Center for Leadership Development FUNDING YOUR ORGANIZATION

Center for Leadership Development THE NEED FOR DIVERSITY  Prevent Dependence  Provide Flexibility and Creativity  Build Your Reputation

Center for Leadership Development FIRST THINGS FIRST… Your Reputation is key— The most important aspect of fundraising is excellent public relations, that is, ensuring that your community has a strong, positive impression of your organization --The Complete Guide to Nonprofit Management by Smith Bucklin & Associates

Center for Leadership Development Marketing and Public Relations  Develop a Marketing Plan Billboards PSAs Newspaper Articles and Op Eds Pro Bono Advertising and Marketing Public Speaking

Center for Leadership Development FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES  INDIVIDUALS Direct Solicitations Direct Mail Special Events Online giving Planned Giving & Bequests

Center for Leadership Development FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES  Corporate Foundations Sponsorships Other creative ways

Center for Leadership Development FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES  Government Contracts for Service Grants

Center for Leadership Development FUNDING OPPORTUNITY  Private and Community Foundations Family Foundations Community Foundations National Foundations Public Foundations

Center for Leadership Development FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES  Fee for Service  Associated for profit activities  Investments

Center for Leadership Development IMPORTANT FACTORS IN RAISING $  Proper Accounting  Public Awareness  Proper Record Keeping  ALWAYS THANK DONORS and KEEP in Touch  A Good Database

Center for Leadership Development BOARD AND STAFF ROLES  Board Roles & Responsibilities Development Committee Outreach and Marketing Special Events  Donors  Ambassadors  Identify Potential Donors  Make introductions  Ask

Center for Leadership Development BOARD & STAFF ROLES  ED and Staff Roles and Responsibilities Research potential donors and foundations Support and coordinate Board efforts Write grants Negotiate fee for service contracts Provide all information and donation processing and accounting Ask (ED)

Center for Leadership Development Where to Start?  What is in Your Strategic Plan and Budget?  Collect Needed Information  Create a Case Statement  Develop a Fund Raising Plan

Center for Leadership Development Strategic Plan  What do you want to accomplish?  How much money do you need to do it?  How much money do you have to do it?  Which fund raising types fit best for each need?

Center for Leadership Development Budget: How Much Does It Cost?  Include the ENTIRE cost of the program or service!  How much do you need to raise?

Center for Leadership Development What to Communicate  What is your track record of performance?  Why are your needs urgent and compelling?  Who will benefit from my gift?  How will I know your will actually deliver what you are promising?

Center for Leadership Development DIRECTMAILSOLICITATIONS

NEEDS  Updated, Accurate Mailing List  Adequately Designed Database  A Compelling Story  Facts to Support Your Need  A Good Writer  Board Members  Budget

Center for Leadership Development The Mechanics of Direct Mail Pieces  Length  Format  Addressee  Signature  Handwritten Note  PS  Envelopes & Postage  Response Cards  Other

Center for Leadership Development Content  Personalize It  Opening Line  Tell a Story  Explain How to Alleviate the Problem  Avoid Negative Words  Give Time Frame for Donation  Ask For a Donation of a Specific Amount  Thank the Potential Donor  PS

Center for Leadership Development Administration  THANK YOUs  Track Responses  Try Again  Thanks Again

Center for Leadership Development GRANTS

Center for Leadership Development Need for Funding Research Foundations Do you meet their criteria? Further Research Selected Foundation Is your project a good match with their funding priorities? Call the Foundation to discuss your idea

Center for Leadership Development The Need for Funding  What is it you are trying to fund?  Why is it important that this be funded?  How much do you need?

Center for Leadership Development Initial Foundation Research  What to look for:  Mission/Purpose  Geographic Area Served  Any Other Criteria that effects eligibility  Select only those foundations whose eligibility criteria you meet

Center for Leadership Development Where to Find the Information  Online Guidestar Foundation Center Others  Your Local Library Foundation Directories

Center for Leadership Development More Research…  Check their website and 990  Funding priorities/Specific areas of interest  Grants recently given to other NFPs—for what purpose and how much?  Board and Staff Members  Review all forms, instructions, deadline information, etc.  Call them and discuss your ideas with them

Center for Leadership Development The Conversation  Introduce yourself and your organization  Let them know what need you have identified and your ideas for addressing it-- ask for their feedback on it.  Ask if it is something they might consider funding

Center for Leadership Development You’ve Gotten the Go Ahead  Read the proposal instructions carefully and follow them  I Cover Sheet  II Narrative  III Attachments

Center for Leadership Development Proposal Narrative  A. Executive Summary  B. Community Need & Target Population  C. Goals & Program Planning  D. Program Accountability

Center for Leadership Development Executive Summary  1 page only  Description of program/project  Need  Target Population  Goals  Services  Program/project duration  Amount Requested

Center for Leadership Development Community Need & Target Population  Who do you plan to serve and why  What is the need (supported by facts) that you are addressing

Center for Leadership Development Goals & Program Planning  Goals & Objectives  Goals are broad objectives are narrow.  Goals are general intentions; objectives are precise and measurable.  Goals are intangible; objectives are tangible.  Goals are abstract; objectives are concrete.  Goals can't be validated as is; objectives can be validated.

Center for Leadership Development Planning  Describe research about your model  Who else is doing this (Different from B(3))  Describe participant involvement in planning  Describe service delivery in detail  Describe anticipated challenges  Describe staff qualifications or development  Describe how your request relates to the foundation’s mission, core values and strategies

Center for Leadership Development Cost Effectiveness  Is your program/project cost effective?  No national studies available for comparison--Use  Experience  Similar Programs  Alternative Service Costs  Your cost vs. documented future costs saved

Center for Leadership Development Use of Program Data  Measure effectiveness  Program improvement  Future support

Center for Leadership Development Financial Information: Program/Project  Line Item Budget and Justification  Other Funding Requests for Project  In-kind Support  Ongoing Future Funding

Center for Leadership Development Financial Information: Overall Organization  Past, present and future budgets  List of revenue sources and amounts  Audit or 990

Center for Leadership Development Other Supporting Materials  IRS letter of Determination  List of Board Members and their Associations  Your most Recent Annual Report  Letters of Support  Evaluation Tools  Staff Resumes

Center for Leadership Development Before You Submit the Proposal  Check for typos  Have someone else you trust with good reading and writing skills review it. (Preferably outside of the field)  Review instructions again  Number the pages

Center for Leadership Development Send it and Wait  Send it as instructed (or )  Wait patiently!  Contact the foundation ONLY if 10 days to 2 weeks have passed since the decision date.

Center for Leadership Development The Answer  YES!!! You’re application is approved.  Sent a thank you letter immediately  Call them  Get moving on the project  Make sure you know all of the reporting requirements

Center for Leadership Development The Answer  No  Call the foundation and thank them for their consideration  Ask how you may improve the application for submission (either to them again) and/or other foundations  Keep in touch

Center for Leadership Development How to do it…Direct Solicitations Why direct solicitations  Most Effective  Least Expensive  Ongoing Support  Most Available

Center for Leadership Development Before You Ask…  Research Potential Donors  Current and past members  Current and past donors  Current and past mailing list  Current and past board members  Current and past volunteers  Current and past program participants  Friends of board, staff, volunteers  Business leaders and others known to have resources

Center for Leadership Development Cultivating Donors  Build Relationships  Get to know them  Let them get to know you  Get them interested in your cause  Keep in touch

Center for Leadership Development ACTION PLANNING  Goals/Objectives  Activities  Responsibilities  Timeframes  Needed Resources

Center for Leadership Development Create Your Plan Category/ Program ObjectiveNeeded Resources Steps and Strategies Responsible Staff Member Responsible Board Member Date Member- ship Increase dues $10,000 over last year Baseline data; Send monthly renewals: create and implement membership development plan ED Chair of Membership Committee 12/31