posted @ Thursday, July 24, 2008 6:13 PM |
Picture this: You're a Catholic ministry searching for grants and happened to encounter the Christian Foundation Grants (CFG) website. We've got some pretty exciting resources and tools, but obviously you are most interested in the database. We seem to have a strong Christian focus, but wait! Don't leave yet just because it doesn't necessarily suit your focus! We've made sure that our database is one of the most comprehensive for all types of organizations- Methodist, Catholic, Episcopal etc. Let me give you a better idea of the the vast variety of foundations available to you. We just finished adding...
posted @ Friday, July 11, 2008 9:22 AM |
They just stumbled into it. He was having lunch with a guy who mentioned his collection of classic photographs. As it turned out, this wasn't just any collection of photographs. It was a great collection of photographs--mostly black and white, mostly historical in nature, and mostly focused on celebrities. So what do you do with a bunch of black and white photographs? Well, in this case you can donate them. The photos represent real value. It seems there's a real demand out there for those old time photos. Black and white. Historical in nature. Even the mundane. A...
posted @ Monday, June 30, 2008 12:00 AM |
When I mention that my work involves working with nonprofit organizations, many people often look confused and ask, "So how do they make money?" It's a rather common misconception that the term "nonprofit" equals "no profit". However, this is not the case at all. Nonprofits simply rely more on donors and their contributions rather than seeking their own profit. With these misconceptions, much less the IRS rules or dismal economic predictions, making a profit or being able to meet budget can be a challenge for many organizations. In recent years though, a change has come about that may be helpful to...
posted @ Thursday, June 26, 2008 12:00 AM |
The timeshare industry is booming. Across the country, there are 6 million timeshare owners. Some estimate the industry is growing by 20% per year. And why not?
Despite the recent decline in the real estate market, the cost of owning and maintaining a vacation home is simply out of reach for many. Even if a family could afford a vacation home, many would not want to swallow the entire elephant of the ongoing maintenance costs. A timeshare represents a good alternative. You can effectively buy time at a place where you want to vacation at a fraction of the cost. You...
posted @ Sunday, June 22, 2008 12:00 AM |
In a recent article, the Nonprofit World listed 25 ways to reduce costs. Here are 10 of those suggestions.
1) Utilize the Board of Directors. Not only should your board help raise and save money, but they should approach their own contacts to find more donors and sponsors for your organization.
2) Talk to Local Businesses. Approach area businesses and ask to include your fundraising requests in their mailings.
3) Re-evaluate Your Paper. Up to 30% of your mailing cost is due to your paper. Buy inexpensive paper with a lower weight to reduce postage costs. Explain to your donors that you...
posted @ Thursday, June 12, 2008 12:00 AM |
When you’re creating a campaign, a feasibility study will tell you the funds you’re likely to raise and how long it may take. A good study will address these issues and will bring to your attention ways that your organization’s success can be maximized.
First, your study should address the issues of how supporters view your vision, a way to ensure that everyone agrees on that vision, what supporters see as being your organization’s strengths and weaknesses, and the best way to highlight your strengths and face the weaknesses. What are the best methods of marketing your mission to...
posted @ Wednesday, June 11, 2008 12:00 AM |
When most people think about raising money as a new organization, they think about getting a grant from a Christian foundation. That's not a bad idea. A foundation that aligns with your mission can certainly go a long ways to helping provide seed money to get you going.
But keep in mind that is the best approach for a foundation--to provide seed money to help get you going. Seed money is start up money. It helps you get off the ground. For some foundations, seed money is a one year grant. For others it is a three year grant that typically...
posted @ Friday, May 30, 2008 7:49 AM |
Many organizations miss the obvious.
Most fundraising is focused on getting cash. There's direct mail, and lots of ways to do that. There's foundation work--developing relationships with foundations, submitting grant proposals and ideally receiving grant proposals. For the more mature organization, they may well focus upon online giving, including credit card and electronic transfer transactions. For the most mature, they may well add a planned giving component.
A quick note on planned giving: most are slow to enter this area because it means a long wait typically. Sometimes a planned gift is 10-30 years in the making. It usually requires a different...
posted @ Thursday, May 29, 2008 7:32 AM |