FRC/Principles

Key Concepts and Principles

 * People give to people. (OMAFRA)


 * People give when they are asked, and rarely when they are not.(Kim Klein, Grassroots Fundraising)


 * People will not give to what they do not know about.


 * Donors are not ATMs,they must be thanked and kept notified of your organization's actions on a regular basis.(Kim Klein, Grassroots Fundraising)


 * People have the right to say no, the better you deal with an individual when they say no, the more likely they are to reconsider next time you ask for a donation.(Kim Klein, Grassroots Fundraising)


 * People are more likely to give if you have been able to move them either intellectually, or emotionally, or both.


 * The closer you get to a person face-to-face, the higher your chances of getting a donation are.(Communitytoolbox, 'Fundraising Principles')


 * Time is not money. Fundraising is marketing, and marketing is fundraising.(Communitytoolbox, 'Fundraising Principles')


 * Place your eggs in many baskets. The organization will be more protected if it raises funds from a diversified group of sources.(Toolkit for Program Sustainability, Capacity Building, and Volunteer Recruitment/Management)

Key Facts

 * 40% of all FR effort goes into sales; only 5% of revenue comes from sales.


 * The poorest give the most.


 * People give, not corporations. 80% of donations are made by individuals, not corporations. (Kim Klein,Grassroots Fundraising)


 * The 60/10 rule: 60% of your money will come from 10% of your donors.(Communitytoolbox, 'Fundraising Principles')

The Three Traits of an Effective Fundraiser
(From Kim Klein's 'The Ten Most Important Things you never knew about Fundraising')

1)A strong belief in the cause for which you are fundraising, and the ability to maintain such a belief even in the face defeats and insecurities.

2)The ability to have high hopes, but low expectations and as a result be pleased often, yet rarely disappointed.

3)An enduring faith in the goodness of people.

Getting The Word Out
(Since people will not give to what they don't know about)
 * Public Relations:Communicaring the right message, to the right audience.
 * Publicity: Information with news vale released as a means of getting public attention, and support for a cause.
 * Advertising: Giving notice to the public about a specific event or issue. Should include; date, time, place, cost and other vital details key to attracting individuals.Examples include; posters in stategic public areas, leaflets or flyers mailed out or otherwise distributed, local paper publications, newsletters (both in your own and in other organization's newletters when possible), a media release, or finally radio broadcasting of the event.(Canadian School Boards Association, 'A Fundraising Guide')

The Planning Process
The planning process is vital to a successful fundraising campaign. The key steps to planning include the following;
 * Gather a small group of stakeholders together
 * Set the objectives for the activity
 * Explore all the ways the money can be raised
 * Decide from the money will be raised
 * Decide how much can be raised from each one
 * Establish a budget
 * Develop the timetable
 * Deliver the event
 * Conduct an evaluation(Canadian School Boards Association, 'A Fundraising Guide')

Potential Sources of Funding

 * Special Events Fundraising
 * Individual Donations
 * Business Contributions
 * Foundations
 * Government Grants(OMAFRA)

Types of Events
Audience Participation:
 * Garden walks
 * Art shows and exhibitions
 * Craft and hobby shows
 * Dances
 * Fairs and Festivals
 * Casino nights
 * Card Parties and Bingo

Food and Drink Events:
 * Dinners
 * Luncheons
 * Fashion Shows
 * Coffees and Teas
 * Wine and cheese parties
 * Community dinners
 * Ethnic dinners
 * Picnics
 * Potluck suppers

Holiday Events:
 * Christmas
 * New Years's Eve
 * Valentine's Day
 * Earth Day
 * Halloween
 * Thanksgiving
 * Easter

Merchandise Events:
 * Auction
 * Antique Shows
 * Raffles
 * Rummage sales
 * Flea markets
 * Garage sales
 * Bazaars
 * Book sales
 * Plant sales
 * Merchandise sales
 * Produce sales

Entertainment:
 * Plays and musicals
 * Film Screenings
 * Concerts
 * Lectures

Athletic Events:
 * 10K, Half Marathon
 * Bike, Bowl, Walk-a-thons (Betty Stallings & Donna McMillion 'How to Produce Fabulous Fundraising Events)

MONEY IS THE MEANS TO AN END(THE SUCCESS OF YOUR ORGANIZATION)-KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE!!(Communitytoolbox, 'Fundraising Principles')