So ... You're a Fundraiser!
4. Hold regular conference calls with major donors and stakeholders to check in about issues with your agency, fundraising, programs and to also appreciate those who are doing a good job. If you communicate about what you need, you’re more likely to get it.
5. Be open about your mistakes. This makes people trust you more.
6. Focus on vision. It’s up to you to uphold the vision of the nonprofit. If you’re the sole staff person, you need to keep clear on the long-term vision as well as the short-term vision. What needs to get done right now? What about down the road?
7. Get help. This means one-off help with virtual assistants as well as longer-term interns or volunteer help. Recruit volunteers with idealist.org, volunteermatch.org and corporate volunteers. Here’s more about how to find volunteers.
8. Start a monthly giving program.
9. Get more donors and board members by doing speaking engagements. Once you connect with a corporation, you have to get in front of potential donors and board members. Ask to speak to their marketing director, corporate responsibility officer or brand manager. Ask them if you could come in and speak about your organization, or do a performance for their employees during their lunch hour.
This is how we got our foot in the door for a small nonprofit I worked for, and it really works. You don’t want to just ask for something straight off the bat. You want to show them what you’re about. Big corporations are full of people who are craving deeper meaning and deeper experiences in their lives, and your nonprofit can offer that.
10. When you go for your performance or speaking engagement with them, ask them if anyone would be interested in volunteering, serving on your gala committee or even just coming to your next event.
