Nonprofit Information

Fundraising Ideas

Gifts In Kind Organizations Can Benefit Nonprofits With Free Merchandise

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Nonprofit FundraisingNonprofits play crucial roles in their communities. Whether they are schools, churches, health organizations, government agencies or a myriad of others, nonprofits offer services to help people in need or crisis and support families in a variety of ways. However, most nonprofits just don’t have enough resources to provide support to every vulnerable member of their communities.

That’s why gifts-in-kind organizations are so valuable. After paying a small membership fee, they enable nonprofits to obtain free items that can support their charitable activities.

A gifts in kind program solicits donations of new merchandise from American corporations and redistributes that merchandise to nonprofits at no cost other than a small yearly membership fee and the cost of shipping/handling the items they select. Participants can include schools, social service agencies, housing authorities, police and fire departments and churches.

In cases where a struggling family is in need of an intervention, a gifts in kind organization can provide crucial items like blankets, toiletries, and household supplies. Furthermore, it’s an affordable resource nonprofits can use for various activities and maintenance.

Recently, a church received beautiful windows through the efforts of the program. This renovation would have been an expensive undertaking, but because they were members, the church was able to dedicate the funds that might have been spent on this costly purchase to supplement its own mission programs.

In today’s economy, many families are experiencing desperate circumstances and must turn to nonprofits for assistance. This means the call for household goods and supplies is great. Thankfully, membership in a gifts-in-kind organization allows nonprofits to obtain top notch merchandise for free. Members can browse a huge catalog of donated merchandise and request what they want or need.

Companies like Microsoft, Stanley Tools, 3M, Rubbermaid, Rand McNally, Reebok, Gillette, Xerox, Hallmark and thousands of others make such contributions, supporting charitable causes while at the same time taking advantage of tax deductions, reducing storage costs, clearing warehouse space and avoiding hassles with liquidators. Items donated include office supplies, class materials, clothing and shoes, maintenance items, tools and hardware, toys and games, computer software, sporting goods, books, tapes, CDs, arts and crafts, personal care items, holiday and party items, janitorial supplies and more.

Nonprofit groups usually pay a small fee to join and nominal shipping and handling charges to participate in the program, but the merchandise itself is free. The gifts-in-kind organization handles sorting, processing, cataloging and redistribution of the merchandise.

Organizations that participate are required to use the merchandise in accordance with IRC section 170(e) (3). This states that the merchandise must be used for the care of the ill, needy or minors and cannot be bartered, traded or sold. The merchandise can be given directly to the qualifying individuals served by an organization or used in the administration of the organization.

For more information, non profits can call 1-800-562-0955 or visit NAEIR’s website at www.naeir.org. 

 

 

REBSEA a New Avenue For Fundraisers

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fundraising ideasA new trade association has been created that will give Nonprofit Organizations a new method of working with their supporters and their donors to bring them more donations. It is the Real Estate & Business Social Enterprises Association, REBSEA, a 501c6 non profit trade association. REBSEA was created to represent and promote the business of real estate agents and businesses who actively support the communities they serve by donating part of their revenue to NPOs.

The REBSEA concept is based on the proven fact that people prefer to do business with people and companies who Give Back to their communities. In fact, study after study confirms that most people ( 88-85% ) will switch from a brand they are using to another if that brand supports a cause that they believe in. Corporate America is aware of this preference and has embraced the support of NPOs as a centerpiece of their reputation management. Social Enterprise is becoming a significant factor in transforming commerce as an increasing number of consumers are coming to expect that the companies where they spend their dollars not only are safe and helpful to the environment, but also are actively Giving Back to the communities they serve. One area where this is conspicuously absent is in the real estate industry. Although the large real estate franchises have programs that raise money for various causes both local and national, the fact remains that cumulatively this is a very small measure of support for NPOs. Consider that more than one half of the wealth in America is in real estate, more than in all the stock markets combined, and contributions to NPOs from this industry are minimal. The primary reason is that there is no existing infrastructure within the real estate industry for truly significant contributions to make their way to NPOs. REBSEA was created to offer leadership in creating just such an infrastructure to increase the flow of donations from the real estate industry to NPOs both on the national and on the local front.

REBSEA is forming a national network of real estate agents who are willing to donate a part of their commissions to NPOs whenever they have the opportunity to do business with their supporters. In fact, the initial network is being formed from the hundreds of real estate agents who already actively support NPOs through their business. Each of them is designated as a FOUNDER of REBSEA because this organization is truly being founded by each of them. In fact, the entire concept of REBSEA was formulated when the initial Founders realized to their amazement just how many others were doing what they were doing in their own business. After the initial network is formed REBSEA membership will be available to other real estate agents who wish to become involved as REBSEA demonstrates to them that Giving Back is not just good business but also good FOR business.

Realtors routinely give other real estate agents 20% or more of their commissions for referrals that lead to closed sales. So why not give it to a NPO who introduces you to one of their supporters who is a buyer or a seller ? Real estate agents like the idea of more business and the satisfaction of helping NPOs. NPOs like the idea of more donations. And supporters get to facilitate a donation to the causes they care about for FREE. This is truly a win-win-win-win scenario. The fourth “win” is for the recipient of the help that the NPO provides to alleviate their need or their pain.

This is a new business model that is a product of the explosion of Social Enterprise into the mainstream of American life. To learn more about what is happening in the area of Social Enterprise you can visit the REBSEA website at www.rebsea.org and read their comprehensive newsletter which covers all of the areas where Social Enterprise is breaking new ground.

The second phase of the REBSEA plan is of great importance to the very local charities and other non profits who have to struggle so desperately for the funds needed to carry out their missions at the community level. Once the initial national network is established REBSEA will direct its efforts to making the public aware that they can find a real estate agent in their location who supports the same causes that they care about and by contacting that agent when they buy or sell a property they can direct support in the direction of their own choosing. This will be accomplished by extensive blogging via the social media, press releases carried out by companies that excel at getting the word out to an unimaginable number of places, and various other techniques that their team is familiar with. Good news does travel well !

REBSEA was created with a single purpose…..to drive traffic and business to its members which means more support for NPOs. The development directors of the largest NPOs might take note that they can also show real leadership by recognizing the potential of these new ideas and getting involved with REBSEA on the ground floor. The Founders of REBSEA can be reached at info@rebsea.org.


Creative QR Code Fundraising to Encourage Business Support

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nonprofit fundraising managementNonprofits are very commendable organizations that should always be embraced, supported and protected in our society.   Organizations that offer assistance to those that have trouble helping themselves are some of the most important entities we have.   But operating a nonprofit comes at a price; if you pay close attention you will notice that many nonprofits (especially those that are small) have issues with funding, and many of them struggle with the “churn” of constantly going after grants and large donations while also keeping the bills paid in between those donations.  Many nonprofits struggle with building relationships with local or small business donors because of the business’s lack of available funds to donate, and/or the lack of time that a small business owner has to research and donate to worthy causes that their shoppers also appreciate.  The DonorCharge Shop, Scan, and Give service attempts to tackle this problem while enabling nonprofits to engage small merchants in the donation process by using a patent pending system that is a win-win for all parties.

What is the Donorcharge QR Code Program?

The DonorCharge QR Code Fundraising Code program uses QR Codes to initiate donation rewards from merchants.  Traditionally a customer would make a purchase from a merchant and the merchant asks a shopper to donate $1.00 to a cause that is already chosen by the merchant.  The customer has little choice in the matter and initiatives that are not favored by the merchant go unsupported.   The DonorCharge QR Code Program reverses this scenario by putting the power back in the shopper’s hands.

What core problem does this address?

The Donorcharge QR Code program reverses the typical  “donate at the point of checkout “scenario by enabling the shopper to login to DonorCharge, choose one or several their favorite causes, and when the shopper makes a purchase they receive a donation from the merchant as a reward for doing business with them.   DonorCharge also makes joining as a merchant easy by not requiring the merchant to reprogram their credit card machine, or purchase and design expensive custom gift cards for charity, or pay any expensive setup or monthly fees; DonorCharge asks the merchant one question:  “Are you willing to give something back to your shopper’s favorite charity when they purchase from you? “ .   The merchant doesn’t have to know the charity; they only agree to give back their own small amount by issuing a DonorCharge QR Code back to the shopper.   Each sale has its own custom QR code that can only be scanned once; this is to keep a QR code from being scanned over and over.  Each merchant has access to thousands of DonorCharge QR codes which addresses the potential for fraud from those that would like to scan codes again and again dishonestly.   Again, a merchant just agrees to give back any small amount (10, 20, 50 cents), doesn’t pay a setup or monthly fee, and doesn’t have to accept a special type of payment or reprogram their system.  Small merchants like flea market merchants, very small salons, craft merchants and more can participate because it is inexpensive, and easy to join the program.

How do causes benefit?

Because of the fact that a merchant simply agrees to blindly give back, and not donate to a specific charity; shoppers that support event the smallest, unknown charitable cause can select those initiatives online, visit the nearby merchant that knows little of the cause (but agrees to give back to their shopper’s charities), and those chosen causes can earn a donation.  Donation tallies are deposited electronically to the cause’s checking account at the end of the month.   Imagine your supporters being able to include your nonprofits in point of sale fundraising process.  This increases support for the merchant while also increasing donations for the chosen nonprofit.

How can businesses benefit?

Studies have shown that most consumers prefer doing business with someone that supports worthy causes.  Not only does DonorCharge enable support of worthy causes, but it enables support of that shopper’s own chosen favorite causes; large or small.  So shoppers have even more of an incentive to do business with participants; knowing that their own chosen causes benefit directly from them buying from supporting merchants.  Plus, businesses are not required to setup any special gift cards, install expensive terminals, etc.   The DonorCharge QR Code Program also offers ways for retail, mobile, or even online merchants to reward charities with this program with no setup, monthly, or annual fees to participate.

How does this work?

1

Cause joins DonorCharge and encourages their supporters to participating in the DonorCharge QR Code program.

2

Supporter registers, chooses their favorite causes, finds participating businesses via the DonorCharge and proceeds to do business with that merchant.

 3

Supporter receives a DonorCharge QR code from the business as a reward for shopping with them.

4

Supporter scans the QR code via any smart phone QR code reader OR manually enters the numerical code if no smart phone or scanner is available.

 5

The donation is tallied and the cause receives their donation totals at the end of the month via electronic deposit!

6

The business gives a little but earns a lot in the form of referrals from other causes and their supporters.   This increases their customer base almost instantly.

Using the DonorCharge QR Code Program benefits both small business and small nonprofits; making it cost effective for all parties by not charging any setup fees, monthly fees, or annual fees.  This program makes it easier for nonprofit to engage business support in their community at no cost or obligation to get started!  It just makes sense to give this a try so they can earn small donations with little effort while they devote resources to go after those large donations.

Do you have any questions?

If you do, learn more at www.ShopScanGive.com


Planning for Effective Fundraising

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Planning for Effective FundraisingThe reason fundraising campaigns fail is they are not planned well.  Let’s plan for a successful annual fundraising campaign. (At another time, we will plan for successful special events.)

Spend time gathering names, mailing addresses and e-mail addresses of potential donors

  • Volunteers for the agency
  • Board members
  • Attendees at agency functions
  • Families of clients, former clients, as appropriate
  • Individuals who have given to other groups (arts, universities, United Way)
  • Representatives of businesses which have given to other groups.

Divide the names you have gathered in three groups:

  • Potentially large donors- These are individuals you will visit
  • Potentially medium donors-These are individuals you will call
  • Potentially small donors- These are individuals you will send a mailing to

Factors in deciding who should be in which pile are the time available to make visits, phone calls and mailings.  Another factor is how much these individuals have previously given to your campaign and that of other agencies.

Make sure to involve potentially large donors in your agency before you visit them:

  • Invite them to an open house
  • Send them materials about your program
  • Include them on an advisory committee
  • Invite them at no cost to any programs you offer

Learn as much as you can about businesses before you visit:

  • Services
  • Profitability
  • Past giving
  • Procedures for making requests

Once you begin an Annual Campaign with careful planning, you are on your way to success.

Visit as many potential donors as you can.  Call them to set up appointments in their office or home.  Begin by asking them to discuss any contacts they have had with the agency such as visits to an open house or an agency special event.  Describe briefly the programs that could be undertaken if the agency raised the funds included in the budget.

Ask for a specific gift as an “investment in the community.”  This number would be the largest amount you think they might contribute.

Thank the donor for any amount they pledge.  When you return to the office, confirm the amount of the pledge and thank them again.

If the prospective donor does not make a pledge, do not get discouraged. Perhaps they will give next year.

Meet with the planning committee again to share what you learned at each visit.

By spending quality time planning for fundraising, you will avoid the major reason why fundraising campaigns fail.


The Dos and Don’ts of Grant Writing

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Grant Writing TipsThere’s a common misconception floating in the ether that grants are free, easy money. That’s simply not the case. Grants are awarded through an increasingly competitive system that favors only the strongest proposals. Here are some tips for making sure your proposal is in tip-top shape.

Do your research on the funder you’re approaching.Make sure the request you’re submitting is appropriate for the foundation, corporation, or other grant program you’re applying under. Read the guidelines carefully and thoroughly, and research past grants to make sure your request fits both in terms of the content of the proposal and the grant amount. For example, don’t ask for a $50,000 grant from a family foundation that only gives grants between $5,000 and $15,000.

Don’t wait til the last minute to start writing. Prepare your materials well in advance of the deadline, leaving yourself time to ask questions of the funder, to double and triple check your information with program officers, and to feel stress-free when you’re preparing the proposal or application.

Do thoroughly discuss your program. Write details of the who, what, why, when, where, and how of the proposed project. This will help show that your organization is prepared and capable, and that plans are in place to undertake the program. You want to show your ideas are not theoretical; prove they are real, well thought out, and practical and that you’re ready to hit the ground running

Don’t frame the proposal in terms of your organization’s needs. You don’t need money because you’re out of printer paper. You need money because you are working to solve an important, pressing, dire problem, and without money to keep the lights on and buy that printer paper, this problem will go unaddressed and people in need—not your organization—will suffer.

Do use outside research to justify your project. Show that there is widespread, well documented need for the program you intend to run, and that that program draws on experts and scholarly research in determining the best course of action to meet that need.

Don’t overstate or estimate your budget. Be precise with your budget numbers and don’t build in money for contingencies. Ask for only what you need, and make sure that need is justified. Don’t write that you need four reams of paper at a guesstimated $8 each. Go online, find the exact price, and quote that price.

Do consider hiring an outside eye to read through your proposal before you send it in. Often people who are close to the program they’re writing about fail to see gaps in their argument and may leave out important details inadvertently. A fresh set of impartial eyes can help strengthen your proposal.

Don’t mail lots of extras with your proposal. An attachment such as a DVD, annual report, or letter of support can be a good idea, but don’t overload your proposal. Let the writing stand on its own, and pay attention to the funder’s guidelines; often, funders specifically state whether they want attachments or not, and if they do, what to send. Stick to the guidelines.

When Fundraising Gets Personal…Good Things Happen!

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When Fundraising Gets Personal...Good Things Happen - Nonprofit AdviceAmong the many communications I receive from nonprofits are fundraising appeals. Often these appeals emphasize statistics, such as:

  • last year donors like you helped over 600,000 patients…
  • over 1.2 million animals need your help…
  • help protect the rights of over 30 million Americans…

Very likely, the person who chose to base their appeal on statistics thought that the sheer numbers being cited would make an overwhelming, logical and convincing case that their cause is the one that the donor should support. Statistics are fine, but these fundraisers forgot one vital component of fundraising success.

They forgot to make it personal.

By that, I mean focusing on an individual who was helped, or will be helped, by the donor’s gift. Taking the same examples, see effective these appeals are when stated like this:

  • Meet Linda, a patient helped by someone like you…
  • you can save Hazel the labrador with your gift…
  • If you donate, James will still have the right to…

Mother Teresa once said, “If I look at the masses, I will never act. If I look at the one, I will.” People tend to be overwhelmed when confronted by a great need, but when confronted with the needs of one individual, they’re much more likely to feel an emotional connection and act. And studies have shown that when appeals focus on helping individuals, donation amounts rise dramatically.

Gift amounts rise even further when you provide suggested gift levels as guidance. For example, “$50 feeds a kitten for one month” or “$100 pays for a puppy’s adoption into a loving home” tells a donor what they’re “buying” with their gift. When combined with a photo of just such a kitten or puppy, you have a powerful emotional argument for someone to not just donate, but possibly donate more than they would have had you not made that connection.

But the appeal can be even more personal.

Friend-to-friend fundraising has been around for decades. And personal online fundraising pages have become a fundraising staple. By encouraging your supporters to make the “ask” for you, you can dramatically increase both the number of donations as well as the donation amounts for your appeals. When asked why they chose a particular organization to donate to, over 50% of donors say, “A friend asked me to.”

The reason why friend-to-friend fundraising is so effective is that it’s very personal. I often explain it this way: When people receive an appeal from you, they likely don’t know your organization. You’re one of many communications they receive every day, from both non-profits and for-profits, and are likely to be deleted as spam or tossed away as junk mail. But when your supporters contacts them, then it’s their daughter, their nephew, their friend, colleague or neighbor. In essence, they lend their “brand” to you when they endorse your cause and break through all the other communication clutter. People like to help people they know do good works. So if your supporter has a fundraising goal, you can bet Grandma or Aunt Jane will want to help them achieve it.

So don’t be afraid to appeal to emotions in your fundraising communications. And definitely enlist your supporters. Remember, people give with their hearts more than their heads!

4 Ways To Fail at Fundraising

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Fundraising is the lifeblood for many nonprofit organizations, but there is an art to it, and if you do not understand this art, your fundraiser will go from fantastic to failure.
ways to fail at fundraising  While there is no cookie cutter way to approach fundraising, here are some big things to avoid if you want to help ensure that your fundraiser is as successful as it can be:

Failure to Present a Clear Message

Some fundraisers are a little more obvious than others.  A fundraiser to help find a cure for breast cancer is clear to most without further explanation.  However, a fundraiser to raise funds to battle Chondrodysplasia Punctata disease may need more explaining.  However, no matter how obvious your cause is, you still need a clear message that wins over the hearts of people.  How specifically are you going to use the funds?  What specific research are you using the money for?  What results specifically do you hope for?  Being specific will give people a greater sense of why your cause is important, but it will also communicate to them that you are serious.

Failure to Keep Things Fun

Anyone who has ever done a fundraiser in the past knows that fundraiser can be, and often are, extremely frustrating.  Despite this reality, however, it is imperative to keep your fundraiser enjoyable.  Few people will care about your cause enough to show up even though it’s boring.  Creating a fun-filled atmosphere will not only bring your guests back in the future, but it will increase the morale significantly among your workers and volunteers.

Failure to Ask For Money

There is a fine balance between being clear and being pushy.  Asking people for money is extremely challenging for most of us, but you need to realize that people realize that that is why you are having a fundraiser.  They know that you want their money, so just ask for it.  Now you need to use some common sense here.  First you need to communicate to them why you need the money, develop in their hearts compassion and appreciation for what your cause stands for.  There is a sense of “preparing” them for giving.  However, you must be clear and just ask them to give.  It’s amazing what people will do when they feel lead and not pushed.

Failure to Create a Sense of Urgency

Urgency equals importance.  If something can wait, then it must not be that essential.  When you promote and launch your fundraiser you need to instill in the minds of everyone involved that what you are doing is vitally important and needs immediate action.  Creating this sense of urgency will instill in the minds of your potential donors that there is no time for vacillating; they need to give now because your cause simply can’t wait.  The world needs your cause now.  Now, as I said above, simply expressing urgency won’t fly; you also need to give specific reasons as to why your cause is so urgently needed.


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