“You make a living by what you take. Make a life by what you give.”

Quote by Winston Churchill

 

The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association Fundraising Workshop

Here are some highlights of the presentation at the Fundraising Workshop Councillor Shaun Henry, Michelle German and I attended in Prince Albert. The presentation was made by Stephanie Hughes and Kathleen Crowther of DCG Philanthropic Services.

·         Why is the campaign important?

·         How much money is needed?

·         Include recognition costs – only 1%

·         Bridge financing (needed because all money will not be available on the first day; some people contribute over a period of time)

·         What is the cost to raise the money?

·         Marketing

·         Research

·         Financing, etc

·         Is the project feasible?

·         Campaign resources needed:

·         Job descriptions for volunteers

·         Confidentiality agreements

·         Develop a gift chart

·         Training manuals

·         Pledge forms

·         Tracking tools

·         Gift recognition strategies

·         Asset naming opportunities

·         Donor bill of rights

·         Types of gifts include:

·         Cash

·         Credit card

·         Regular payments over time

·         Stock

·         Gifts in kind

·         Planned gift

·         Need engaged chair and support

·         Involved board

·         Manage volunteer input to avoid burnout and over reliance on one group of people

·         When making the ask

·         Have the right person ask the right person at the right time for the right amount

·         The ask is a 3 Act play

·         The Problem: we need a pool

·         The Climax: you can make a difference, please donate

·         Resolution: enough money for a new pool

·         We are thinking of a three pronged strategy

·         Philanthropic – the big amount

·         Transactional – sponsorships including grant applications to corporations

·         Community – more modest donations

·         No such thing as too much communication

·         Plan the communications

·         Leverage all interested groups to communicate

·         Successful Communication Factors

·         Direct Mail – 1% - 5%

·         Phone & Mail – 15% - 20%

·         Home Visits – 50%

·         Peer to Peer Visits – 75%

·         Successful Campaigns are:

·         Volunteer led

·         Peer to peer asks

·         Specific targets

·         Team calls

·         5 year pledge period

·         Fundraising Campaign’s Tools for Success

     1.       Volunteer Guidebook

     2.       Volunteer Terms of Reference

     3.       Prospect Activity Forms

     4.       Campaign Case for Support

     5.       Quick Facts

     6.       The Pool Project Plan

     7.       FAQs

     8.       Gift Chart

     9.       Sponsorship Opportunities

    10.   Tax Benefits

     11.   Pledge Forms

     12.   Letters of Endorsement

·         Fundraising Campaign Principles

     1.       Why the project?

     2.       Be a supporter

     3.       Select potential donors carefully

     4.       See the best potential donors first

     5.       Have the right people talk with the right people at the right time for the right amount

     6.       Do appropriate asks