Tag Archives: major giving

Five Rs of Fundraising

July 10, 2021Latest Newsannual giving, capital campaign, charitable, charity, cultivation, development, development plan, donation, donor, donor recognition, feasibility study, Five Rs of fundraising, fund development, fundraising, giving, how to raise money, major giving, non-profit, nonprofit, philanthropy, prospect research, relationship, solicit, solicitation, strategic fundraising, volunteerpete

While you’re raising funds for a charitable organization, 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 “Five Rs of Fundraising” was created roughly 25 years ago, while on staff at Fraternity Management Group. Its application, however, can be used by all non-profit organizations. While many organizations believe that coordinating special events is an ideal method for raising funds, building relationships with current and prospective donors generates far greater sustainability. You may want to consider the following Five Rs of fundraising:

Research
This forms a solid basis of understanding of your organization’s fundraising endeavors, not to mention its individual 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 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 development committee members, board 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 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 prospective major donors, volunteers, 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 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 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 organizations closer to its fundraising goal.

How board members can increase funding without asking for money

July 4, 2021Latest Newsask, asking for money, board, board engagement, board involvement, board leadership, board obligation, charity, charity advice, cultivating a donor, fundraising, giving, leadership, major giving, making the ask, nonprofit, nonprofit fundraising, nonprofit management, philanthropy, solicit, solicitation, volunteerpete

One of the biggest fears shared by charitable board members is the fear of asking for money. For most charities, raising funds through board members is a duty and, quite frankly, an obligation. But, when push comes to shove, few board members enjoy tapping their friends, co-workers, and fellow community leaders for financial support. Serving on several boards and directly working with many more, I can readily sense board members who dislike soliciting donations.

But why does there need to be such a fear about raising funds?

Board members are typically recruited to non-profit organizations because of their professional or community influence and affluence. They bring significant experience, knowledge, and connections…the ingredients necessary to represent, govern and generate support for the organizations they serve.

When asked about the sources of resistance, the responses I repeatedly receive include the fear of being asked to return the favor to support a different organization; or fear in receiving a negative response; or, fear of potentially impairing a relationship with a co-worker, client, or vendor. These are tough situations for a board member and, quite honestly, future board members.

Here’s my advice to board members who are hesitant or concerned about asking others for charitable donations.

Work with the charity’s staff leadership, specifically the executive and/or development director, to identify prospective donors with whom you have connections. These can be individuals, businesses, and foundations.

Take it a step further by helping them craft a solicitation strategy for each prospect. While each prospective donor may require a different approach, an appropriate amount of cultivation will advance the relationship-building process between the charity and the potential donor.

One very simple, yet effective action you can take is scheduling an initial meeting between the organization (represented by a lead staff or board member) and the prospect.

Creating the opportunity for the organization to identify and cultivate potential “investors” is what non-profit organizations would love to see from their board leaders. It’s quite possible that by taking these simple, yet effective, steps may influence the raising of more money than anticipated!

Considering a funding campaign?

February 17, 2021Featured, Latest Newsannual funds, annual giving, assessment, board, capital campaigns, charitable giving, feasibility study, fundraising, leadership, major giving, non-profit, philanthropy, pre-campaign, scholarships, solicitation, staff, volunteerpete

Are you thinking about, planning to, or already launching a major funding campaign for your non-profit organization? If so, undertaking a large-scale initiative can be a great deal of fun, which requires significant planning and execution.

We continue to learn about non-profit organizations addressing the implementation of major giving campaigns to fund capital, endowment, and program initiatives. Whether they’re for specific projects or annual operating needs, organizing major funding campaigns can be complex, challenging, and time-consuming projects.

How do you know when your organization is ready for a major campaign?

Answer the following questions to help determine if your non-profit organization is ready for a major campaign.

Do you have strategic short and/or long-range plans for your organization?
Are your organization’s key stakeholders, such as the board, executive director, and key volunteers committed to investing energy, time and money?
What is your organization’s image in the community?
Does your organization have enough staff to handle campaign activities or will you need professional counsel?
Does your organization have a current fund development (fundraising) plan?
What have you done to test your case and campaign goal and recruit campaign leadership?
Do you know how to best utilize your volunteer and staff resources?
Does your organization have a strong public relations plan to complement your campaign?
Have you identified the current and potential donors who have the capacity to make significant contributions?
Are you prepared to create solicitation strategies for each donor?
Does your organization have a campaign gift policy?
Do you have a plan for collection and pledge redemption?

A common mistake made by non-profit organizations is lack of preparation when it comes to major fundraising campaigns. While the questions above should be answered before nearly every funding initiative, preparation of your organization’s most aggressive project will determine its success.

Simple, yet empowering charitable investment ideas

August 14, 2015Latest Newsadvancement, annual giving, benevolence, board leadership, charitable investment, charity, community, community improvement, community investment, community outreach, community relations, corporate giving, creative giving, donate, donation strategy, donor advising, donor choice, fund development, fundraising, how to give, invest, invest your time, investing in charity, investment, major giving, make a difference, making a donation, non-profit, nonprofit giving, nonprofit investment, nonprofit leadership, pay it forward, philanthropy, professional advising, Strategic giving, strategic philanthropy, strategy, volunteer, wise givingpete

Millions of investments are made on a regular basis, mostly for personal or corporate gain. What if a million investments were made each day for the benefit of the community, country, and world? Just because there’s uncertainty with our economy doesn’t mean it needs to be that way with benevolence. Here are a few charitable investment ideas for you to consider.

Invest your time to advance an organization’s mission;
Invest in a future leader by mentoring;
Invest some money to meet a community need;
Invest a smile to brighten another’s day;
Invest your professional skills to complete a critical task;
Invest your voice to cheer and celebrate;
Invest a meal to help feed another;
Invest a little sweat to set up an event;
Invest an idea to create innovative change;
Invest compassion to help others;
Invest an invitation to encourage others to join you;
Invest your attention toward creative ways of giving;
Invest a jacket to warm another;
Invest hands to change the world;
Just Invest…the list can go on and on

Some of these investments can be measured, others provide intangible results. In all cases, the ROI generated is life changing…for the “investor” and each beneficiary.

If you’re interested or ready to make a charitable investment of any kind, give us a call at 775-333-9444 or email us. Our team at NPcatalyst can help you or your company create an empowering charitable investment strategy, find the ideal charitable organization(s), and embrace your own way of giving.

Donors have much to consider when supporting charities

November 27, 2013Latest Newscharity, donation decision, donation strategy, donor philosophy, donor thinking, finding new donors, fundraising, GiftingWishes, HealthCheck, holiday fundraising, major giving, nonprofit, nonprofit consulting, NPcatalyst, Philanthropic advising, philanthropy, selecting a charity, smart giving, Strategic giving, wise givingpete

As the calendar year nears its close, well-organized charities will be orchestrating year-end fundraising campaigns. These initiatives are used to fulfill wish lists, meet annual goals, and fund special projects. As these organizations launch these campaigns, it’s important that they understand donor thinking and strategies during this time of year.

During the holidays, typical donors…

Respond to public, promotional, emotional appeals
Prefer easy access to make a contribution
Make donation amounts of their choice
Seek well-managed organizations
Wish to not be the only donor
Want to know how the money will be used
Choose to support a well-regarded and/or well-managed organization
Expect proper acknowledgement

Saavy donors make informed donation decisions.

Appropriately stated by Charity Navigator, “Smart givers generally don’t give reactively in a knee-jerk fashion. They don’t respond to the first organization that appeals for help. They take the time to identify which causes are most important to their families and they are specific about the change they want to affect.”

Nearly two years ago, NPcatalyst launched a program called HealthCheck, which analyzes charities in five distinct areas of non-profit management and effectiveness. The five areas are:

Institutional Data
Governance
Human Resources
Public Information
Finance & Fund Development

As the holidays are upon us, non-profit directors should consider what drives donors.

Donors say appeals that put a face to the donation (either human or animal) and remind them to help those who are less fortunate at this time of year, are most persuasive. A few thoughts to consider…

Holiday giving is emotional.
Donors are thankful for what they have and give to those who need it.
Donors tend to give more when the online experience is intimate and emotionally coherent.

Stats to consider about major donors…

One-third of donors with $100,000 or more in annual income, indicate all or most of their charitable giving for this year has not been planned ahead of time.
42 percent of households with over $100,000 in income, said receiving a tax deduction was a significant influence on their giving.

Year-end fundraising campaigns are smart strategies used by well-organized charitable organizations.

Click here for a guide designed to help charities orchestrate year-end giving campaigns.

Donors – if you’re looking to create a strategy for giving, contact us.
Charities – if you’re looking to make strong connections with donors, contact us.

Year-end giving statistics

November 30, 2012Latest Newscharity, did you know, donate, fundraising, giving, major giving, nonprofit, philanthropy, smart giving, statistics, talking points, wise giving, year-endpete

It’s the time of year when non-profit organizations need to be conducting fundraising efforts to close the calendar year on positive notes. Year-end giving campaigns are an underutilized tool, which can be used to tap new donor bases and raise new dollars to meet goals, fulfill wish lists, or fund key initiatives.

Below are statistics illustrating the effectiveness and potential value of year-end giving campaigns.

More than 174 million adult Americans plan to give money to charity between Thanksgiving and year-end.
Between 35 percent to 42 percent of online giving happens in November and December.
About 40 percent of online gifts are made in December.
Giving in December brings in about 1/3 of the fundraising dollars.
More than 20% of all giving for the entire year occurs in the last 48 hours of the calendar year.
Online giving happens largely between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Online giving (by dollars) on December 31 is concentrated between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in each time zone.
Donors are projected to give through a variety of channels this holiday season.

Orchestrating year-end giving campaigns is a wise strategy used by charities seeking to generate new dollars from existing and prospective donors.

Click here for a complimentary guide to year-end giving campaigns.

Amazing community opportunities in the Old Pueblo

August 13, 2012Latest NewsArizona, Arizona Oncology Foundation, Beads of Courage, best practices, board, board assessment, board development, board retreat, boardcheck, Branding, Business coaching, capital campaign, Career, charity, charity rating, Charity research, charity search, Coaching, community, community engagement, Consulting, corporate philanthropy, development, donor research, donor strategy, employee volunteerism, facilitation, Feasibilily Study, fraternity, funding, fundraising, Greek Life, HealthCheck, Internship, leadership, major giving, marketing, Media giving, media relations, Mentor Kids USA, nonprofit, online giving, Philanthropic advising, philanthropy, print, Print media, Public relations, Rebranding, service, southern Arizona, Speaking, special event, Strategic giving, strategy, television, Television media, TreeHouse Farm, Tucson, volunteer, Watchdogpete

Summer has been extremely busy for the NPcatalyst team. Rather than spend the warm months surfing waves in the Pacific or backpacking along the Tahoe Rim Trail, we’ve been serving clients and connecting with corporate and charitable leaders across the country.

This past weekend was spent in Tucson, where we met with numerous non-profit officials, social entrepreneurs, and new strategic partners. Here’s a brief list of our new friends:

Beads of Courage – an incredible organization which distributes beads to children being treated for cancer throughout the world.
TreeHouse Farm – an organization which provides an unforgettable experience for children recovering from cancer treatment, serious burns, and congenital heart issues.
The Haven – extraordinary organization which provides substance abuse treatment and housing for men and women.
Arizona Oncology Foundation – a new organization which provides support programs for cancer patients and survivors.
One-on-One Mentoring – an organization which matchs caring adults with at-risk youth.
Pima Prevention Partnership – provides practical solutions to address both individual and community problems, particularly substance abuse related.

They were all introduced to our services, particularly our online gifting tool, GiftingWishes, and our BoardCheck assessment resource.

Saturday was spent in a retreat with one of our new strategic partners. This soon-to-be-launched company will provide job recruitment, leadership development, and career development opportunities to both college students and employers. Much more to follow soon.

It was just another amazing weekend. We hope it leads to many opportunities to continue helping enhance the philanthropic culture in the Old Pueblo. Plus, we may have even landed a new job for a Tucson resident!

Thank you, Tucson, for your hospitality, heat, and spectacular sunsets!

Are you ready for a major fundraising campaign?

October 22, 2010Latest Newsboard, campaign, capital, capital campaign, endowment, feasibility, fundraising, major giving, nonprofit, scholarshippete

By Pete Parker

Despite the sluggish economy, a handful of non-profit organizations are beginning to consider major giving campaigns to fund capital, endowment and scholarship projects. It’s no secret that major campaigns are among the more extremely difficult and time consuming projects undertaken by organizations.

How do you know when your organization is ready for a major campaign? Here is a list of questions you might consider when determining your organization’s readiness for a major campaign.

Do you have a strategic long-range plan for your organization?
Are your organization’s key stakeholders, such as the board, executive director, and key volunteers, committed to investing energy, time and money?
Does your organization have a positive image in the community?
Does your organization have enough staff to handle campaign activities or will you need external professional counsel?
Does your organization have a current development/fundraising plan?
Have you conducted a pre-campaign assessment to test your case and campaign goal, develop relationships, and recruit campaign leadership?
Do you know how to best utilize your volunteer and staff resources?
Does your organization have a compelling case statement?
Does your organization have a strong public relations effort to complement your fundraising plan?
Have you identified the current and potential donors who have the resources to make significant contributions?
Are you prepared to create solicitation strategies for each donor?
Does your organization have a gift policy?
Do you have a plan for collection and pledge redemption?

A common mistake made by non-profit organizations is lack of preparation when it comes to major fundraising campaigns. While the questions above should be answered before every key initiative (annual fund, board recruitment, membership), preparation of your organization’s most aggressive project will determine its success, both in the short and long terms.

Call for Community-Benefit Organization Information

May 13, 2010Latest Newscharitable giving, community organization, community-benefit, corporate donor, donor, giving strategy, major giving, non-profit, organization profile, volunteerpete

By Pete Parker

It’s no secret that building community strength lies at the heart of my personal and professional missions. I’ve sought to accomplish this by creating opportunities for both community members and organizations, linking organizations to resources (and vice-versa), and opening doors of possibilities.

While I continue working to strengthen community organizations, I actively engage with individual and corporate donors looking to be more strategic with their voluntary and financial gifting. Many are seeking to support organizations which are more aligned with their interests, goals, passions, and capacities to give. It’s exciting to see the synergy created by connecting these potential donors…which make ideal board, major gift and general volunteer candidates…to organizations interested in growth and community impact.

One of these donors, a successful local business, has asked me to present a roster of deserving community-benefit organizations from which they can choose to allocate their voluntary and financial resources. Presenting this list will compliment my next presentation (on June 15), which will be a discussion of the value of establishing community connections. While I know of many community organizations, I would serve as a more valuable resource if I presented a booklet (along with personal insight) of organization profiles.

To make this happen, I’ve designed a simple (3-5 minute) Community Information Profile Form to capture contact information, service opportunities, financial needs, and special event notes for community organizations. All organizations, regardless of location, are welcome to complete the form and, as a result, create a profile for the potential donors with whom I work.

The information form is located at: http://bit.ly/duEi5H.

Please note that your information will not be sold, but may be provided to those interested in learning more about your organization.

Because meeting with other individuals and businesses are planned, all organizations (regardless of geographical location) are encouraged to submit information. Even if just one connection is made, it could be that one connection which spurs a lifetime of outstanding support.