In search of collaborative fundraising
Gayle L. Gifford, ACFRE
Jonathan W. Howard
Our workshop today
● Introductions ● What we’ve
discovered ● Collaboration profiles ● Practice case ● Questions & sharing
Workshop rules: ● This is a first look, not the last
word. ● There are no wrong questions ● Share so we can learn
together
Let’s get started!In a small group, please share brief introductions, key questions and what you want to learn today.
First, a few fundraising essentials● Impact drives income* ● Know & plan for what
you need ● Make connections &
build relationships ● Dare to ask! And ask!
*Tom Suddes & Nick Feller, ForImpact.org
Why collaborate?
So you can achieve something bigger or better than you can achieve alone
Why collaborate in fundraising?
● Make a bigger impact ● Make a stronger case ● Appeal to more donors ● Raise more money ● Sometimes funders insist on it
A few examples
Grants Workplace giving Umbrella events Capital campaigns Annual giving
Grants
Grants collaboration
Benefits● New programs or
expanded impact ● Open new funder doors
● Attractiveness of collaboration to funder
● Learn from each other
Challenges● Who’s on first?
● Truly new money?
● Allocating effort and funding well
● Meeting your real costs
● Takes more time
Workplace giving federations
Workplace giving federations
Benefits● Share in undesignated
dollars
● Raise visibility ● Clout to access private
employer campaigns
● Other funding, e.g cause marketing
Challenges● Qualifying for
federation
● Filings and paperwork
● Distribution formulas
● Freeing up staff and volunteer time
Capital campaigns
YMCA & YWCA Spokane
Gordon Square Arts District, Cleveland
Capital Campaigns
Benefits● Transformational
project ● Couldn’t-wouldn’t
have done it alone?
● Campaign efficiencies
Challenges● Building trust and
common commitment ● More time and effort ● Negotiating
agreements
● Negotiating what’s not in the contract
Umbrella Events
Umbrella events
Benefits ● Gives you a big, ready-
made event ● Tools to help you
fundraise
● Event organizers handle logistics, insurance, etc.
Challenges● Organizer makes the
rules
● Must share space with others
● Not your brand
● Donor engagement and retention
Annual Giving
Annual giving
Benefits● Grew from $700K to
$1.5 M
● 700 subscribers, 35,000 theater goers
● More skilled, capable back office operation
● More donors, options and opportunities
Challenges● Educating some
funders
● Lots of meetings
● Program equity
What makes for success?
● Big vision
● Time & talk
● Honesty, transparency, trust
● Right partners
● Shared values
● Detailed agreements ● Flexibility, adaptability,
improvisation
● New entity as needed
Questions?
ACTIVITY
● Work in groups ● Choose a school ● Develop a vision and funding
strategy ● Design a collaboration ● Invent facts as needed
Thank you!● Please visit www.ceffect.com for more on our cases and updates
as we continue to explore collaboration.
● While you’re there, please sign up for our free monthly newsletter.
● Contact us at [email protected] or [email protected]
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