- Consider approaching funders to request support for start-up costs.
- Hire an Executive Director who is skilled and comfortable at raising the additional portions of the initial budget and at finding funding beyond the initial three-year start-up.
- Develop a three-year budget so that:
- Potential funding sources know their investment is in an organization with a future.
- The Executive Director’s time is not fully dedicated to financial survival.
- In first year, keep programs small, so that the Executive Director can focus on long-term planning and fund-raising.
- Include a minimum of 15 percent in all program grant requests for general overhead (such as rent, electricity, insurance etc).
- Include in all grant requests a portion of the Executive Director’s salary (two to 10 percent) and all or part of the salary of staff who will be involved in the project
Source: Huberman, B., Advocates for Youth, 2009.
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