How to Avoid the BIGGEST Fundraising Mistake

Millions of people work tirelessly each year to raise money for their organization or favorite charity, especially at year's end when 50% of the charitable contributions are made. But one of the biggest mistakes made when raising money usually happens at the same time a donation is received! This mistake can be corrected, leading to double, triple, or even 10 times the success from the same amount of effort!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencil
• Paper (Steno pad works well)

1. Whether in front of a store selling cookies, door to door selling candy at a ballpark, receiving canned goods, selling raffle tickets at work or operating a car wash for donations, it is critical that a pad of paper and pencil is available at all times.

2. Across the long side of the page, write "Name, Address, Email, Phone" and underline each heading.

3. Whether a gift is received or an item sold, at that moment you are interacting with the public, hand the potential donor the pad and pencil to write their name, address, and email address and phone number on the pad of paper.

4. If they make a gift, donation or purchase, make a note of that gift and how much next to their name after they write their information on the pad of paper.

5. Follow up every fundraising activity with a phone call, email or postcard. Thank them for their gift, tell them how successful you were at the event they attended or how successful the fundraiser was where you met them. Don't ask for another gift--yet.

6. Two weeks later, follow up that postcard, phone call or email with another inviting them to make another gift for a particular purpose. Don't just ask for money; tell them what their gift will do.

7. If they give another gift, repeat step 6 every month.

Tips & Warnings

• Make it easy for them to write down their information.
• Allow them to do the writing to ensure accuracy.
• Be sure to ask for their information even if they do not buy something from you or make a donation at the moment you want them to.
• NEVER share their information with any one for any reason. Ensuring the privacy of a donor or potential donor will ensure that they trust you!

Resources

• Assistance in Obtaining Major Gifts
• International Charity Identification

[thomas35]

on 1/4/2009 I am trying to start a fun raising campaign but i don't know where to begin my first question is do i keep a percentage for example do i say 50/50 goes to the cause if not then do they get the 100% of the prophets ? can some one please point me in the right direction my e mail is [e-mail] please e mail me i am not shore how to return to this page

[LanceOrndorff]

on 11/18/2008 Great, I'll look those folks up. Also, there is a new site called www.MyGiftGate.com where organizations can have a code created for them and when people shop at that site for gifts, 25-50% of the shopping cart total goes to the organization.

[Elaina32]

on 11/17/2008 This is a fine article on tips to increase fund-raising. I would like to add, however, that there's a wonderful free web site that non-profits can use to collect donations online. The site is Jooners (www.jooners.com) and you can not only sign-up volunteers to, say, put on a food drive, but also ask people that can't participate, to donate money - all at the same time. The sign-ups and monetary collections are all done on line.

I'm involved with a brain cancer foundation that puts on an annual holiday concert and sells tickets and/or collects donations this way.

I hope this is helpful. Jooners keeps track of all the money on the backend, sends receipts and automatically reminds volunteers of their commitment.