200 likes | 322 Views
Fundraising for Small Community Groups. Delivered by: Caroline Egan Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups. Golden Rule 1 – Lessons from Branding. People don’t invest in products People invest in People. Why fundraising works:. Fundraisers have a passion for a cause
E N D
Fundraising for Small Community Groups Delivered by: Caroline Egan Carmichael Centre for Voluntary Groups
Golden Rule 1 – Lessons from Branding People don’t invest in products People invest in People
Why fundraising works: • Fundraisers have a passion for a cause • Fundraisers help donors to engage their passions in turn make the connection! • Donations, Exchange of Value, Corporate Support, Grants
Guiding Principles for Fundraising • The practices and procedures used by charities for fundraising will be regulated by agreed Codes of Practice • Available at: http://www.ictr.ie/content/list-resources-support-implementation-statement-guiding-principles-fundraising
Good Practice Factsheets • Handling Cash and Postal donations • Garda Permits • Insurance • Raffles and Lotteries • Data Protection • Guidelines on pre-signed Mass Cards Available from http://www.ictr.ie/content/good-practice-factsheets
Golden Rule 2 – Lessons from Marketing Understand what your key strengths are and seek out opportunities to build on those strengths
Get your Elevator Pitch Right! You need to communicate a simple persuasive fundraising idea: Example: RNIB Everyday 100 people start to lose their sight. We need your support to help rebuildlives devastated by sight loss. (less than 140 characters!) = (NEED) (SOLUTION) (NOW)
Corporate Fundraising support could be through • Making a donation to a specific project • Giving goods, services or volunteer time • By involving staff to raise matching funds • By promoting workplace contribution schemes • By sponsoring events • By sponsoring print materials or websites • By developing marketing partnerships • By adopting you as their cause/charity for year
Company motivations • Personal connections with charity • To create goodwill • To enhance employee relations • To promote brand and increase sales • To be good neighbours in the community • To acquire new customers • To adhere to company policy
What charity/group has to offer • A topical/powerful/emotive/relevant cause • Specific projects • A network of motivated volunteers • Respectability, heritage, well liked • Strong local/national profile • Communications: newsletter, website • Good PR opportunities
Research Skills for Sourcing Funds • What information do you need? - Companies that support charities - The key contacts in these companies - The grants available (national/local) - Permits required for fundraising - Looking at what competing groups are doing
Where can you get information • Talk to company staff and other groups • Visit company websites • Read local newspapers/ listen to radio • Review social media platforms • Add group to grant giver databases • Regularly check out websites: - www.activelink.ie - www.wheel.ie
Information: when and who • Companies: plan budgets in advance - HR / Corporate Affairs/Marketing • Grants: advertised in advance in media - designated programme manager
Developing a Strong Case for Support • Answer three questions: - Why do we need the money? - Why do we need it now? - Why can we be trusted to spend it?
Case for Support might include: • Your mission – what you want to achieve • An introduction and overview of main points • The needs you are meeting: - Move from general to specific - sense of urgency / the real differences • How you will meet the needs - Project objectives & description
Include in Case for Support • What makes your work distinctive • How much it will cost – budget details • Who is involved – Your board, committee, qualifications, experience • Why you can manage the project - recent history - achievements and credibility
Golden Rule 3 – Lessons from Politics Provide the Grant Maker with Change they can Believe in! (Outputs and Outcomes)
Decide which sources of funds to target • Which sources match your project profile and needs • What capabilities do you have to manage the funds • Are you required to provide matching funds • Are you reimbursed after costs are incurred
Decide methods to acquire funds • Who will take responsibility for developing funding proposal and grant applications? • Remember: Asking face to face is better than telephoning, which is better than a personal letter, which is better than an e-mail