Fund Raising Ideas for Groups in the New Millennium!
Seven strategies to increase the performance of your not-for-profit organization
by Scot Baily
Notwithstanding these noteworthy statistics, many nonprofits struggle to effectively manage. This article reviews 7 insights from the trenches of nonprofit management.
Leverage technology wisely
Recent developments in Internet and phone technology are making it increasingly easy for not for profits to save on travel expenses and increase collaboration. Desktop sharing applications are becoming easier to use and allow nonprofit managers to instantly create virtual meetings across geographically spread out groups. Also free conference calling solutions such as Rondee.com are helping not for profits to slice their phone expenses and develop better group innerworkings and improve coordination with other not for profits.
Stay focused
The most effectively managed not for profits are ones that stay clearly focused on their mission and do not get sidetracked by peripheral goals. Most not for profits operate under significant resource limitations. Tackling three goals with total effort will generally yield superior results compared to tackling six goals at half effort.
Use data driven decision-making
One of the most important trends in the last several years affecting not for profits has been the escalating reliance on evidence based decision-making. Nonprofit leaders can apply the same practices to ascertain what works and what does not work. Increasingly, the hurdle for quality decision-making is rising and thus reliance on conjecture and theory is being systematically replaced by empirical data to justify decisions.
Expand your network
The most successful nonprofit entrepreneurs create networks of supporters who share their philosophy and goals. While the word "networking" frequently gets a bad rap, the fact is that these networks can provide more than just financial assistance. Crucially, associations also provide the psychological support which is so vital to sustaining enthusiasm amongst leaders as well as volunteers.
Learn how to lobby
Many not for profits think that lobbying is the domain of for-profit companies. While that may be the reality in some situations, many successful not for profits have developed a real advantage through mastering the art of lobbying. Whether to arrange desired reforms in public policy or the backing of public figures, lobbying can be an effective way for not for profits to accelerate traction.
Keep fundraising focused
Most of the not for profits that have grown dramatically in the past 20 years or so have done so by focusing their development efforts on a single type of funding source. The strategy usually employed requires developing messaging and programs tailored to the needs of their primary funding source. Not only is this technique generally more effective than the shotgun approach, it enables deeper relationships to be formed between the funding channel and the nonprofit.
Multiply through matching
Multiply your development dollars through matching gifts. Most people know that some employers will match gifts to qualifying not for profits. Less well understood is the multiplier effect of securing promises from givers to match the gifts of smaller contributers.
The good news in all this is that these ideas are not expensive. Whether its leveraging free teleconference technology or starting to learn how to lobby, not for profits can increase their performance through these seven strategies.
Scott Baily resides in the Bay Area. Baily is a consultant to the free conference calling service pioneered by Rondee.com. Baily has authored a number of articles on telecommunications as it connects to areas such as the not-for-profit sphere.
FUND
RAISING