Fund Raising In Uncertain Times

Over the years we've heard a lot of decent reasons for not fundraising, but none more frequently or more strongly put than the possible damaging impact of the EU referendum.

Surprising then, that given that the economic crisis of 2008 during a period of unmatched uncertainty, our group have managed a few of the UK's most successful fundraising projects by concentrating on these seven, easy 'home truths': fundraising

Do It Today!

The level of urgency in Third Sector organisations is usually very low to properly deal with their far reaching, financial demands. Members, paid personnel, and even Trustees are often ready to go for the status quo, satisfied with tiny gains, instead of transformational change. It is amazing how steady and satisfied some charities can be, in spite of an accepted need to 'generate the money'.

To change this way of reasoning-- focus first on developing an authentic feeling of necessity-- concentrate your core supporters on the minimal time available to attain meaningful objectives, rather than token, step-by-step developments in fundraising performance.

Value Your Volunteers

The two words guaranteed to turn off time-poor, over committed individuals, are 'fundraising' and 'board'. Not-for profit's that nurture, rather than 'exhaust' volunteer leadership could attain remarkable fundraising results.

Be brave, make a guarantee to stand down your volunteers once the work is done.

Generate momentum by setting a defined period over which the money will be raised. Hectic individuals will then agree to get involved, safe in the knowledge of when this commitment of their valuable time will ultimately end. The old saying that the job will expand to fill the time given, holds true in fundraising too.

Givers Hold The Power

Overcome a fascination with obtaining the best possible engagement in the fundraising approach and instead become motivated by how new financial investments in your charity will ultimately be used.

The enthusiasm of your group for a 'transformational' vision is necessary, so fuel that interest, develop a commitment to the future and demonstrate they have the ability to make it all happen. By giving as generously as they can, they will certainly be able to inspire others to join them in making your shared vision a reality.

Deal With Facts

Involve your volunteer askers with prompt and succinct reports, composed of relevant stats.

Your fundraising team have to find out from week to week how many approaches for gifts have been made, just how many remain to be made and also most importantly, exactly what has to be done to achieve the next target. Facts provided in a favorable way, will certainly focus effort on the most important actions that need to be taken to reach target.

Create Short-term 'victories'.

Major fundraising projects require time to win. To build confidence and preserve passion, create intermediate objectives to be attained, like getting the required number of fundraising team members or securing the participants needed at your information events. These 'way-markers' give helpful points from which to chart the project's efficiency, highlighting much more than merely the sum of money that has been banked to date.

As the 'way-markers' are attained, confidence will build that the supreme target will be reached. "Success brings success" and these short-term wins will absolutely help you keep the 'naysayers' from claiming that absolutely nothing is happening!

Take Care Of 'success' Effectively

Premature celebration after a major gift or other accomplishment could encourage your team to become complacent and relax wishing that somebody else will raise the rest of what is required. So be ready and make use of your 'wins' to highlight exactly how much more still needs to be done to attain your goal.

Communicate With Energy

Your life changing vision has to be presented, reinforced and represented, to make sure that there should be no doubt about precisely what is being recommended.

In our experience it is simply not possible to over-communicate with a community of supporters regarding exactly how important funding is to your organisation's future. But please, take care with when and how often they are asked to give.

It is not difficult to say that now is not the right time to fundraise. If it is not the EU referendum or an economic crisis, then some other potent excuse can usually be found. fundraising staff is definitely a website that has lots of up to date information about prospect research.

In the end no matter the dominating economic climate, the choice to satisfy a financial difficulty through a collective fundraising initiative should be based on an immediate and compelling vision of what your not-for-profit group can do to serve its community. By placing these 'home truths' into action, you can go on to achieve your funding objectives now, while others watch and await more certain times to come.