Five Rs of Fundraising

Whether you’re raising funds for a local community-benefit organization or a chapter of a college fraternity, there’s one approach to generating donations that’s sure to prove successful. Consider how much time and effort goes into planning small and major special events.  Now, imagine that same effort strategically targeted toward cultivating a lifetime donor…a fan who loves and supports your organization and its mission over the long term.  This single concept, so often ignored, can make the difference between surviving from event to event and having a steady stream of program-sustaining money coming into your nonprofit.  Nothing will net rewards with your donors like relationship building.

The following Five Rs of Fundraising, was created by Fraternity Management Group, many years ago, and used when managing each of its clients. Its application, however, can be used by all non-profit organizations. While many organizations believe that coordinating special events is the ideal method for raising funds, building relationships with current and prospective donors generates far greater sustainability.

Consider the Five Rs of fundraising:

Research
This forms a solid basis of understanding of your chapter’s or organization’s fundraising endeavors, not to mention its individual alumnus and/or constituent relations. From basic records management to in-depth interviews, information is key to success. With proper research, the interests, needs, charitable backgrounds, professional experiences, personal connections and links to your chapter/organization are identified and recorded.

Recruiting
This phase is going on constantly, but primarily during the same time frame as heavy research. Volunteer leaders, including initiation/graduating class representatives, development committee members, and campaign steering chairpersons play integral roles in successful fundraising campaigns. The amount of work involved and the number of prospective contributors and volunteers connected with the chapter or organization, who must be contacted, requires proper recruitment and management.

Romance
Commonly called cultivation, this is perhaps the most important part of the process. All contact with prospective contributors is a form of cultivation. Every newsletter, email, phone call, tweet or Facebook message, event, and publicity item serves to inform and pique the interest your organization’s potential supporters. Romancing these alumni, parent, volunteer, and community leaders occurs on a regular basis leads to strategic and successful solicitations. The goal is to encourage prospects to become actively engaged and connected. 

Request
This is the good part, where individual prospects are asked, or invited, to invest in the chapter or organization. It’s important to note that the levels of gift size and donor satisfaction are increased with proper romancing or cultivation. Actual soliciting of contributions is carried out by key organization leaders and volunteers who are personally engaged in the organization and connected to the person(s) being solicited. 

Recognition
Early, frequent, and creative ways to thank volunteers and donors will insure that they stay involved and invested in your chapter or organization. It breeds proper stewardship of future donations of time and dollar. It also sets a pattern which other prospects will notice, which be a determining factor when they’re asked to contribute funds.

Every contact, with every individual prospect, involves one or more of the Five R’s. Planning ahead and maximizing the effectiveness of those contacts is what will drive your chapter or organizations closer to its fundraising goal.

This blog was crafted for Fraternity Management Group, a leader in college fraternity alumni/parent relations and fundraising. However, it can easily be integrated into non-profit fund development programs. For more information about Fraternity Management Group, feel free to contact them at 800-228-7326 and info@fmgtucson.com.

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