1. RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT TIPS
With recommendations from fund raising guru Gail Perry

2. General Information It’s all about relationships
If you want money ask for advice; if you want advice, ask for money
Identify someone as the point person/committee chair
Have a committee (the entire board?)
Everyone—board and staff—needs to be engaged
Donors need to know that you exist—be bold in promoting your work
Make it positive—donors want to be part of a winning operation. Never use desperation as a fund raising hook

3. Personal Solicitation
Make the conversation about the donor
What inspired your gift?
What part of our work most interests you?
Ask for advice and input
Listen more than talk!

4. Personal Solicitation
Power Questions Your Major Gift Donor Will Love
Here’s a natural, friendly and much more successful approach to major gift fundraising.
I’m showing you how to develop a warm, easy relationships with your major gift prospects.  Relationships where they feel heard and understood. A relationship that builds trust and credibility.
When you take a donor-centered approach to a major gift, you let the donor lead the way. She feels entirely in control. She never feels “presented” to or pushed.
And she’s much more likely to end up with a generous major gift coming from her heart – and she’s with you for the long term.
With this approach, you are continually qualifying your donor in terms of her interest. Should you continue to invest time with her? Or turn to another donor prospect? 
Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.

5. Direct Mail Commercial mailing requires a fairly large donor pool
FCH Results: Sent 7,300 letters, got 350 back—5%
You can still have a successful mail campaign—do it yourself!
Successful appeals are as much art as science
Successful appeals are ‘you’ rather than ‘we’ directed
Successful appeals touch the donors’ hearts and minds
Use newsletters as fund raisers

6. Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.
Direct Mail
How to Create a Donor-Centered Fundraising Letter
Are you wondering how to really nail a donor-centered fundraising letter?
Are you trying to create a letter for your annual campaign that can grab hold of your donor’s attention quickly?
And do you want to write a letter that just makes your donor feel wonderful that they are part of your cause?
Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.

7. Special Events Require dedication of time and energy
Make it good or don’t bother
Recurring annual/signature events can build name identification/loyalty
Small, more intimate events can be very effective

8. Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.
Special Events
My Top 5 Secrets to Make Porch Parties a Fundraising Winner Every Time
Casual, small social events like Porch Parties can be terrific tools for fundraising.
You probably know that lots of fundraising happens in a quasi-social environment.
You can open the door to a new prospect, touch base with a donor, and find out what’s on a prospect’s mind.
Casual chitchat can reveal a donor’s hot buttons, how they feel about your organization, and how engaged they are in your cause.
Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.

9. Year End
It’s the most important fund raising season for most nonprofits
Create and follow a year-end plan
Personal contact
Christmas Cards
Letters
Social media push—especially at the end of the year

10. Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.
Year End
Top 10 Year-End Fundraising Tips
It’s year-end fundraising time!
Here are my top year-end fundraising tips to help you raise the most money possible this year-end!
You probably feel like there are so many possible fundraising strategies to consider.
Where should you focus?
I’d say be sure to cover these basic top year-end fundraising tips – what every successful year-end campaign should be doing this year.  And every year.
Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.

11. Follow Up! Thankyou letters within 48 hours Phone calls
Focus on the donor rather than your work— more you’s than we’s
Let the donor know how their gift has impacted lives
Consider including a note from a beneficiary
Phone calls
Personal visits
Annual thank-a-thon

12. Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.
Donor Happiness
Take Our Donor-Happiness Quiz
Mr. Donor, How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I hope you are happy with my organization, Mr. Donor! I hope you will stick around and become a die-hard long term supporter!
Your donors are your “money in the bank” because they are funding your work.
Without funding, we’d all be pretty much dead in the water.
So what do you owe your donors? Tons, I think.
And could you possibly see your donors as partners with you who want to change the world as much as you do?
Gail Perry’s Blog- used w/ permission © Gail Perry & Assoc.

13. Other Resources: Planned Giving
Bequests, remainder trusts, annuities, etc.
Identify a support agency (e.g. Everance)
Include Legacy brochure in mailings

14. Planned Giving

15. Grants Many foundations give locally
The Foundation Center is an excellent resource
We can help identify potential grantors in your area
Grant writing is as much common sense as science
Grant writing requires good and current record keeping
Financials
Families/Individuals/Demographics served

16. Facebook fundraisers
This is especially effective when individuals launch a fundraiser, rather than the organization itself. Here’s how to make a fundraiser.

17. Communications Tips It’s not about you, it’s about them
Donors like to feel that they are part of something
Stay in regular, but not invasive, communications
Learn how to use social media to stay in touch
Focus on results rather than just the need