Providing Nonprofit Startups with the Tools to Raise $10,000 in 10 Weeks!
Here at CharityNet we are all very excited to announce the official launch of our new fundraising program for nonprofit startups. With initial and early-stage funding being one of the most difficult tasks for organizations to conquer, we are happy to be able to provide organizations with a simple problem-solver. Check out today’s press release to learn more about the program and while your at it, sign up for our upcoming information session to see if it could be a good fit for your organization! By the way did I mention, the program is free!
CharityNet USA is excited to announce the launch of their new 10 X 10 Program. Combining elements of capacity building and fundraising, the program will help nonprofit startups raise $10,000 in 10 weeks enabling them to build a solid foundation for
View the 10 X 10 Program Information Packet
future growth and mission fulfillment.
“ Tackling fundraising as a nonprofit startup can be extremely difficult – seeing as often the organizations lack the resources, individuals and time to plan and execute the fundraiser,” said Melanie Swift, MNM, Director of Nonprofit Services for CharityNet USA.
CharityNet USA’s 10 X 10 Program provides participating organizations with a seamless process for event execution, while tying in an achievable time line for financial and administrative growth. Once an organization enrolls into the free program, CharityNet will begin a comprehensive analysis of the nonprofit startup to determine what critical elements are needed to sustain and further develop the organization. Once goals have been identified and placed on the timeline, the organization is given all the necessary event planning tools…
The program includes a variety of nonprofit fundraising events, from basic car washes and bowl-a-thons to elaborate sports events and galas each allowing for its own elements of customization. Money generated through the program becomes invested into administrative fundamentals essential to the organization’s long-term success.
For nonprofit startups interested in learning more about the 10 X 10 program, details of the upcoming 10 X 10 information session are below:
Who: CharityNet USA What: 10 x 10 Program Information Session Where: Online at any computer with an internet connection When: Wednesday, August 4th, 3pm EST How to Register: Visit the following link https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/751133515
We hope to see you at the info session. If you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to contact us or leave a comment in the “comments section”. Click here to view the full press release.
Join us for a FREE Nonprofit Webinar on July 29, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm & learn how to Build the Lifeline of your Organization!
The success of any fundraising program depends on the ability of the volunteers or paid staff members to successfully solicit participation from past, current, and new supporters. This will be achieved by developing strong relationships with the people you encounter and being able to identify special skills, traits and interests that can benefit your organization.
We invite you to spend a valuable hour with CharityNet USA and learn how develop your fundraising team and build the lifeline of your organization!
Learn how to develop and manage your fundraising team, putting your nonprofit on the fast track to desired expectations at our FREE nonprofit webinar July 29, 2010 from 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (EST)!
One of the best ways for nonprofit organizations to acquire the capital funding necessary t o operate their programs is to solicit for nonprofit grants. Nonprofit grants usually are given to organizations from the local, state or federal government agencies or private organizations. Many nonprofit organizations are great at fundraising and soliciting for donations but for whatever reason they have not ventured into sourcing funding from nonprofit grants. When soliciting for a nonprofit grant from either a government agency or private organization, you will need to create a grant proposal. The grant proposal will introduce your organization to the positional funding source, give them a clear understanding of your organization’s purpose and give a decryption of your organization’s planned programs and specific objectives. It will also provide a clear description of your organization’s purposed budget, your specific qualifications, and a conclusion wrapping up all of the information. Below you will see an outline of a grant proposal.
Cover Letter (one page)
Provide a clear, concise overview of the organization, purpose and reason for and amount of the funding request.
Cover Sheet (1/2 page)
Also called an executive summary, this case statement and proposal summary is the most important component of your proposal. Summarize all of the key information and convince the grantmaker to consider your proposal for funding.
Narrative (10-15 Pages)
Needs Assessment (Problem Statement) (3-4 Pages)
Objectively address specific situation, opportunity, problem, issue, need, and the community your proposal addresses.
Program Goals and Objectives (1 – 2 pages)
Describe the outcome of the grant in measurable terms; in a succinct description of the proposed project outcome and accomplishments, including your overall goal.
Methodology (4 + Pages)
Describe the process to be used to achieve the outcome and accomplishments.
Evaluation (1 – 2 Pages)
Determine the plan for meeting performance and producing the program/project and justify how you will measure the effectiveness of your activities
Budget
Clearly delineate costs to be met by the funder and all other funding sources; outline both administrative and program costs.
For specific projects, include separate budgets for the general operating and the special project. Show income and expenses in columnar form (according to general accounting/bookkeeping principles).
Qualifications (1-2 pages)
Describe applicant, qualifications for funding and establish credibility.
Conclusion (1/2 page)
Present a brief, concise summary of your proposal that states your case, problem, solution and sources/uses of project/program funds.
Hopefully this article will allow your organization to add a new funding source to the fundraising, donations, and soliciting that you are currently undertaking. Be sure that your grant proposal clearly introduces your organization to the positional funding source, gives them a clear understanding of your organization’s purpose, and provides a description of your organization’s planned programs and specific objectives. It should also provide a clear description of your organization’s proposed budget, your specific qualifications, and a conclusion wraps up all of the information. Your nonprofit organization should take advantage of all fundraising sources including nonprofit grants.
An information session about how to raise $10,000 in 10 weeks for your non profit organization!
While the passion you have for your mission may make you feel that funds should flow easily into your organization in support of your cause. The truth, is that raising money is difficult! And for new organizations that are not well known throughout the community, it is even harder. It sounds like a cliché, but fundraising at all levels is about building relationships, and like any relationship it will require hardwork and commitment.
Unfortunately, too many startup organizations don’t know where to begin when it comes to event planning, volunteer recruitment and; most importantly, identifying the best ways to allocate funds to build organizational capacity.
We invite you to spend some valuable time with CharityNet USA and find out how we can help you develop an achievable plan for success by raising $10,000 in 10 weeks through the 10×10 Program!
The 10 x 10 Program will:
Provide a steady stream of income for your organization
Give you the money to invest in key services to develop a strong organization
Create a more visible presence of your organization, making fundraising more profitable in the future
Join us to learn more about the CharityNet USA 10×10 Program and how to set your organization on the right path to mission fulfillment and future success! Attend our FREE webinar June 16, 2010 from 3 P.M. – 4 P.M. (EST).
A Webinar about Developing & Submitting a Killer Nonprofit Grant Proposal!
Over $50 billion in grants is given away each year to charities, churches, and schools nationwide. Are you getting your share of this sum? If you haven’t yet started submitting grants for funding, now is the time to get started!
No matter what your program does, there is most likely grant funding for it; the key is knowing how to prepare a killer grant proposal that will relate your need to the most appropriate funding sources.
We invite you to spend a valuable hour with CharityNet USA and learn how growing your organization’s projects and programs can be possible through nonprofit grants!
Topics of Interest:
•An Overview of Nonprofit Grants
•Identifying Projects to Fund
•Different Types of Funding Agencies
•Elements of a Grant Proposal
Learn how to get the funding your organization deserves by attending our FREE webinar on Thursday, June 3, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EST).
So you are a non profit organization and working to plan a fundraiser but do not know what to do? You should consider doing something that relates to your mission to help you spread the word about your organization. This will allow your organization to both raise some money and increase awareness about your organization or cause.
If you organization is working to feed homeless people, you may want to consider hosting a charity dinner. This will get your donors involved in your organization and get them thinking about your organization’s mission and purpose. Having fundraisers that relate to what your organization does or is established to do may help to increase the support of your organization.
Another example of a fundraiser relating to your non profit organization’s mission or cause would be having a dog wash or dog walk-a-thon for organizations dealing with animals. These events would have a tendency to attract individuals who have an interest in animals and animal welfare. By attracting individuals who are interested in animals you may have a greater chance of developing long lasting relationships with individuals who will potentially remain active in your organization for a long time to come.
By organizing a fundraiser that relates to the mission of your organization you will also be bringing awareness to your cause. You will be able to discuss and point out the need for your organization and what exactly it is you are trying to do and how you are trying to help. Fundraisers can also be productive in terms other than purely the amount of funding generated. Other ways fundraisers can be successful would be by creating interest and support from individuals who will continue to be active in our organization after the fundraiser has concluded. This could be through continued volunteering or supporting our organization at future fundraisers, or simply thru positive word of mouth from these individuals.
Want more information about fundraising? Be sure to check out our video on the 8 Truths of Fundraising:
It is important for non profit organizations, both those just starting out and those which are well established, to have a diversified stream of income. By diversifying where your revenue is coming from, your non profit organization will be less dependent on each revenue source. The more diverse your organization is the better it will be able to withstand changes in funding.
Grants, for example, are a great way for non profit organizations to generate the revenue which they need to operate. However, if an organization is relying too heavily on grants and their grant funding gets pulled or reduced, the organization may struggle trying to make up for that loss of funding in other ways. It is better to be prepared by having additional fundraising initiatives, and soliciting donations in addition to applying for grants.
The need for multiple sources of funding has become even more important with the recent decline in the American economy. As bank accounts continue to shrink; individuals, organizations and foundations are becoming more selective over which organizations they are making contributions to. This is creating more competition between organizations for the resources available. The organizations which are best equipped to deal with this competition are those which are the most diverse in their revenue sources and the least reliant on one single source.
Organizations should look at fundraising efforts also as a way of marketing and getting your name out into the community in addition to means of generating revenue for your organization. Fundraising events, while they may not always create a large amount of income for an organization, cannot always be measured by the amount of money they generate at that event. This is due to the possibility of future donations and contributions based on the relationship which may have been established at one of these events. Additionally, hiring a professional fundraiser can be a smart move for event the youngest of non profit organizations. Not only does a professional fundraiser have experience working a variety of different events, a professional fundraiser knows how to make connections and secure sponsorships.
Even non profit organizations which have been successful over a period of time using one revenue source should consider working to find new untapped sources of income. This will strengthen any organization and all organizations will welcome more income; as more income allows the organization more freedom in working towards accomplishing their mission and fulfilling their goal.
Want to learn more about the do’s and don’t of fundraising effectively? Check out CharityNet USA’s short video “The 8 Truths of Fundraising” .
It is important for non profit organizations, both those just starting out and those which are well established, to have a diversified stream of income. By diversifying where your revenue is coming from, your non profit organization will be less dependent on each revenue source. The more diverse your organization is the better it will be able to withstand changes in funding.
Grants, for example, are a great way for non profit organizations to generate the revenue which they need to operate. However, if an organization is relying too heavily on grants and their grant funding gets pulled or reduced, the organization may struggle trying to make up for that loss of funding in other ways. It is better to be prepared by having additional fundraising initiatives and soliciting donations in addition to applying for grants.
The need for multiple sources of funding has become even more important with the recent decline in the American economy. As bank accounts continue to shrink, individuals, organizations and foundations are becoming more selective over which organizations they are making contributions to. This is creating more competition between organizations for the resources available. The organizations which are best equipped to deal with this competition are those that are the most diverse in their revenue sources and the least reliant on one single source.
Organizations should look at fundraising efforts also as a way of marketing and getting your name out into the community in addition to generating revenue for your organization. Fundraising events, while they may not always create a large amount of income for an organization, cannot always be measured by the amount of money they generate at that event. This is due to the possibility of future donations and contributions based on the relationship which may have been established at one of these events. Additionally, hiring a professional fundraiser can be a smart move for even the youngest of non profit organizations. Not only does a professional fundraiser have experience working a variety of different events, a professional fundraiser knows how to make connections and secure sponsorships.
Even non profit organizations which have been successful over a period of time using one revenue source should consider working to find new untapped sources of income. This will strengthen any organization and all organizations will welcome more income; as more income allows the organization more freedom in working towards accomplishing their mission and fulfilling their goal.
Want to learn more about the do’s and don’t of fundraising effectively? Check out CharityNet USA’s short video “The 8 Truths of Fundraising” .
If you want your nonprofit organization to be successful, you need to keep in the mind the rules of fundraising. The previous blog, Fundraising part 1, left off with the fourth rule: marketing. There are marketing services out there that can be pretty expensive, but don’t let that get you down. There are other ways to help build awareness to your nonprofit organization while keeping the costs down.
First and foremost, utilize social networking media such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc. to publicize your event. These sites are free and millions of people use these on a daily basis. Another marketing tip is create a flyer utilizing a word processing software and print about a thousand to hand out to the local area. These do not have to be fancy color printed flyers. You can be as simple as black and white print on a colorful piece of paper. Do not forget to tell people that you are going to be conducting a fundraiser because word of mouth can help your marketing efforts exponentially.
The truth is, fundraising can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. Take a typical dinner event, whether it be a spaghetti dinner or a chicken barbeque. Most often you can get food donated or offered at a discounted rate by local area grocery stores and supermarkets. This is especially true when it comes to a spaghetti dinner because most of the food and beverage items it takes to put on this fundraiser are really cheap. Often you can get paper items such as plates, cups, napkins, silverware, etc. donated for the actual event. As for a facility, usually most towns have a local community center, park, or even a church which will let you utilize their facility for free or for a small donation. The biggest thing to know is you will have to conduct some legwork and ask around for these donations for the event. Ask the local store manager or of your supermarket if they are giving donations for charitable events. If they aren’t, thank him or her for their information but do not forget to ask about any discounts they may offer. Remember: anything you can get donated or discounted increases the profits of your fundraiser. Utilize volunteers from the organization to cook items and serve the food.
Honestly, the biggest fundraising tip or rule that I can give you is to ask for donations when conducting your fundraisers. What is the worse that is going to happen to you? They say “no, we can’t afford to do that right now”? What have you lost by asking? I’m going to go out on a limb here and say nothing. However, if they say yes, then you and your event have gained some or maybe even all of the items you need. Many organizations like to give to causes but do not have the financial means; however, they are able to give in-kind donations or items which you can utilize to conduct your event. The long and short of it is that fundraising can be very rewarding for any nonprofit organization. As long as you and the organization you are representing are willing to put some effort into it, you can help grow through fun and effective fundraising!
Many new nonprofit organizations go through the internal battle of whether or not they should participate in fundraising. Fundraising can be a wonderful tool in the arsenal of a newly formed nonprofit organization and even in a nonprofit organization which has already been established. For example, every year around January you hear the ding dong of your doorbell announcing the arrival of the Girl Scouts heralding their annual cookie fundraising drive. Honestly, I know that $3.00 is a lot for a box of Thin Mints, but a portion of the proceeds goes to help the local Girl Scouts in my community so I feel justified in paying a little bit more than I normally would for cookies. Fundraising can be an ideal way to raise funds because people feel as if they are getting “something” (whether it be cookies, a car wash, a snack, t-shirt, etc. It is a sad state of current affairs that most people do not give to legitimate causes because of the good feeling it gives them anymore. Most people expect something in return for their “gift.” Fundraising is just the ticket because both parties feel as if they are benefiting from the arrangement.
There are a few simple rules when it comes to fundraising for an organization. The first rule in fundraising is to BE REALISTIC! Plan an event that fits the current funds which the organization has. In other words, don’t plan a huge annual fundraising gala where there is a sit down meal and attendees have to pay $500 a plate if you do not have the money to rent the facility, pay for the food expenses, pay for entertainment, etc. Work within your means.
The second rule and what I believe to be the most important of fundraising is to HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY DEDICATED TO THE SUCCESS OF THE FUNDRAISER. Does this mean you need to hire a professional fundraiser? Not necessarily. It is entirely possible to put together a fundraiser without professional help; however, you do need to have someone dedicated to the success of the fundraiser, whether this person is a board member or a volunteer of the organization. It’s entirely up to you.
The third rule of fundraising is to SET A GOAL. This will help clarify the purpose of your fundraiser and will assist you in realizing how many items you need to sell to reach your goal.
The fourth rule of fundraising is MARKET, MARKET, MARKET! I cannot stress this rule enough because if no one knows about your event, how are they going to attend? These days marketing costs can sky rocket your expenses, however, there are ways to keep these costs down and help achieve your goal: raising money for your organization.
Keep an eye out for the rest of the rules of fundraising… Part 2 will be posted in a few days! In the meantime, feel free to share some of your nonprofit fundraising ideas and the steps you follow to ensure they are a success.
An information session about how to raise $10,000 in 10 weeks for your non profit organization!
If you want your nonprofit organization to be successful, you need to keep in the mind the rules of fundraising. The previous blog, Fundraising part 1, left off with the fourth rule: marketing. There are marketing services out there that can be pretty expensive, but don’t let that get you down. There are other ways to help build awareness to your nonprofit organization while keeping the costs down.