This "challenge" is from "Al in Indy," a reader of Karen's Fundraising Tips newsletter: "I know of several small scale (but
growing) missions that have recently gotten their start. Neither has figured out how to fund itself yet, and I'd like to help them. Can
you recommend a good way for a person new to the fundraising arena to educate themselves on the best ways to fund your
mission?"
The first goal is to
get donors. And the first step toward this goal is to build a list of potential donors.
List building experts recommend starting
with people you know. This includes family, friends, co-workers, and anyone you see during the day. Examples of this last group
could be your bank teller, hairdresser, barber, grocery store clerk, dentist, doctor, and so on.
Everyone on your staff, including
volunteers, ought to be constantly adding names to your mailing lists. Your lists are your greatest business
assets.
As you go about your day, talk to people about
your wonderful mission. Then ask permission to send updates and information from time to time. Get their complete
mailing address and email address. And with a smile, mention some of these notes may even ask for a donation. Oh,
and in the emails ask your donors and prospects to "please pass this on to a friend."
How do you maximize
communications with your valuable donors and prospects? How do you get maximum results - including donations - in the least amount
of time? Hire a professional copywriter who understands your nonprofit world. Hire a trained pro full time, use an agency, or
go freelance.
Why? Because you've got a lot at stake. Your
expertise is probably operating your organization and helping people served by your mission. We all have our areas of expertise.
So when the stakes are high don't hesitate to
bring in another expert for those areas you're not trained in. Unless you're a professional copywriter, I recommend you invest
in such an expert to write your fundraising letters and all your communications. This way you can keep your focus on your true passion .
. . those you help every day.
That's the tip of the iceberg. The Hot Tips of the Month article below has
more resources for you. These include how to build your donor file and raise funds, plus some outstanding professional organizations whose
missions are to help you. And in case you missed it, there are a few relevant ideas in the Hot Tips of the Month article from
the November 2006 issue of Karen's Fundraising Tips newsletter.
Al, this ought to
bolster the funding resources for your start-up nonprofits. The best of good fortune for you and your
friends.
In a future
issue I'll share ideas on how to build awareness and get free publicity for any nonprofit
organization.
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