“If you have room for only one book on your fundraising shelf, Effective N O L O® Fundraising for Nonprofi ts should be that book.” ADVANCING PHILANTHROPY, PUBLISHED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF FUNDRAISING PROFESSIONALS RAISE YOUR 3RD EDITION REVENUES NOW! Effective Fundraising FOR Nonprofi ts Real-World Strategies Ilona Bray, J.D. That Work Free Legal Updates at Nolo.com Th e Story Cofod ma m E Dear friends, Founded in 1971, and based in an old clock factory in Berkeley, California, Nolo has always strived to off er clear legal information and solutions. Today we are proud to off er a full range of plain-English law books, legal forms, software and an award-winning website. Everything we publish is relentlessly researched and tested by a dedicated group of in-house legal editors, who together have more than 150 years’ experience. And when legal changes occur after publication, we promptly post free updates at Nolo.com. Tens of millions of Americans have looked to Nolo to help solve their legal and business problems. We work every day to be worthy of this trust. Ralph Warner Nolo co-founder Products & Services Books & Software Get in-depth information. Nolo publishes hundreds of great books and software programs for consumers and business owners. Th ey’re all available in print or as downloads at Nolo.com. Legal Encyclopedia Free at Nolo.com. Here are more than 1,400 free articles and answers to common questions about everyday legal issues including wills, bankruptcy, small business formation, divorce, patents, employment and much more. Plain-English Legal Dictionary Free at Nolo.com. Stumped by jargon? Look it up in America’s most up-to-date source for defi nitions of legal terms. Online Legal Documents Create documents at your computer. Go online to make a will or living trust, form an LLC or corporation or obtain a trademark or provisional patent at Nolo.com. For simpler matters, download one of our hundreds of high-quality legal forms, including bills of sale, promissory notes, nondisclosure agreements and many more. Lawyer Directory Find an attorney at Nolo.com. Nolo’s unique lawyer directory provides in-depth profi les of lawyers all over America. From fees and experience to legal philosophy, education and special expertise, you’ll fi nd all the information you need to pick a lawyer who’s a good fi t. Free Legal Updates Keep up to date. Check for free updates at Nolo.com. Under “Products,” fi nd this book and click “Legal Updates.” You can also sign up for our free e-newsletters at Nolo.com/newsletters/index.html. Th e Trusted Name (but don’t take our word for it) “ In Nolo you can trust.” THE NEW YORK TIMES “ Nolo is always there in a jam as the nation’s premier publisher of do-it-yourself legal books.” NEWSWEEK “ Nolo publications…guide people simply through the how, when, where and why of the law.” THE WASHINGTON POST “ [Nolo’s]…material is developed by experienced attorneys who have a knack for making complicated material accessible.” LIBRARY JOURNAL “ When it comes to self-help legal stuff , nobody does a better job than Nolo…” USA TODAY “ Th e most prominent U.S. publisher of self-help legal aids.” TIME MAGAZINE “ Nolo is a pioneer in both consumer and business self-help books and software.” LOS ANGELES TIMES 3rd edition Effective Fundraising for Nonprofits Real-World Strategies That Work By Ilona Bray, J.D. THIRD EDITION AUGUST 2010 Cover Design SUSAN PUTNEY Book Design TERRI HEARSH Proofreading SUSAN CARLSON GREENE Index MEDEA MINNICH Printing DELTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS, INC. Bray, Ilona M., 1962- Eff ective fundraising for nonprofi ts : real-world strategies that work / by Ilona Bray Nolo. -- 3rd ed. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN-13: 978-1-4133-1253-9 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 1-4133-1253-5 (pbk.) 1. Fund raising--United States. 2. Nonprofi t organizations--United States--Finance. I. Title. HG177.5.U6B73 2010 658.15’224--dc22 2010008696 Copyright © 2005, 2008, and 2010 by Nolo. All rights reserved. Th e NOLO trademark is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offi ce. Printed in the U.S.A. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trans mitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other- wise without prior written permission. Reproduction prohibitions do not apply to the forms contained in this product when reproduced for personal use. For information on bulk purchases or corporate premium sales, please contact the Special Sales Department. Call 800-955-4775 or write to Nolo, 950 Parker Street, Berkeley, California 94710. Please note We believe accurate, plain-English legal information should help you solve many of your own legal problems. But this text is not a substitute for personalized advice from a knowledgeable lawyer. If you want the help of a trained professional—and we’ll always point out situations in which we think that’s a good idea—consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state. Dedication To my mother, who showed me how commitment to a cause can help you accomplish things you never thought possible; and my father, who knows how to greet each new day with entrepreneurial optimism. Acknowledgments This book was envisioned as a collaborative effort, in which the voices of many nonprofit staff and experienced fundraising experts would be heard. Still, I was overwhelmed by the generosity with which the people named below offered their time, knowledge, and stories of successes as well as frustrations. You’ll see many of their names and stories within the book—others preferred to play a more behind-the- scenes role. My deepest thanks to all of them for their contributions, and for keeping me inspired during the many months of pulling this book together. In addition, I’d like to thank the various organizations whose sample letters and printed materials you’ll see throughout the book (not listed below). Lauren Brown Adams, nonprofit fundraising consultant Sophie Lei Aldrich, World Wildlife Fund Bob Baldock, KPFA Radio Randolph Belle, formerly of the East Bay Nonprofit Center Robert Brenneman, Project Open Hand Jennifer Castner, the Altai Project Sarah Clark Cindy Corey, Forgotten Harvest M. Eliza Dexter, formerly of Save The Bay (Oakland) Grant Din, Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation Laurie J. Earp, Earp Events and Fundraising Lisa Ruth Elliott, formerly of Zen Hospice Project Jan Etre, KPFA Radio Judy Frankel, formerly of Project Open Hand Susan Freundlich, consultant, formerly of The Women’s Foundation (of San Francisco) Lupe Gallegos-Diaz, Multicultural Student Development Office at UC Berkeley Karen Garrison, formerly of Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center Jennifer Gennari, Greenbelt Alliance Leanne Grossman, formerly of Global Fund for Women Christine Grumm, Women’s Funding Network Keven Guillory, KQED Radio Ruskin K. Hartley, Save the Redwoods League Linda Solow Jaffe, John Muir Health Foundation Pat Joseph, formerly of Sierra Club Don Kiser, formerly of the Human Rights Campaign Lynn Eve Komaromi, Berkeley Repertory Theatre Greg Lassonde, owner of Legacy Giving Specialist and cofounder of Legacy Giving Co. Marisa Lianggamphai, formerly of the World Institute on Disability Harry Lin, formerly of KQED Radio Jim Lynch, TechSoup Sonja Mackenzie, WORLD Mike Maxwell Kate McNulty, formerly of Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory Susan Messina, National Hospice Foundation Nick Parker, formerly of the California School Age Consortium Peter Pearson, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library Sharon Rabichow, Save the Redwoods League Angelina Ramsay, independent marketing consultant Peggy Rose, San Francisco Mime Troupe Ron Rowell, The San Francisco Foundation Jim Schorr, formerly of Juma Ventures Duane Silverstein, Seacology Joseph Smooke, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center Elizabeth Stampe, formerly with Greenbelt Alliance David Thorpe, Housing Works Anthony Tusler, About Disability Amanda Vender, DAMAYAN Mona Lisa Wallace, formerly of the East Bay Nonprofit Center Anita Wetzel, Women’s Studio Workshop Debra and Rich Whitall Lauren Williams J.R. Yeager, CompassPoint Nonprofit Services Audrey Yee, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Many of my colleagues at Nolo also helped this book in important ways: Marcia Stewart, with early conceptualization and advice; Stan Jacobsen, with research; Jake Warner, whose first-draft edits incorporated his own extensive nonprofit as well as business experience; final editor Lisa Guerin, who took the manuscript up a notch with her wit and practical instincts; Wendy Copley, with technical advice on blogging; and the production folks, with all-important design and graphics help, including Margaret Livingston, Jaleh Doane, Emma Cofod, Susan Putney, and Toni Ihara. A final special “thank you” to C.S. and other friends, for ongoing support, and for apparently remembering my name even after these many months of self-imposed hermitage.