Fundraising Ideas for Nonprofit Board Members
Fundraising is one of the most important responsibilities of a nonprofit board member. When you are on a board, you will be expected to use your social and business connections to engage the community with your nonprofit's mission and activities. As you plan fundraising events, look for ways that you can reach out to potential donors and raise interest in your cause.
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Service Auction
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For a useful alternative to a traditional silent auction, hold a service auction. Use your contacts in the community to solicit the donation of services: a private dinner from a local celebrity chef, for example, or a free mural painting from a popular artist. Hold the auction in combination with a gala evening and invite each service provider to the event to talk about their donation; they will get free publicity and positive, reputation-building exposure as someone who is supporting a good cause.
Donation Request Letter
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One of the easiest ways to raise money is to ask. To let your supporters know that you need money to continue operations, send a fundraising letter. You can make the letter more effective by requesting donations to support a specific goal instead of general funding. When a person knows where her money is going, it can feel like the gift is making a difference. Use all of the information you have about your previous donors to target the letter. If they have shown an interest in a specific program in the past, send them a request for donations for a new program initiative. Write your letters with specific details that will appeal to the emotions of readers.
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Online Campaign
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An online fundraising campaign is an easy and inexpensive way to reach a large number of people quickly. Set up a profile for your fundraising initiative on a website like First Giving and start spreading the word. Send the link out to your email mailing list, mention it in your newsletters and put it on your website. Make use of your social networks and those of your staff, volunteers, family and friends by posting about the fundraiser with a link to the donation page. Encourage people to donate any amount; even if people can only donate a few dollars, those gifts add up.
Corporate Sponsorship
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When you are fundraising for a nonprofit, enlist the support of local businesses. Put together a media pack with information about your organization and its mission and distribute it to businesses in your area with a request for financial support. You might consider offering various donation levels to enable all types of companies to provide support. Companies will benefit from the association with a nonprofit that does good in the world and you can offer free publicity in return. Put the logos of your partner companies on your website and promotional materials and give public thank-yous at events.
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