Fundraising Run Smoothly

Want your next fundraiser to run more smoothly? Here are ten
tips to help you create a successful marketing plan.

Put your project plan in writing - Run your fundraiser like a
business. A written project plan that spells out all roles and
responsibilities is your blueprint for success. Create a
timeline - Make sure that your start date and end date are both
firm. Make sure your project does not conflict with other major
events where your constituency is likely to participate. 

Recruit, recruit, recruit (volunteers that is) - Let the
community you serve know that you need more caring individuals
to help with your goals. People who volunteer do so because they
are asked. So ask! Use your newsletter, website and word of
mouth to help in your recruitment efforts. 

Incorporate your website - Don’t have one? There is no better
time than the present to create one. Your website should be used
to communicate goals, thank your sponsors, recognize successes,
honor individual contributors, tell about upcoming events, etc.
Be sure you promote your web site on all your marketing
materials.

Look at the past to plan the future - See what's been successful
before. Review your records. Find areas that need improvement.
What did you do best? Do it again! Is there something you have
always done that is on the decline. Examine the reasons for the
decline. Perhaps it is time to change course or find a new
event. If your stakeholders are bored with a project, chances
are, so is the audience you serve. 

Define Roles - Match the needs of your organization with the
volunteer's skills and availability by including it in those
written volunteer position's description.

Move people around - Unless you have a good reason not to switch
roles, put new people (with a good track record) in those
organizational roles that will move your fundraiser forward. Do
this ahead of time. Provide proper training. 

The early bird gets the “volunteer” - Let the community know
early and often about what volunteers you need. Recruit more
volunteers than you think you will need. This way, no one feels
overworked. And of course, those volunteers will be able to pick
up the slack in the event others don’t follow through as
expected. Have volunteer sign-up forms at every event and
meeting your organization hosts. 

Recruit a volunteer to be the volunteer coordinator - A strong
communicator that will help assign and place volunteers would be
the best choice. Some people are a natural for this key role.

Set realistic goals - Break those goals down into what's needed
from each sub-group. Tell them the consequences of their
participation as well as what could happen if they don’t follow
through. Let the volunteers know the importance of their roles
and what's in it for them. Reward volunteers based upon their
individual and group success. 

© 2005 - Heidi Richards