{"id":5448,"date":"2016-10-24T11:17:27","date_gmt":"2016-10-24T16:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5bd4f92546.nxcli.net\/?p=5448"},"modified":"2025-04-17T11:26:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-17T16:26:48","slug":"master-fundraising-tips-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/articles\/charity-fundraising\/master-fundraising-tips-experts\/","title":{"rendered":"Master Fundraising With These Tips From The Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Create your own custom shirts<\/a> for your next event!<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

With a good cause and a generous community, it would be easy to think that fundraising would be a simple process. The list of good causes, however, is long, and there\u2019s not always enough money to go around to all of them. A well-organized and focused campaign is necessary to achieve your goals. To help you succeed, we\u2019ve gathered some expert advice on the various aspects of putting together a top-notch fundraising campaign. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what they had to say:<\/span><\/p>\n

On Reaching Millennials<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cMillennials were the first generation to grow up with the Internet, and not surprisingly, they are engaged in online activities all the time. Use this fact to your advantage, and meet them where they want to be met.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure to utilize mobile apps and online applications to run fundraising campaigns. For example, using the PayAnywhere app, your organization can accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover and PayPal with an iPhone, iPad, Android or BlackBerry device. This makes donating convenient and easy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"art1\"<\/p>\n

DJ Muller, @JohnDJMuller, CEO and Founder of Weblink International, Inc.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Leadership<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cAs part of your fundraising efforts, your event will most likely have a \u201chost committee\u201d and one or more \u201chost committee chairpersons.\u201d These people are responsible for contributing substantial amounts to the event and encouraging others to do the same. The host committee is generally composed of wealthy donors, business leaders, or local celebrities. The host committee and chairpersons are not responsible for actually running the event, but are integral to ensuring that you reach your fundraising goals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"art2\"<\/p>\n

Joe Garecht @FundraisingAuth, Founder of The Fundraising Authority<\/span><\/p>\n

On Expectations<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cAs a development professional, you should have high expectations not only for yourself, but for your organization and for your co-workers. Often it is the development professional that \u201cleads from the middle\u201d and inspires the organization to greatness. Cultivating donors who have vision is one way to lead the organization to a higher level of performance. Also, some board members can have a great effect on the vision of the organization, so as a development professional, you should have input into the selection of new board members who can help transform the organization into bigger and better things. However, this does not mean setting unrealistic goals or having expectations that are so demanding that the staff gets frustrated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"art3\"<\/p>\n

Linda Lysakowski, @LindaLysakowski, Acquisitions Editor for CharityChannel Press and for the GENIUS Press<\/span><\/p>\n

On Delivering<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure you commit to getting them what they want out of the relationship. Funding is not a one-way relationship. Funders want benefit from the funding they provide. It\u2019s imperative you ask them why they\u2019d consider funding you and what they want out of the relationship, whether that\u2019s return, recognition, learning, a chance to be on your board, or a chance to be associated with your inspiring work. Discuss this early with the funder and devise a plan to fulfill their expectations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"art4\"<\/p>\n

Teju Ravilochan, @tejuravi, Co-Founder and CEO of the Unreasonable Institute<\/span><\/p>\n

On Getting Donations<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cOnline and in-person events work well together because they appeal to different sensibilities. Recently, my church updated our approach to the annual pledge drive. Typically, the fundraiser is drawn out over several months and is a tedious process. This year, the pledge committee designated a specific day as \u201cPledge Day\u201d and promoted it similar to an election day. This shortened the overall drive and increased the pledges because the date conveyed urgency. Creating an event around your call for donations may increase awareness of your cause and overall contributions too because your event may reach people that aren\u2019t on your list. Make your event fun and allow your supporters to donate online or in-person.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"art5\"<\/p>\n

Lisa Hirst Carnes, @lisahirstcarnes, Cultural Anthropologist at ArcStone<\/span><\/p>\n

On Treating Your Volunteers Well<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cHappy volunteers\u2014especially well-connected and potentially wealthy happy volunteers\u2014are perhaps the best resource you can have as a small nonprofit organization. If you treat them wisely and well, you will not only have the help you need to plan and execute a great event, but you\u2019ll also be able to boost your fundraising to the next level.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"art6\"<\/p>\n

Rebecca Andruszka, @rebecca_and, Fundraising and Nonprofit Pro<\/span><\/p>\n

On Making Your Brand Or Cause Visible<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cFor a fundraising campaign to be successful, people need to know about it. You could be missing out on fundraisers and donations if you\u2019re not promoting your campaign across all your communication channels. Someone who is not on your email list might be following you on Facebook and a casual visitor to your website might be moved by the story behind your latest campaign and want to get involved. Make this fundraising campaign impossible to miss.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Millennials<\/p>\n

Allison Gauss, @AllisonGauss, Nonprofit and Fundraising Blogger for Classy<\/span><\/p>\n

On Having A Plan<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cThis seems like the common sense, but let\u2019s start with the basics. If you don\u2019t have a plan, you won\u2019t perform well and you won\u2019t achieve your goals. You want to set an outline for the course of the year with what you want to communicate to your donors. Once that outline is set, work backwards towards a plan of logistically executing and getting the plan accomplished with the current resources you have, or what you will need to go get. Your plan is best if it is written down and clearly communicated across your organization so everyone is aware and can get on board with the direction.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"art8\"<\/p>\n

Brad Davies, @bradjdavies, Digital Fundraising Consultant Turned Tech CEO<\/span><\/p>\n

On Telling Your Story<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cBy now you hopefully understand the importance of visual storytelling for your organization. It\u2019s kind of the defining element of your online work. The most basic approach is to zero-in on one narrative that is emblematic of your work – the story of one individual or one village, and tell that story.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sob stories can work, but focus on positive outcomes. People want to know that their contribution makes a difference and is not just being tossed into a money pit of despair. Use powerful, personal photos or create a short 30-second video for YouTube that you can embed across your website and social media presence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"art9\"
\nGail Guengerich, Writer, Blogger, & Marketer<\/span><\/p>\n

Get started with custom t-shirts!<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Create your own custom shirts for your next event! With a good cause and a generous community, it would be easy to think that fundraising would be a simple process. The list of good causes, however, is long, and there\u2019s not always enough money to go around to all of them. A well-organized and focused…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":5449,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[654],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-charity-fundraising"],"yoast_head":"\nMaster Fundraising With These Tips From The Experts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Charity fundraising is never as easy as it should be. We asked experts how best to succeed at fundraising. 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