Recently I received an announcement that our local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is having a showing and discussion of Uncharitable, a feature-length documentary that “exposes the dark side of philanthropy and introduces a radical new way of giving.” That intrigued me. I learned the title comes from a book of the same name by Dan Pallotta, which led me to this TED Talk.
It’s fascinating and I wanted to share it! See what you think.
We all have some way of thanking our donors formally for gifts to our organizations. It might be an email or a postal letter. But then what? Are you done? Not if you want that donor to make the next gift.
Gillian Cole-Andrews recently shared ideas for making an annual calendar for continuing to engage your donors.
Certainly you can juggle some of these around or substitute different activities. The point is to create a annual plan for yourself to make donor appreciation and cultivation manageable.
For further reading:
We recently had the question at Spokes, “What are the pros and cons of using independent contractors for fundraising and basing their fee on the amount of money raised?” Good question!
The answer? Well, when done correctly, it is legal, but there are lots of steps that must be taken. In addition, there are ethical and practical issues that you really need to consider before taking this route. If you or your board is considering this approach, Spokes recommends you carefully review the following references, in order.
Compensating Nonprofit Fundraisers – this is a good overview that gives pros and cons.
Professional Fundraising Consultants and Grantwriters – Pay particular attention to the section, “Did you know?”
California Attorney General’s Guide for Charities – California is a state that does require both the fundraising professional or company to be registered and the charity/nonprofit to follow specific procedures as to contracting, etc. See Chapter 9.
AB5 issue. – Finally, be aware that California now has very stringent rules with regard to employees versus independent contractors. Basically, a person is an employee unless “proven otherwise.” There is a list of exceptions that includes “grant writer” but not fundraising consultants.
As we watch the world slowly return to a new normal after a global crisis, it’s important to assess which fundraising strategies we have used during the pandemic are worthwhile to continue. Traditional and long-standing fundraising plans have been replaced with more flexible and innovative ideas. Some nonprofits enjoy and find value in online fundraising while others anxiously await in-person events.
Did the pandemic strengthen or strain your organization’s online presence? No matter how your nonprofit decides to fundraise post-pandemic, here are five resources that may offer ideas and guidance.
The European Fundraising Association surveyed over 800 charitable organizations on the skills they have relied on to persevere during the pandemic and reported that digital fundraising capabilities and strategic financial planning are two of the most crucial skills to maintain in a post-pandemic world.
The Chronicle of Philanthropy covers what fundraisers hope will stick post-pandemic, which could mean changing the traditional rules of fundraising and relying on donor trust to fundraise for unknown potential and possibilities.
NonProfit Pro provides examples of innovative uses of online fundraising and how they can remain useful post-pandemic. Volunteers of America Illinois utilizes Facebook for donor acquisition, United Service Organization conducts virtual fireside chats to connect with donors, and the Boys & Girls Club of America has begun to evolve their fundraising messaging to be more strength and equity based.
Nonprofit Tech for Good lists fundraising trends which resulted from the pandemic such as virtual events, recurring giving, strong connections with other organizations, and more.
AFP outlines fundraising planning in 2021 and preparing for a new era with suggestions such as holding hybrid in-person and online events, re-examining your donor database, and remaining intentional about increasing diversity in all aspects of your nonprofit.
With billions of dollars given away through grants each year, it’s no wonder nonprofits often rely on them as major components of their annual funding. Grants are an excellent way to fundraise for your organization—however, the process can be intimidating.
Grant writing is the process of requesting funding provided by a private, corporate, or government grant maker. Grant seeking can be competitive, which is why it is important for grant writers to write clear, logical, and tailored proposals.
The Writing Center at University of Wisconsin-Madison examines the basics of planning and writing a grant proposal.
One way to begin is to obtain background information on your potential funder. What are their goals and values? How does your nonprofit align with them? This way you can adapt your proposal to further persuade your potential funder. Make sure to review the grant’s expectations to make sure your organization meets the requirements and follows the instructions.
To establish credibility, present your organization as knowledgeable, capable, and forward thinking. Reference past accomplishments where appropriate. Outline your information knowledgeably and concisely—don’t be afraid to be direct!
Once you are ready to start writing your proposal, review the main elements generally included in one:
Other sections may be required. For nonprofits, funders may ask for organizational qualifications in which you would describe the nature, mission, and function of your organization.
For more grant writing tips:
Candid’s free introductory training on proposal writing
Guiding nonprofits to achieve their goals through support and expert resources.
Spokes welcomes local professionals who would like to share their expertise in support of the nonprofit sector.
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