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How to Create a Successful Fundraising Plan. Kate Emery President, Engineers Without Borders- USA, Texas A&M University Student Chapter 2011 EWB South Central Regional Conference, 11/12/2010. Fundraising Goals. Raise money to provide for various parts of organization Projects
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How to Create a Successful Fundraising Plan Kate Emery President, Engineers Without Borders- USA, Texas A&M University Student Chapter 2011 EWB South Central Regional Conference, 11/12/2010
Fundraising Goals • Raise money to provide for various parts of organization • Projects • Administration • Conferences • Develop relationships with donors • Gaining recurring donations • Finding new mentors • Publicity
Fundraising for Student Chapters Local fundraisers vs. Big Fish
Chapter Expenses • Projects • Administration • Conferences
Donor Relations • Make it easy for them to donate • Mail them resources with sponsorship opportunities • Make donation links easy to find on website • Follow-up!! • Thank them before they donate • In your letter, on your website, etc. • Thank them right after they donate • Personalized, handwritten letter, newsletter, DVD, etc. • Thank them again (and again) • After major trips, after you spend the money, etc.
Sponsorship Packet • Write out all of your anticipated expenses • Give different sponsorship opportunities • Clearly list benefits for the donors
Publicity • Smaller fundraising events can provide more publicity • Bring in students to events who may eventually join • Give your members a way to get involved • Even if companies don’t donate, your chapter will be in their minds • They may donate in the future
Fundraising Year-to-Year • Finding recurring donors • Some grants may be in more than one installment • Some companies may commit to 2 or more years of a set donation amount • Personal donations – keep track of your alumni! • Having a plan • Organizing for years to come – develop tools • Trying out different things • Know when to just pull the plug
Involve EVERYONE! • Our chapter has a Fundraising Director • His job includes: • Seeking out grant opportunities for project teams • Coordinating sponsor “thank you” notes • Coming up with new fundraising ideas • Everyone can write a grant! Or a letter! Or come up with ideas!
Plan (at least) Five Years in Advance • “What happens after this semester when we have spent all of our $20,000?!?!” • Estimate and forecast future trip budgets • Example: We still need $20,000 if we want to take trips next summer • Be prepared to lengthen project timelines to adjust for long term plans • Only take 1 trip per year • Transfer knowledge • Have a plan to pass down to new leaders • Overlap leadership so people are on same page
Our Chapter’s Luck in Fundraising • Have raised $35,000 since January 2011 • This chart is from last year, but is very similar to the distribution this year
Take Aways:- Figure out your goals- Create the best opportunities for your target donors- Don’t let a strategy start to tank • http://ewb.tamu.edu • http://ewb-usa.org • Templates and materials on EWB-USA website: • http://ewb-usa.org/Fundraising.php • This fundraising presentation • http://ewb.tamu.edu/SouthCentralRegionalWorkshop Contact information: president.ewbtamu@gmail.com