Where's the most value? In the boxes or in the people?

I follow Volunteer Match on Twitter.  In one of their recent tweets a link was provided that made me stand up and take notice to ponder that question.

It took me to a study provided by The John Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies. The research determined that volunteers create 400 billion dollars to the world economy!  The study also concluded volunteer work is worth DOUBLE the value of donations and valuables given by individuals, businesses and foundations combined.  Would you ever imagine that a volunteer is more valuable than a donor?   This important research has a downloadable manual available.  Its use is for determining volunteer value for your organization.  Knowing the specifics about volunteer impact will help you encourage public policy that is favorable to volunteer work.  I would love to hear if you have done this kind of evaluation with your organization and your thoughts.
Imagine if volunteers are used for fundraising.  Does that make them worth triple the donation?

Happy Fundraising!
Lucinda

Gala events, annual dinner, and auctions.  These are a tremendous amount of work and the ROI has been proven to be poor.  However, there are benefits such as the relationship building opportunities that can be developed in the planning of the event and at the event as board members mingle and work the room.  These venues are usually a fantastic platform for story telling which,  as we know,  is one confirmed way to connect with the donor.  The monetary ROI may not be great but the PR, marketing, and networking is.  I give these events a thumbs up.  I’m also a bit of a party girl! 

Then there’s the physical activity fundraiser.  The bike-a-thons, walk-a-thons and tri’s for this and that are a staple fundraiser.  However,  not everyone wants to get up off the couch to support a non profit so it might be a good idea to include a lounge-a-thon in your line up.   ”Thons” are very effective for increasing community exposure especially through social media.

Bring on the ask letters, annual appeals,  and the death bequest category.  These are great because if you are asking for money through a letter it isn’t your first contact with the donor.  If it is, you should be ashamed of yourself.  The up front relationship development will have been done, therefore, the ask and appeal letter is like a maintenance donation. 

Grant writing cannot go unnoticed.  I will call these “bonus bucks” since grants need to be found and re-written in most cases year after year.

Finally a fundraising revenue stream must include the selling of products.  This is a category that is overlooked.  Products can be sold year round and generate more than %100 ROI.  In the case of fundraising products the donor actually gets something for their contribution and believe it or not they like that.  Their take away from a donation is long lasting.  Depending on the product you choose to sell, each time the donor sees their purchase they are reminded of your non profit.  See my post on (choosing the right fundraising product).   
Out of sight out of mind does not apply here!

 Happy Fundaraising,
Lucinda

Here are 6 questions to ask when profiling your donor/customer.

1.  When was the first time they donated?  Was it at an event, through a direct mail, or text appeal?  In other words, how did they find out about you.  The answers provide marketing insight.  Use the same strategy to connect with them again.
2.  When do they contribute?  Is there a time pattern to their giving?  Does their donation come in around a holiday, special event, or end of year?
3.  How often are they contributing?  Are they giving once a year or more?  Consider asking for less, more often, to increase sales/donations.
4.  How much are they giving?  Has the amount  increased or declined?  If so, do you know why?
5.  How do they communicate with you?  Are they engaged besides for monetary donations?  Do they attend special events, volunteer, contribute in- kind donations or social network for you via FB or Twitter? 
6.  Who are they connected to in the organization?  Another way to put it, who has the account and what are they doing with this profile to build a deeper relationship?

Stay connected and Happy Fundraising!
Lucinda

Regardless of the predictions for year-end giving, whether they are strong or weak, churches still have to compete with the more than 1.2 million nonprofits for the attention and resources of the person in the pew.

Donors make gifts to missions that tug at their heart-strings and they are more generous with gifts to causes about which they are most passionate.

Giving is often a mirror of our spiritual maturity and a reaction to a message that encourages “necessity, meaningfulness, recognition, and gratitude.”

Giving also depends on the capacity to give.  Challenging people to be mindful of a behavior of giving spurs people to progress to a more meaningful engagement with their faith.  That involves their time, aptitudes and resources.

It is possible to create a giving movement when there is a shared sense of purpose, vision, and mission among the church staff and leadership.  Sharing the possibilities and hope of accomplishing community missions can compel donors to give.  During these stressful financial times why not help the donor as they help you by incorporating the donation in the purschase of a product.

Fundraising by selling products has been around for a long time and can make giving easier for those strapped for extra cash.   With difficult economic times, this type of giving is good common sense since it helps the donor simultaneously.   Offering a meaningful product that a donor can purchase for themselves or give as a gift allows them to give AND to receive.  It strengthens the spirit, and spreads the word.

Wishing you properous fundraising,

Lucinda

Think about it,
Lucinda

Here’s my two cents worth on the ASK…

1. Build trust.  Start off honestly, sincerely and from your heart.  Tell us why you personally are writing the letter.

2. Be a storyteller and share circumstances about peoples lives that have changed because of the money you have raised for your non profit.  When you share a great success story you immediately establish credibility.  Compelling stories move people to support a cause.

3.  Ask BIG!  Don’t hold back on what you ask for.  People will give what they can but you need to share the need for giving EVEN if it seems like a lot to ask.

4. Spell it out.   Let them know how their gift can be used.   Correlate dollar amounts to services needed by your clients.  They see how donations of different levels can help pay for heat, rent, food for a family any service your non profit provides. They connect on a deeper level and the donation becomes more meaningful.

5. Be Humble.  Recognize the current economy and how it effects donations.  The donor can understand a real human need and are more likley to empathize with these difficult times.

I hope my two cents makes sense to you and helps your non profit stand out from all those envelopes.

Cheers and Happy Fundaraising!

Lucinda

Does your donor know you?   As part of your online strategy, integrating compelling videos and pictures will deliver memorable online experiences and promote sharing through your website, Facebook, and Youtube.

Do you recognize the small donor?   The Obama campaign proved just how much small donations had a huge impact.  When you demonstrate that X dollar donation equates to X in services AND give examples such as (X$ donation-feeds 10 families). This creates an online high touch experience for potential new donors and reinforces the loyal supporters choice to give.

Are you accountable to your donors?   With everyone asking for a click donation it’s important to create a high value proposition succinctly explaining how results and long term sustainability will be achieved within your project or organization.  Your donors have the right to expect accountability.

Don’t be fooled though.  Although, social media offers good tools, the click will not replace the necessary human connection that we require.  I use social media for communication but I change the world one pin at time, one person at a time.

Check out Beth Kanter, an expert in Social Media for the non profit.

Let’s stay connected and happy fundraising,
Lucinda