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These tips can help local organizations to raise funds and heighten community awareness.

1. Focus on individual successes. Focus presentations on how your nonprofit has aided individuals. Tell how you aided a particular child with new hospital equipment or a new laptop.
2. Volunteer in another organization’s campaign. Learn how others raise money.
3. Look back to see who provided leadership and support in the past. Include them in your current fund-raising efforts.
4. Understand the role of consultants. Learn how to use consultants most effectively to build your board and staff’s capacity to raise funds.
5. Creatively use feasibility studies. A consultant’s survey of your donors can tell you what they are willing to give—what efforts they are willing to support and at what level.
6. Assess benefits you offer members. Ask people what they want. For example, a parking pass may be more valuable than a concert ticket, and a decal may draw no interest.
7. Offer premiums to donors who send in a gift. Ask businesses to underwrite the premium and let donors know if the premium affects the tax-deductibility of gifts.
8. Ask for a specific amount. Tell potential donors what dollar amount you want.
9. Build on leadership gifts. Campaigns are built on gifts from those who are especially committed and who lay the foundation with large gifts. Dedicate special efforts to cultivating such cornerstone donors. Avoid asking everyone to give the same amount.
10. Circulate a list of foundation trustees among key supporters. Tap the contacts of those already committed to your organization and its mission.
11. Report development progress at every board meeting. Make it interesting and get board members involved in fund-raising.
12. Schedule a planned giving seminar. Start with the board. Consider linking information on planned giving with other events you sponsor.
13. Build a foundation of fund-raising materials. See Advocates’ bibliography on the subject at http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/publications/frtp/financial.pdf
14. Ask for business cards at every event. Collect cards with name, address, and phone numbers. These provide a prospect file for your next fund-raiser.
15. Expect questions about accountability. Welcome such questions and be ready to tell people what you spend on fund-raising.

October 2005

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