• ISBN13: 9781889102320
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
If every board member of every nonprofit organization across America read this book, it’s no exaggeration to say that millions upon millions of additional dollars would be raised.

How could it be otherwise when, after spending just one hour with this gem, board members everywhere would understand virtually everything they need to know about raising major gifts. Not more, not less. Just exactly what they need to do to be successful.

In his book, Fund Raising Realities Every Board Member Must Face: A 1-Hour Crash Course on Raising Major Gifts for Nonprofit Organizations, David Lansdowne has distilled the essence of major gifts fund raising, put it in the context of 47 “realities,” and delivered it in unfailingly clear prose.

Nothing about this book will intimidate board members. It is brief, concise, easy to read, and free of all jargon. Further, it is a work that motivates, showing as it does just how doable raising big money is.

The appeal of Fund Raising Realities is that Lansdowne addresses every important principle and technique of fund raising, and explains them in a succinct way board members will grasp immediately. In other words, Fund Raising Realities puts everyone on a level playing field – board member with board member, and board member with staff.

Put this book in your board’s hands, put it in your board orientation packet, put it anywhere you need the successful practice of fund raising masterfully illuminated.

Order from Amazon Today —>Fund Raising Realities Every Board Member Must Face – Revised Edition: A 1-Hour Crash Course on Raising Major Gifts for Nonprofit Organizations

Product Description
Susan Golden provides not just another book on proposal writing, but one which provides a realistic view of proposal writing with practical step-by-step guidance towards success — useful for both novice and experienced grantwriters.
?Patricia F. Lewis, ACFR, president and CEO, National Society of Fund Raising Executives

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience with more than 100 organizations, Golden arms fundraisers with the grantsmanship skills they need to successfully navigate the grantmaking process. From conducting effective prospect research and making initial conversations count to preparing, submitting, and following up on grant proposals, Susan Golden offers a focused, step-by-step method for reliably achieving success in any fund raising activity.

Order from Amazon Today —>Secrets of Successful Grantsmanship: A Guerrilla Guide to Raising Money

Read more on Contra Costa Times

Firefighters raising funds for nonprofit group
Cathedral City firefighters will raise money for a nonprofit group March 19-20 during its “Fill the Boot” event.

Read more on The Desert Sun

• ISBN13: 9780787962562
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
This thoroughly revised and updated edition of the classic book in the field provides a conceptual foundation for the fund raising profession. Hank Rosso’s Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising examines the profession’s principles, strategies, and methods and is filled with practical examples. Guided by the enduring philosophy of fund raising master Henry A. Rosso, contributors explain the reasoning behind the planning and selection of strategies for all fund raising activities, including building your case for support, approaching donors, managing campaigns, and demonstrating stewardship.

Order from Amazon Today —>Hank Rosso’s Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising

RALEIGH, N.C. – Sandra Burnett and two colleagues were tired of the mountains of candy, cookies and calendars sold through school fundraisers, she says.

So in January of this year, they launched www.schoolheart.com, a company that offers customers the chance to save money while donating to their favorite charities.

“It’s taking folks online to do their fundraising so they don’t have to do the door-to-door stuff,” Burnett says.

By buying an hCard, which offers discounts at a variety of stores and restaurants throughout the U.S., including Red Lobster, Starbucks and Barnes & Noble, customers direct half of the $25 cost to the charity or school of their choice.

The card also offers discounts on prescription drugs, as well as roadside-assistance and emergency-contact services.

More than 2,000 hCards have been purchased or given out so far in 28 states, Burnett told The News & Observer in Raleigh.

Already more than 100 schools and nonprofit groups have signed up to post the hCard link on their websites, and three to six new clients sign up daily, Burnett says.

“Signing up takes three minutes, and it’s free,” she says.

Participating nonprofits and schools get half of all proceeds from hCard sales.

Though she will not disclose the amount hCard sales have generated for nonprofits, Burnett says SchoolHeart plans to hire a part-time employee just to mail out the checks every month.

Nonprofits supported by hCard sales include Hospice of Wake County, SPCA of Wake County and Alzheimer’s Association of Eastern North Carolina.

Phoebe Coggins, customer-service manager for the eastern North Carolina chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, says the organization has seen an enthusiastic response from its hCard holders.

“Rather than just asking for a straight donation,” she says, “our participants are able to give something back.”

Nonprofits also can share the hCard graphic with local businesses, or “community partners.” These businesses get 15 percent of the proceeds from all hCards sold on their websites.

Started only about a month ago, the “community partners” program already has about eight participating businesses.

Rocky Top Hospitality, which manages six Raleigh restaurants, is raising funds for the Just for Kids Kampaign, a $20 million fund drive to expand pediatric services at WakeMed Children’s Hospital.

Its goal is to raise $312,500 for the hospital this year by selling 25,000 hCards, Burnett says.

As a former board member for Meals on Wheels of Wake County, Burnett says, she is sympathetic to the myriad problems faced by nonprofits and schools during the recession.

“Especially now, they really need our help,” she says.

Working with fellow co-founders Marvin Yakos and Kyle Brown, Burnett says SchoolHeart provides a way for nonprofits to raise funds quickly, easily and securely.

“We take all the headaches out,” she says. “Once you get the person to sign up, you’ve got a fundraising system in place.”

With five full-time staff members and an annual budget totaling $250,000 to $300,000, the company has offices in Raleigh, Houston and Tampa.

In the two months since its inception, SchoolHeart has had a wave of positive feedback from the community, Burnett says.

Before launching the company, she was able to sell $1 million in stock to Raleigh investors who were interested in the initiative.

She plans to look for additional support outside the Raleigh area in April.

The company is also a finalist for the Business Champion of the Year award, given annually by Business Leader Media and Wake Tech Community College.

Burnett attributes some of the company’s success to the trust relationship she established as the owner of Sisters’ Catering, a Raleigh business she co-founded in 1976.

A special fundraising event is a great way to raise money for a cause you are passionate about. It can also help raise the awareness in your community about the issues you want to improve. However, it is important to properly prepare for the event if you want it to be successful. A significant amount of planning and work goes on behind the scenes of any fundraising event.

The events that go smoothly and appear to be easy are usually far from easy. It is due to the hours, days and months of planning and preparation of many committed individuals. I was reminded of this a few days ago as I participated in an event that raised money to build homes in Honduras.

The Walkathon for Hope was made possible by the nonprofit organization Students Helping Honduras. The event had 2,000 participants and raised its goal of $200,000 to build 72 houses in the village of Siete de Abril in Honduras. We walked ten miles on the day of the event. I am proud to have been a part of it.

There are many features that go into a successful fundraising event. Students Helping Honduras included many of these in their event. This explains their extreme level of success. The following is a list of those things I observed at the 2007 Walkathon for Hope that should be a part of any fundraising event.

Support A Great Cause

The cause you are raising money and awareness for needs to be something people can get enthusiastic about. The actual cause is important, but so is how it is presented.

For the Walkathon, pictures and stories of children in the refuge village they were going to build homes in were used to motivate people to participate. They also let you know the specific amount ($2,800) it would cost to build each permanent home for a family. It was definitely a cause many people could get excited about.

Consider how you are going to present the reasons you are holding a fundraiser and asking for donations.

Hold The Event At A Great Location

The location of your event needs to be convenient and clean. It shows that you care about your cause and the people who support it. I have attended outdoor events that had long, uncut grass and trash all around. I have been to indoor events that were held in buildings and rooms that were not clean. I am sure there were people who left once they saw the poor conditions. For those that stayed, I suspect some of them refused to attend any future events.

The walk I attended was held on the campus of the University of Mary Washington. It is a beautiful campus. The campus is located in the historical city of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Jeffersonian architecture featured throughout the campus provided a historical backdrop for participants to experience before, during and after the walk. The landscaping was well maintained and parking around the campus on a Saturday afternoon was plentiful.

Make sure the location you select for your event shows how passionate you are about the cause and how important the participants are to you.

Schedule The Event On An Appropriate Date and Time

You can’t control the weather. However, you can select a date during a part of the year that is most appropriate for your event. You also need to consider when people are willing and able to attend. For example, many people might not be available due to holidays, going out on Friday nights or going to church on Sunday mornings. There also could be other competing events scheduled for that same date and time. Consider people’s schedules and community calendars in your area before you set the date and time.

The weather during the Walkathon for Hope was great for a walk. It was warm with blue skies on the day of the event. Scheduling the walk during the middle of April in Virginia made this possible and even likely to occur.

I was surprised to discover the Walkathon for Hope was scheduled in the afternoon. Most walks I have participated in were held during the morning hours. However, after thinking about it I realized it was a great decision. The participants during the Walkathon were mostly college students. They were more likely to have a terrific turnout in the afternoon from the students. It also allowed adequate time for the teams from other colleges in the state to travel without being on the road in the middle of the night.

Consider all of the factors regarding your event and those you want to attend when setting the schedule.

Provide Entertainment

You are going to ask people to take one or more hours out of their busy schedules to attend your event. Many are going to ask themselves “what’s in it for me?” when deciding on whether or not to attend your event. Providing entertainment that they will enjoy gives them something they seek and will encourage them to attend your fundraiser. If you’re familiar with the Law of Reciprocity, you will realize the attendee will be more likely to participate generously in your event if you’ve provided something they want first.

The Walkathon had entertainment galore. Musical groups performed before and during the walk. There was also entertainment on the walk path. Guitarists, drum groups, dance teams and an improvisation club all entertained us as we walked. There was even a station set up to get a massage!

Think about the participants you’re targeting for your event then schedule entertainment they will enjoy.

Provide Food or Refreshments

There is a saying “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” I believe this is true for participants at events as well. Serving refreshments for short events and meals at longer events will add to the enjoyment. You don’t have to go expensive with the food (unless it is something like a black tie event). Attendees know the real purpose of the event is to raise funds and going overboard with the food could leave a negative impression.

Students Helping Honduras arranged to have hot dogs and hamburgers grilled onsite and available throughout the event. Water was provided at several points on the walk. I heard walkers throughout the event talking about when and how many times they should stop to get a hamburger or hot dog. Obviously, the grilled food was a hit.

Don’t forget food and refreshments for your fundraising event. Consider finding a sponsor that would provide it at no cost to your event except for you to announce their generosity to others in a variety of ways.

Use Enthusiastic Volunteers

The work becomes easiest when there are plenty of volunteers helping out. There are many skills needed to put on a successful event. Don’t try to plan and prepare the event by yourself. The event will suffer. Consider all of the things that need to be done and recruit volunteers to make it happen.

Many months of work by a motivated team of volunteers went into the Walkathon for Hope. This volunteer team covered areas including administration, copywriting, public relations, logistics, finances, setup and cleanup.

Invest adequate time and effort in recruiting volunteers early. Having a great team of volunteers will not only make each person’s responsibilities easier, but it will also keep the team motivated right up to the day of the event.

Get Teams Involved

Finding ways to have teams participate will encourage participation. Some people may not readily join by themselves but they wouldn’t think twice about participating if they were doing it as a team with friends and coworkers. When people are part of a team, they motivate each other to do their best. Where do you look for teams? You can recruit teams from places including schools, religious organizations, companies, and clubs.

Fundraising for the Walkathon was centered around teams. People were encouraged to build teams to raise the needed funds. These teams were recognized at the beginning of the event. I am aware of several teams that participated from religious organizations and schools. Some of the college teams traveled several hours just to participate in the event.

Find ways that teams can participate in your fundraising event.

Generate Publicity

One of the main reasons many people will not be attending your event is that they won’t know about it. When you are doing your planning, don’t leave out publicity. There are many ways to get the word out to others. Some of those include:

* Distributing fliers and brochure

* Phone calls to individuals and organizations

* Newsletter articles and notices

* Email messages (don’t SPAM)

* Newspaper articles and advertisements

* Radio and television interviews and announcements

* Press releases

* Online community calendars

Students Helping Honduras used many of these methods to let people know about their fundraising event. I personally watched a television interview, read articles in the local newspaper and saw fliers posted in the community advertising the Walkathon for Hope. However, the first time I heard about the event was not through any of these methods. I learned about the event online. Students Helping Honduras also used Web 2.0 techniques to alert others about their event. I initially found out about the walk on myspace.com. A quick search on the Internet showed they initiated a significant promotion across many websites and blogs. Build a plan for promoting your event early. Be creative in the ways you get the message out to your potential participants.

Provide Incentives

The more incentives you can give people, the more likely they will pull money from their wallets and make a contribution. Certainly the great feeling the donor will receive by donating to a worthy cause is one tremendous incentive. There are others to consider. Why not offer door prizes, auctions and raffles? Another incentive I have found that works well is finding sponsors that will match funds being donated by others.

The Walkathon for Hope covered many of these incentives. They auctioned off items prior to the event and sold t-shirts and other items at the event. They held a raffle for items including a video game system. Most importantly, they had a sponsor, Doris Buffett from The Sunshine Lady Foundation, who agreed to match funds so that if they could raise at least $100,000 they would receive the total $200,000 goal to build all 72 houses.

Identify several ways you can provide an incentive for people to promote, attend, participate and raise money for your event.

Have Fun

When all of the above elements come together, participants can’t help but have fun and feel great about making a difference. Don’t forget to have fun with the volunteers and participants when you are doing the planning and work to make the event a reality.

Yes, putting on a successful fundraising event is hard work. It is also worth doing the work when you realize you have the ability to make a difference.

Product Description
The Third Edition of this invaluable handbook provides a complete overview of the entire development function, from management and strategic planning to hands-on, practical guidance for the various kinds of fundraising. Written by leading fund-raising professionals and edited by James M. Greenfield, this volume is a classic in the field of fundraising.

Order from Amazon Today —>The Nonprofit Handbook: Fund Raising

• ISBN13: 9781889102191
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

Product Description
Why of all the hundreds of fundraising books available did AmeriCorps Vista, with offices throughout the U.S., single out The Relentlessly Practical Guide to Fundraising as the premier book on the subject and provide a copy to thousands of its staff?

Read David Lansdowne’s acclaimed work and you’ll quickly understand why.

No other writer in the field is as succinct, yet comprehensive. Nor do others have Lansdowne’s trademark gift of extracting the essence of a technique and illuminating it in unfailingly clear prose.

Lansdowne plumbs every major aspect of fundraising: from annual campaigns to capital campaigns, from major gifts to Internet fundraising, from planned giving to direct mail to prospect research.

Each chapter is delivered with heat-seeking precision. For example, do you want to know how to establish a gift club for donors? Turn to that chapter and chances are you’ll learn more in the nine pages than you would from reading an entire book on the subject.

The same goes for attracting corporate support. Yes, you could spend hours boning up on the topic. But there’s no need, as Lansdowne discusses everything you should know in a mere 11 pages.

There are other standout chapters that lift this book above others.

• “The 16 Best Pieces of Fundraising Advice” may be the best rendering of its kind put to pen. • ”Fundraising’s 20 Biggest Mistakes” is a masterful discussion that alerts you to each and every red flag. • ”Fundraising Myths” explores more than a dozen pernicious myths that many still labor under. • And, “What Every Board Member Must Know to Succeed,” should be required reading for any trustee serving a gift-supported organization.

Here’s ‘real world’ guidance you can put into practice literally today.

Order from Amazon Today —>The Relentlessly Practical Guide to Raising Serious Money: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations

In the next few minutes, you are going to learn the steps to implement a fund raising idea that can raise significant cash within a very short time frame. As opposed to simply asking donors to dig deeper into their pockets, this fund raising idea provides tax and increased income benefits to the donor. If you are involved in any facet of nonprofit fund raising, you can use this technique, for example, to buy or pay off the church organ, add another kennel at the local animal shelter or add a room on to the private school.

Three Steps to Funding Your Project

1. Select an insurance agent

This fund raising idea involves annuities; annuities can only be placed by a licensed insurance agent. I would suggest selecting an insurance agent from outside the organization. Look for agents with the CLU, ChFC or CFP professional designations.

My experience is that you are asking for trouble if you try to use an insurance agent who is on your board or active in your cause. Chances are there are several insurance agents to choose from and you don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Resist the temptation to spread the business among several agents, as you want to keep things simple.

Having been in the insurance business for 35 years, here is my rationale: If any agent within the organization expects to earn the commissions resulting from this fund raising idea, they should have brought the concept to the organization long ago.

2. Communicate the Fund Raising Idea

Prospects for this fund raising idea are senior members of your organization support group. They should be age 70 or older. The older the donor is, the greater their benefit.

Here is a simple outline of the fund raising technique.

a. A person donates cash or a highly appreciated asset.

b. If an asset is donated, your organization sells the property and pays no tax on the sale.

c. A portion of the sale proceeds purchases a single premium immediate annuity on the life of the donor.

d. Your organization keeps the difference and can immediately fund your need.

e. The donor receives an income tax deduction, which can be spread over 6 years if necessary.

f. The donor also receives a guaranteed life income. The rate of return that the income represents is normally much greater than they have been receiving.

g. The net result is that the donor receives an income tax deduction and increased income benefits. Your nonprofit receives immediate cash.

The agent can assist with presenting this fund raising idea to your constituents. That is his or her forte. Many types of media can be used to communicate the idea; for example, a mailing, a post on your web site, a seminar, or an audio CD outlining the benefits.

3. Set Up the Simple Administrative Procedure

Mechanically, this is how the entire fund raising idea flows:

a. Your organization uses the cash or the proceeds from the donated asset to buy a single premium immediate annuity on the donor. A simple letter is usually required, signed by the donor, to establish insurable interest. A one-page agreement, which complies with the laws of your state, outlines each party’s obligations.

b. Each month your organization receives a check from the insurance company for each donor.

c. Your organization could endorse these checks over to each donor or you could issues separate checks. The process is very simple. It is just a couple of new line items in your accounting system.

Summary

You may recognize this fund raising idea as a charitable gift annuity. Many national nonprofits have gift annuity programs. However, most small nonprofits do not. This is the power and simplicity of this fund raising idea. It is simple, straightforward and your organization receives funds immediately upon the completion of each transaction.

National gift annuity programs do not fund your program immediately. Furthermore, national programs do not realize any gain until the person dies and then the gain goes into their coffers, not your organization’s.

If you are involved in a charter school, a church or any nonprofit, hereâ??s how the numbers could work out.

Let’s assume there are 500 supporters and this fund raising idea applies to just 2%, or ten individuals. Further, assume that the range of donations is between $10,000 and $50,000, with the average being $25,000.

This would bring in $250,000. The cost of the immediate annuities will vary by age, but let’s assume this cost is $125,000. That puts $125,000 in your organization’s pocket.

This fund raising idea appeals to the average person. The donor benefits financially in two ways: a tax deduction and a guaranteed life income. Moreover, they get to see the end result of their gift. Your organization receives a large influx of cash quickly to fund a pressing need. This fund raising idea is a win-win for everyone.

Product Description
A good fundraising plan can make a vital difference in the quality of a nonprofit organization’s programs and services. It can be the map by which the organization charts and secures its future. This step-by-step guide is designed to help you and your organization construct an operational fundraising plan that is appropriate to your specific funding needs. From meeting deadlines and scheduling special events to creating an overall plan for fundraising activities, The Fundraising Planner ensures that all activities fit together as a whole and support each and every program.

The model presented in this workbook is flexible and suited to multiple purposes. Use The Fundraising Planner and learn how to:

• Create an effective overview plan
• Formulate a calAndar of events, mailings, and strategies to attract contributions
• Draw fundraising ideas from financial data
• Strengthen your donor and prospect lists
• - Survey your board to refine its mission
• Produce a basic funding proposal and press kit
• Prepare clear status reports for the board, development staff, and key fundraising participants
• Track progress towards your funding goal

• Understanding the Big Picture
• Deciding Plan Inputs
• Putting the Plan Together
• Monitoring the Plan

Order from Amazon Today —>The Fundraising Planner: A Working Model for Raising the Dollars You Need