Fundraising on the Internet
The excitement surrounding Internet
fund-raising and its hoped-for windfall of support for non-profits
reminds me of when direct mail and tele-funding were new to the
fund-raising scene. However, Internet fund-raising is causing an even
greater stir in the non-profit world for a couple of reasons. [Read
More]
Non-Profit Fund-Raising Demystified
When it comes to fund-raising, there
are truths and myths. The truths illuminate the path to success. The
myths speak with the dark voice of "conventional wisdom" of what can't
be done and won't work.
[Read
More]
Don't Make Your Organization's
Statement Of Purpose A "Mission Impossible"
When it comes to fund-raising, there
are truths and myths. The truths illuminate the path to success. The
myths speak with the dark voice of "conventional wisdom" of what can't
be done and won't work.
[Read More]
Fitting Annual, Endowment, Capital, and Sponsorship & Underwriting
Campaigns Into Your Organization's Plans
The
annual fund campaign is a 365-day-a-year process conducted each and
every year to raise money to assist in paying regular and ongoing
expenses. It should be an organization's primary source of contributed
income, and it: [Read
More]
Know Your Organization
To sell any product, it is important to know just what
the product is and what it does. It makes no difference whether you
are a waitress explaining the intricacies of the specials of the day,
a computer salesperson pitching the new improved model, or a solicitor
in a fund-raising campaign.
[Read
More]
How U.S.-Style Fund-Raising Can Work In
YOUR Country
...people from around the world sought
advice and guidance regarding the U.S. philanthropic-style of
fund-raising. They did so because they recognized that government
support of charities, cultural bodies and NGOs in their countries was
rapidly eroding and in danger of disappearing altogether. As a result,
they were both willing and eager to learn how to fund-raise in the
American style. [Read
More]
Developing a Communications Strategy
For the Development Operation
If a non-profit organization wants to
maximize its contributed income it needs a coherent, executable
development plan, and that plan must have a viable communications
strategy. [Read
More]
How Board Members Can Become Effective Fund-Raisers
So, you've been asked to join the board of a
non-profit organization, or maybe you're already on the board. In
either case, here's some advice.
[Read
More]
Building Donor Loyalty
When we set fund-raising goals, we usually cast them in terms
of dollars. However, the major fund-raising goal of any organization
should be to build a base of loyal, supportive donors who give money
year after year, campaign after campaign. It is that base of loyal,
supportive donors upon which the financial goals of every campaign are
built, making donor loyalty the most critical element of long-term
fund-raising success. [Read
More]
What Do You Know About Your Donors?
If you want donors to be loyal to, and support, your
organization --- they must know you, trust you, and believe that you are
fulfilling your mission and using their contributions wisely. If you
don't know who your donors are and what they think of your organization
--- you can't successfully communicate with them. [Read
More]
Campaign Feasibility Studies
If a non-profit organization wants to
maximize its contributed income it needs a coherent, executable
development plan, and that plan must have a viable communications
strategy. [Read
More]
Should Your Organization Sell Products
And Services To Raise Money?
I am made increasingly aware of the conflict non-profit
organizations experience when faced with choosing between:
- Raising the money they need using a traditional
philanthropic process.
- Making a profit from selling and endorsing commercial
products and services.
[Read
More]
Learn The Secret Of Fund-Raising Success
For many people, fund-raising is the stuff of myth and
magic---a series of tasks rivalling the labors
of Hercules and demanding the powers of a Merlin. Myth and magic,
because they offer the balm of simple acceptance in place of the pain
of comprehension, can be very comforting, and in no instance is this
more true, than when the myth of fund-raising magic is
used to excuse fund-raising failure.
[Read
More]
Major Gifts Campaign Checklist
A successful Major Gifts fund-raising campaign is not magic. It is a
straightforward, concise process of executing well-defined components
arranged in a step-by-step progression. I know this to be so because I
have seen it done over and over again --- starting at A and working
through to Z, successfully carrying out campaign after campaign and
achieving goal after goal.
[Read
More]
How Do You Pay A Grant Writer?
"I recognize the
difficulties that cash-strapped non-profit organizations have in providing upfront, fair
compensation to consultant grant writers for the legitimate and important work they
perform. In many instances, it has become a common practice to make compensation
contingent of the award of a grant. Nevertheless, there are concerns this practice raises
which need to be addressed." [Read More]
What Should You Do Before Engaging An Outside Grant Writer?
"Accomplished,
experienced grant writing consultants are in demand and they are not cheap. Therefore, you
should do as much of the preparation work as possible yourself. This will allow you to
spend your consulting dollars where they are really needed -- the actual grant writing.
Also, the better prepared you are, the more likely you will be to attract the best grant
writers." [Read More]
General Grant Writing Pay Rates
Fees charged by grant
writers will range far and wide.? But from what I have seen, experienced and capable grant
writers charge about $60 per hour.? I've seen some fees in the area of $100 per hour and
more, and then I have seen some very low fees --- well under $50? [Read More]
How to Find Grant Writing Jobs
Contact development officers
of non-profits in the geographic area of your choice (United Way, universities, hospitals,
etc.), and ask for an interview. Get your resume' up to date and ready. Consult the
newspaper want ads. [Read
More]
How Do You Evaluate The Performance Of Grant Writers?
I have
seen many resumes with statements like the following, ?The grants I
write are awarded funds 80% of the time? A recent query to an Internet
newsgroup by an executive director asked? My grant writer has a grant
success rate of 41%. How does that compare with the standard of other
organizations?" [Read More]
How to Find Grant Writers
Contact development offices
of a few of the largest non-profit organizations near you (United Way, university,
hospital, etc.), and ask to (personally and confidentially) talk to their grant writers.
Many times, such professionals are eager to, and are allowed, by their employers, to
"moonlight" by producing proposals for other, non-directly-competing,
organizations. [Read More]
Common Grant Application Form
Use the following outline as
a guide to your proposal narrative. Most grant-makers prefer up to five pages, excluding
attachments, but be sure to ask each individual funder if they have page limitations or
any additional requirements. [Read
More]
Writing Letters of Inquiry
It's a good idea (and sometimes it's required) to send a
letter of inquiry to a foundation before submitting a full proposal. [Read More]
Tips For Proposal Writing
Talk to others about
proposals to a funder. Ask about their experience with funders' proposal preferences
regarding: Length; Complexity; Budget detail; Statistical support; Personal contact before
submission. [Read More] Positioning Grant Writers For Success
"Some of the most heated discussion in
the nonprofit world centers on grant writing. Why? Because so much is riding on it. It is
the rare organization that could continue to carry out its mission anywhere near as
effectively if its grants dried up, and for many, such an occurrence would sound the death
knell."
[Read More] |
I'm Ivan Walsh, the person behind this site. I help people improve how they write, publish and extend their business assets.