Fund Raising: Nine Basic Truths

by Tony Poderis
Author of "It's a Great Day To Fund-Raise!"

Myths about fund-raising:

• The process is a mystery
  
• You need a proven track record to be successful
  
• Corporations and foundations give most of the money

The Nine Basic Truths of Fund-raising

1. Organizations are not entitled to support; they must earn it.

2. Successful fund-raising is not magic; it is simply hard work
on the part of people who are thoroughly prepared.

3. Fund-raising is not raising money; it is raising friends.

4. You do not raise money by begging for it; you raise it by selling people on your organization.

5. People do not just reach for their checkbooks and give money to an organization; they have to be asked to give.

6. You don't wait for the "right" moment to ask; you ask now.

7. Successful fund-raising officers do not ask for money; they get others to ask for it.

8. You don't decide today to raise money and then ask for it tomorrow: it takes time, patience, and planning to raise money.

9. Prospects and donors are not cash crops waiting to be harvested; treat them as you would customers in a business.

It doesn't take a genius to raise money.

The process is a combination of common sense, hard work, preparation, courtesy, commitment, enthusiasm, understanding, and a belief in what you are asking others to support.

Those are The Nine Basic Truths of Fund-Raising, as I know them.
Do they resonate with you? I welcome your comments.

Tony@raise-funds.com

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Tony Poderis is a highly-qualified fundraising consultant with nearly three decades of experience. Tony is also the best-selling author of "It's a Great Day To Fund-Raise!"

Visit his website at http://www.raise-funds.com

Related Pages

Internet Fundraising - Three examples of Internet websites - SolvePoverty, SmartMall, and PermaWorld.

Internet Fund Raising - Tony Poderis on the pros and cons of non-profit Internet fundraising.

Fundraising Fundamentals - How to increase community awareness of both your need and your offering.

Nonprofit Fundraising - Tony Poderis describes how any nonprofit group should raise funds.

Non-profit Fund Raising - Organizational tips - Four ways to boost your non-profit fund raiser results.

Church Fundraisers - Church fund-raising through donor recognition - Christian fundraiser charity activities.

Capital Campaigns - Capital campaign strategies for non-profit groups to increase their donor base.

Donor Recognition - How to use donor recognition to increase your capital campaign results.

What's In It For Me - To succeed, everyone needs to know "What's in it for me?"

Tried and True Fundraisers - These old standbys always produce good results for any-size group.

Free Fundraisers - Three time-tested fundraising ideas for raising fast cash for groups of any size.

Web Here

Ideas For Fundraisers

Art Raffle
Auction
Bake Sale
Band
Baseball
Bingo
Bowling
Bracelets
Brick
Candle
Candy
Candy Bar
Capital Campaign
Car Donation
Car Raffle
Car Wash
Cash Calendar
Casino Night
Cell Phone
Chair-ity Event
Charity
Charity Poker
Cheerleading
Cheesecake Calendar
Chinese Auction
Christian
Christian Event Ideas
Christmas Carols
Christmas Trees
Church
Church Festival
Church Fund Raisers
College
Cookbook
Cookie Dough
Corporate Grants
Cow Chip
Credit Card
Dance
Dance Team
Discount Cards
Donation Request
Donor Recognition
Earth Friendly
Easy
eBay
Event Tips
Events
Events - Part 1
Events - Part 2
Events - Part 3
Flower Bulbs
Flowers
Food Sales
For The Cure
Free
Fruit
Fun
Fundraising Sample
Gift Wrap
Golf Ball Drop Raffle
Golf Fundraiser
Golf Tournament
Grant Requests
Halloween
Healthy
Hockey
Home & Garden
Holiday Carnival
Individual
Inkjet Recycling
Internet
Jamba Juice
Jingle Bell Run
Jingle Bell Walk
Karaoke
Kathryn Beich
Krispy Kreme
Lip Sync
Location
Lollipop
Magazine
Mardi Gras
Merchant Plan
Mini Golf Tournament
Non-Profit
Pancake Breakfast
Photography
Pink Flamingo
Pizza
Pizza Hut
Political
Popcorn
Product Ideas
Promo
Publicity
Raffle
Raffle Prizes
Raffle Tickets
Relay For Life
Relay For Life Events
Rubber Duck
Sales Tips
Sample Thank You
School
Scratch Card
Scrip
Silent Auction Tips
Soccer
Softball
Spaghetti Dinner
101 Tips
Top Five
Tried & True
Tupperware
Valentines Day
Whiskey Tasting
Wine Tasting
Worlds Finest
Youth Group
Youth Sports