A lot of nonprofits find themselves wondering how to fundraise, without a fundraiser. How do you get out of the trap where you can’t afford to hire someone to build the capacity you need to be able to hire people?
The solution is to arrange all of your operations towards the goals of (a) keeping and growing a list of engaged supporters, and (b) regularly offering them opportunities to engage and donate.
The details of this would depend on your organization, but here is a good place to start:
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Admin/Operations
- Compile all contacts into one database
- Review/audit of bylaws, procedures, etc
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Fundraising/Communications
- Identify your organization’s key goals and timelines, and what you will need to achieve them, as specifically as possible (e.g. board members? Volunteers with X skills? $XX in new funding?)
- Come up with some things you can offer people in exchange for their support as part of this process (e.g. information/newsletters, events and activities, discounts from sponsors, etc.)
- Develop communications materials and plans to support this
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Launch
- Plan an “event” (could be online or in real life) which gives you the opportunity to reach out to all of your contacts to:
- Let them know about your plans and your needs
- Make sure they know about all the reasons they should engage with you further
- Invite them to sign up for a newsletter, follow on social media, volunteer to lead an initiative, become a member, join the Board, etc
- Ask them to make a donation (ideally a recurring one)
- Plan an “event” (could be online or in real life) which gives you the opportunity to reach out to all of your contacts to:
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Post-Launch
- Review and optimize database and admin systems
- Identify next steps in key areas (admin, operations, fundraising, communications etc) and name a Lead for each
- Establish and document procedures to ensure tasks are carried out consistently on an ongoing basis
- Review governance and by-laws to identify opportunities for improvement