Fundraising for your Nonprofit Organization

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Fundraising for your Nonprofit Organization

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Lindy Turner of the Clinch-Powell RC&D made a presentation on fundraising at the May 2002 meeting of CEDnet. The following advice was excerpted from her presentation:

Take a good hard look at your organization.

Is it mission-focused, passionate, results-oriented, visionary, dynamic, diverse, accountable, risk-taking, entrepreneurial, and involved in community affairs?

Does it lack vision, energy, diversity, and passion, and urgency? Does it have poor attendance, and a governing body that’s not powerful enough? Is it “just another required meeting” for its members?

Do an honest assessment.

Would you invest in your organization?
Do you have a Board of clones? (You must have diversity.)
Are you relevant and real (or are you just “chasing money”)?
Are you in control of your destiny? (Do you have a plan? Most funding organizations want to see a long-term plan of at least 5 years.)
Ask yourself, “If we went out of business, who would really care?” (Why do you exist? What is the problem or need that is central to your organization’s concern? What special service or programs do you offer?)

Remember ...

Your nonprofit organization is a BUSINESS! (You must look at sponsors, partners and donors as investors).
Nonprofit does NOT mean broke!
It takes money to make money.
A primary responsibility of the Board of Directors is fundraising. (Your organization can’t afford “deadwood” on the board).
Continual publicity/marketing efforts are vital to showing sponsors how you’re doing
Those who provide funding talk to one and another, and usually make donations in line with the size of last year’s donations. For example, if the maximum donation you have received is $100, you probably won’t receive a donation of $5,000. This is why it’s important to “grow” your donations.

Primary Funding/Revenue Sources

Interest
Shared/Partnerships - seek partnership opportunities
Reimbursed Expenses
Service Income
Grants - grants will only kill you? - fewer and larger grants -With regard to grants, be sure to confirm everything in writing with regard to telephone conversations. If your grant is turned down, find out why and resubmit.
Donations/Contributions
Rent/Lease
Dues
Sales
In-Kind
Events

Helpful Web Sites

www.mapnp.org - a site with a tremendous amount of information for nonprofit organizations, this includes a section showing open Executive Director positions, and a place to register if you are looking for an Executive Director position.

www.whitehouse.gov/omb - Here, you can obtain the Office of Management and Budget circulars:

A-21 - Cost Principles for Educational Institutions

A-110 - Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants

A-122 - Cost principles for Nonprofit Organizations

A-133 - Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profits

www.charitychannel.com - Has useful discussion groups/forums on various aspects of philanthropy and fund raising.

Other Assistance

Catherine Moirai is available, by appointment only, to assist with the Foundation Center Cooperating Collection, which is available at the Lawson McGhee Library. Call (865) 215-8722 to set up an appointment.

H66 - June 2002


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