The Accidental Fundraiser

177 Pages·2007·1 MB·English

by  Julie M. Still

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Julie M.Still
Medford, New Jersey
iv First printing,2007
The Accidental Fundraiser
Copyright ©2007 by Julie M. Still
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or
by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and
retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except
by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. Published by
Information Today,Inc.,143 Old Marlton Pike,Medford,New Jersey 08055.
Publisher’s Note:The author and publisher have taken care in preparation
of this book but make no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and
assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for
incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of the
use of the information or programs contained herein.
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish
their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear
in this book and Information Today,Inc. was aware of a trademark claim,the
designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Still,Julie.
The accidental fundraiser / Julie M. Still.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13:978-1-57387-263-8
1. Fund raising. 2. Volutarism--Finance. 3. Nonprofit organizations--
Finance. 4. Charities--Finance. 5. Social action. I. Title.
HG177.S755 2007
658.15’224--dc22
2007017090
Printed and bound in the United States of America
President and CEO:Thomas H. Hogan,Sr.
Editor-in-Chief and Publisher:John B. Bryans
Managing Editor:Amy M. Reeve
VP Graphics and Production:M. Heide Dengler
Book Designer:KaraMia Jalkowski
Cover Designer:Ashlee Caruolo
Copy Editor:Suzanne Cloud Tapper
Proofreader:PatHadley-Miller
Indexer:Sharon Hughes
Contents
Acknowledgments ................................ix
Preface ..............................................xi
Introduction: What Is an
Accidental Fundraiser? .........1
Chapter 1: Planning Your Role ................17
Your Work Style and Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Picking Projects of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Developing New Skills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Legal and Accounting Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Working on Many Projects at Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
When Things Go Wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Chapter 2: Setting Organizational Goals ....35
Organization Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Mission Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Tangible and Intangible, Long-Term and
Short-TermGoals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Benchmarks to Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
When Things Go Wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Chapter 3: Divide and Expand .................49
Breaking Down Your Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Taking Your Intangible Goals into Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Costs in Time and Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Avoiding Obstacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Setting Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Special Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Keeping Inventory of Your Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
When Things Go Wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
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Chapter 4: Matching Goals
with Opportunities .................69
Using Your Resources to Achieve Your Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Finding the Best Matches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
Arranging Backup Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74
Staying Open to Other Possibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .76
When Things Go Wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Chapter 5: Finding the Money .................81
Private Foundations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85
Government Money . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89
Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90
Sponsorship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93
Donations and Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94
In-Kind Gifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99
When Things GoWrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100
Chapter 6: Making Friends and
Forming Partnerships ............103
Partnering with Groups That Need What You Have . . . . . .103
Partnering with Groups That Have What You Need . . . . . .106
Making Friends—and Keeping Them . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107
Politicians and Candidates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108
Media Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
Helping Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
When Things GoWrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Chapter 7: Passive Fundraising ..............117
Communicating with Interested Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Brochures and Newsletters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
E-mail and Web Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Blogs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
When Things GoWrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Contents vii
Chapter 8: Tips and Advice for the
Accidental Fundraiser............127
Spend Wisely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
Guard Your Reputation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Keep Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
When Things Go Wrong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
The Benefits of Volunteering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131
Bibliography ......................................135
About the Author ................................145
Index................................................147
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Acknowledgments
The Rutgers University Libraries were kind enough to allow me
asabbatical to work on this book and I am very grateful. In addi-
tion, the director and my colleagues at the Paul Robeson Library
offered encouragement and support while I was writing. My fam-
ily was patient with me when I was cranky or procrastinating, and
allowed me the time to be active in my community even when
they would never reap the benefits. My thanks also go to those
who take the time to work on community projects, large and
small, to improve the lives of the people around them.
Working on this book was humbling in more ways than one. I
learned about the many things that happen all around me that I
had never been awareof before.This was the most difficult writ-
ing project I have ever undertaken. As I was working on the book,
however, I was inspired to do a number of things I would never
havethought of otherwise.Ithas been quite an experience.
Finally, I want to thank John Bryans and Amy Reeve, my editors
at Information Today, Inc., for their great input and support
throughout the process.
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