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Fund Raising Program
If your group or organization is involved in non-profit
activities, you may want to consider setting up a fundraising program.
Most organizations need cash to operate effectively or more
importantly, to help others as part of their mission. While some groups
exist on the basis of membership fees or donations, an occasional
fundraising activity can help to keep the coffers full.
Depending on your group’s size, you may need only one part-time
volunteer to coordinate a fundraising program. This person may want to
arrange one or two events per year at first to see how they go. If all
turns out well, more activities can be added later, along with more
help from the group.
Your first step might be to purchase a fundraising software program. A
basic CD can provide an introduction to the concept of a group effort
at making money. It will take some time to become familiar with the
applications, but then they should be relatively easy to run.
The next step could involve creating a mailing list. You can ask group
members to recommend names of friends or neighbors who might be
interested in learning more about your organization. Or you can
distribute a sign-up sheet for those who are interested in
participating in a drawing for donated prizes, such as a flower bouquet
or $10 of free gas. Enter your list of names into a database and you
are ready to send out a direct mailing as a fundraising appeal for the
capital or annual campaign.
Always remember to say thanks. Send a letter or certificate of
appreciation to each volunteer or community participant. You may want
to sponsor a donor dinner or dessert event each year to show your
appreciation for their help. Busy people who feel valued are more
likely to contribute again in the future.
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