Fundraiser Preparation: Business Focus
| Summary: More from the fundraiser preparation series
- Running your fundraiser like a business. You must set realistic
fundraising goals and divide responsibilities among team members for meeting
your goals. A business focus increases your fundraising success. |
What’s involved in your fundraiser business
Setting realistic goals and breaking them down into areas of responsibility are
two extremely important areas of preparation. The best approach to these is to
run your fundraising efforts with a business focus.
Besides the need for planning that we’ve already covered earlier in the
Fundraiser Preparation series, other aspects of
fundraising also lend themselves to a businesslike approach. The main ones are:
- Supplier relationship
- Logistics
- Money handling
- Partnership marketing.
Supplier relationship
Review the contract before signing up with your supplier. Make specific
inquiries about responsibilities, timelines, mistakes, freight, refunds, etc.
Signing a contract without fully understanding all the terms and conditions is a
big mistake.
Those kinds of mistakes cause unforeseen expenses, customer complaints that
end up being resolved out of your profits, and a harried volunteer staff.
Logistics
Logistics is another area that needs careful attention. For things to go
smoothly, your organizational needs must be determined and responsibilities
assigned ahead of time. One example of this would be not having any refrigerated
storage ready for food items that require this type of special handling.
Another
example would be not having enough volunteers scheduled for delivery day. A
third would be inadequate seating for a long auction event.
Money handling
When it comes to handling money, look at any business and you’ll see that they
are extremely careful about it. Safeguards are in place on bank accounts and who
is authorized to sign checks. Each day’s receipts are counted twice and then put
away for safekeeping until they can be deposited.
Independent audits are
conducted to verify the accuracy of all financial records. Always keep a sharp
eye on cash receipts.
Partnership marketing
Businesses increase their sales by leveraging their marketing partners. Look at
any large business and you’ll see multiple sales channels and beneficial
relationships between different companies. Consider the way Starbucks and other
businesses are now being located at a corporate campus.
Look at how Baskin
Robbins are often co-located with a Dunkin’ Doughnuts, or Burger King and a gas
station. Big corporations usually know a good thing when they see it.
Market your group and your fundraiser to the community in every possible way.
Look to leverage existing relationships within your volunteers and among
existing supporters.
In a fundraiser, these can include tapping a local printer for help, getting
free tax or accounting advise, getting advertising or free services from
family-oriented businesses, etc. Make sure they get something of value in return
for their help.
Look to your community for other kinds of assistance and potential new sources
of support. Build a base of merchant partnerships by following the instructions
given in the article titled Merchant Plan.
Click here for Fundraiser Preparation: Written
Documentation
Click Here for Fundraiser Preparation: Advance
Planning, Part 2
Click Here for Fundraiser Preparation
Related Pages
Getting Started: Part 1 - The who, what,
when, where, why, and how of a successful fundraiser.
Donor Recognition - How to use donor
recognition to increase your capital campaign results.
Selecting the Right Fundraiser:
Part 1 - Good advice to use on picking the right fundraiser for your group.
Successful Fundraisers - Boost results
with organization, quality incentives, and sales preparation.
Organize School Fundraiser - Quick
tips on organizing your school efforts by planning ahead.
Tried and True - These
old standbys always produce good results for any-size group.
Sample Fundraising Letter - Sample school event donation
letter where you can insert your specific information.
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