Effective Fundraising

always…

• do your homework & be prepared

• put yourself in their shoes

• use your imagination

• be flexible

• be professional

• keep them close

• say thank you…whenever you get the chance

charitable trusts & foundations

• their purpose is to give money away

• 8,000 trusts donate £3billion every year

• research & stay focused

• make connections – internal & external

• read guidelines thoroughly & submit well thought out application

• rarely fund retrospectively – “trusts like to be enablers”

corporate partnerships

• one off or multi year gift

• sponsorship – brand awareness benefits

• staff fundraising – events, etc or payroll giving

• cause related marketing – look for synergies with your project

• pro-bono or secondment

• gifts in kind

• charity of the year – often staff vote

what’s in it for me?

• identify the benefit to both parties

• what impact for your project?

• what impact for their business & customers?

• draw up a contract

• outline the relationship & agree expectations

• reporting, payments & review

friends’ schemes

• regular gift with some benefits in return

• different levels, names & benefits

• aim – to grow a loyal donor base

• consider the purpose of your scheme

• one off project or annual revenue?

• open to anyone or invitation only?

• keep it interesting – vary the benefits

• what benefits will you offer?

• newsletter, events, behind the scene tours of your project,

recognition board…

major donors

• compelling case for support

• involvement of key players

• access to HNWIs

• good research

• engagement opportunities

• patience & resilience

• don’t rush

• willingness to network

• do what you said you would…deliver

• thank, thank, thank!

gift aid

• free money for very little effort

• scheme from HMRC which allows you to increase the value

of gifts from individuals by 25% at no extra cost to the donor

• just need a completed GA declaration

legacies or gifts in wills

• the ultimate gift - often the most valuable

• long term strategy - not immediate results

• “drip-feed” in all communications

• can prepare simple wording to make it easy to do

• remember a charity in your will week

• don’t feel embarrassed to broach the subject

resources to get you started

• talk to everyone you know – local press & business people

• good old www.google.co.uk

• rich lists – www.prospectingforgold.org

• local library – directory of grant making trusts,

www.trustfunding.org.uk and www.charitycommission.gov.uk

• your competitors / similar projects – who supports them?

• free funding guide downloadable at www.brick-work.org