Getting the extra resources to be successful or the Seven Habits of Successful Fundraisers

 What do cadets need?  What helps recruiting and grows the program?  What builds their future?  What is fun for cadets?

What it takes to put money in the bank.

 Who you know is critical  Do you know people, businesses or foundations with money?  How are you related or are they related to your school or JROTC?  Your relationship is the key to opening the door.

 Who are you working with? For color guards, community service, your own school, service learning  Think in concentric circles from near to far  Who supports or works with youth?  In a partnership, both parties prosper from the relationship.

One million high schoolers attend Young Life per year

JCLC in Oregon

 Take no for an answer- it can take ten no’s to make one yes  Ask for little and ask for big- all the little requests add up  Ask according to the ability of the askee to give support  Ask when the time is right

 Prime the pump with your current resources  Leverage your success  Leverage cadet leadership and need

 People want to double their investment  Will your partner match?  Match two sources with each other

 Sniff out all leads and beat the bushes  Check every way your school can help  Use every benefit

 Put your S-5 and S-6 to work  Newspapers, social networking and the media  Use your web site and others  Let the cadets do the talking

It takes money to make money

 List 25 ideas of ways to make money  Have cadets only come up with 25 ideas  Best ideas are ones that involve low time and high profit  Best ideas are ones that involve low financial input or risk and produce high profit

 Different from grants- can be verbal or involve a one page written request  KISS or Just the Facts  The request matches the need  Timely, strike while the iron is hot  Follow up, but do not pressure

 Cadet projects  School fundraisers  Parent support group  Concession sales

 Sell a buffalo  Gifts in kind  Your school can do more  Get a big name and a small donation  Who supports or works with youth?

$$$ Break $$

The Who, What, When, Where and How of Gaining Support

 Study, preparation and investigation are critical  Birddog the net  Understand how you link  People that support youth  People that support troubled youth  People that support service learning

 In most cases, you must be invited to submit a grant.  Who can link you to the foundation or fund?  What relationship or partnership can link you?

 What do you ask for?  Match you grant request to a specific need or program  Present a matching opportunity to increase or double a grant  Investigate to see how much or how large a granting organization gives

 Not too soon, but never late  Deadline for submittal  Upon request  When your need must be filled

 Produce a generic program accomplishments letter  Get your facts straight  Count the costs  Find grants, foundations, trusts on the internet or from a Foundation Directory

 Never pay to have grants written  Cadre writes grants  Study grant writing formats  Is a letter of inquiry or specific request format required  Make an emotional appeal  Make a factual appeal  Play to your strengths and successes  Focus on meeting needs

 Have experienced success  Appeal a second, third, fourth time  Develop key relationships and partnerships  Run high-quality, successful programs  Think outside the box  Use a shotgun  Spend hours on the internet and with USA Today

 The pro level is for pros  Put on your pay attention eyes and ears  Rarely miss a fat pitch  Know how to ask for the max  Leverage all opportunities  Have learned TDS  Do good follow-up

 Step one- write a one page cover letter which presents a specific need and a specific request amount  Step two- make a grant request which follows the foundation requirements  Step three- be prepared to produce an annual budget or program budget related to the specific request

 Always write about costs or expenses that are already covered- JROTC covers staff salaries, admin costs, automation- this shows that up to 100% of the grant goes to cadets or need  Always show how you will measure the success of your program and evaluate the value to the foundation  Always present youth with special needs- dealing with drugs, suicide, abuse

 Establish a boilerplate request and be able to produce a request in 10 minutes  Set a target goal of 10, 20 or 30 requests for the year  Hit a home run and never miss a foundation grant that is offered to you  Keep studying and building resources  Keep it all on computer and on file

 ex. 1404