Fundraising smooth

Want your next fundraiser to run more smoothly? Here are ten tips to help you create a marketing plan for success.

Put your project plan in writing - Run your fundraiser like a business. A written project plan that defines all the roles and responsibilities is your plan for success.

Create a timeline - Make sure the beginning and end are both firm. Make sure your project does not conflict with other major events where the constituency is likely to participate.

Recruit, recruit, recruit (volunteers that is) - Let the community you serve know that you need people to help with more supportive of your goals. People who volunteer do so because they are asked. So ask! Use your newsletter, website and word of mouth to help in your recruitment efforts.

Incorporate your website - did not you? There is no better time than today to create one. Your website should be used to communicate goals, thank your sponsors, recognize successes, honor individual contributors, tell coming events, etc. Be sure to promote the website on all marketing materials.

Looking to the past to plan for the future - See what has been successful before. Review your records. Identify areas needing improvement. What have you done more? Do it again! Is there something you've always done which is in decline. Examine the reasons for the decline. Maybe it's time to change course or find a new event. If your stakeholders are bored with a project, chances are, so is the audience you serve.

Defining roles - meeting the needs of your organization with the skills of volunteers and availability by including those written in the description of volunteer position.

Move people around - unless you have a good reason to switch roles, add new people (with a good track record) in those organizational roles that you move forward your fundraising. Do this in advance. Provide adequate training.

The early bird gets the "voluntary" - Let the community know early and often on what volunteers need. recruit more volunteers than you think you need. In this way, nobody feels overworked. And, of course, those volunteers will be able to pick up the game in the other events do not follow through as expected. They volunteer registration forms to every event and meeting landlords organization.

Recruit a volunteer to be the coordinator of volunteers - A strong communicator who will help assign and place volunteers would be the best choice. Some people are a natural for this role.

Set realistic targets - Break those goals in what is needed from each subgroup. Tell them the consequences of their participation, and what might happen if they follow through. Let the volunteers know the importance of their roles and what is in it for them. Rewarding volunteers based on their individual and group success.

© 2005 - Heidi Richards