Another Six Reasons for Lackluster Fundraising Results
Will you reach your funding goal in 2013? It's a matter of your creativity, openness, and persistence. Be creative about how you describe your program. Think of the different benefits or issues surrounding it and then write about each one on different occasions
Accept awards and declinations
evenly. Don't make a the declination letter the final word. Return to
the prospect to get specific reasons for the decision. If you make the necessary changes, do so and resend at the next scheduled submission period. Keep at the job
of fundraising. Don't let the effort drop off.
More Reasons for Lackluster Fundraising Results:
- Fear of rejection. Does asking for something and not getting it have you feel you're not good enough? Perish the thought. Funders have deadlines, budgets, and changes in funding priorities without giving the public advance notice. Motivate yourself to move past the fear by giving a high-five to yourself or someone else in the organization or quietly thank yourself for submitting the proposal or making the call.
- No follow through on requests. Don't let money slip through your fingers because you didn't submit the requested additional information or didn't schedule the visit. Write it on your wall calendar and input in your smartphone.
- Lack of stamina to do repeat requests. The sources of stamina in this work are confidence and optimism. See #1 and put on the calendar or funding software the date of the next deadline for that prospect. Low stamina may also be a nutritional issue. Reduce the sugar, dairy, caffeine, and wheat; Increase the fruits, vegetables, water and sunlight.
- There's only one message-and that's limited. Think like a marketer and study the facets of your program; then describe each facet in many ways.
- Over reliance on few sources-even Sugar Daddies get tired of their sweet things. In short, diversifying your funding base is crucial. Make it a practice to uncover the supporters of programs similar to yours. Then do prospect research to learn whether whether that supporter's funding guidelines cover your project.
- You don't make it easy to give. Some people write checks; others want to use PayPal, a credit card, or send a text that get's charged to the telephone. Explore the payment options and learn the demographic most likely to use each one.
Labels: advertising, brand recognition, capital formation, donations, ego, fundraising, nonprofit
posted by Unknown @ 7:27 AM
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