Fund Raising: What to do when Tried and True turns to Tired and Blue
Are you a non-profit trying to raise funds in these challenging times? For many it feels
like everything is shifting from the tried and true ways of fund raising to the tired and blue ways. It's no secret that not-for-profit organizations are scrambling to identify and redefine the relevant and sustainable fund raising tactics that will support their mission during these challenging times. However they must also be future-focused, creating the goals, strategy and energy to carry them past this rugged period and well into the future. And though it will feel that such planning is stretching leadership and staff to their limits, it is critical that organizations know not only how to survive today, but what will it mean to thrive tomorrow.
As they tread this path, NFP organizations need to keep in mind the following:
• What made the organization financially strong and successful in the past is going to look different in the future. Organizations must be process-nimble and adapt their current revenue generating systems by taking into account today’s economic limitations, and forecasting tomorrow’s economic trends.
• They must be where their donors and supports are and remain relevant and accessible by shoring-up their current social network and technology strengths, identifying their weaknesses and filling the gaps.
• Invite help from those who care. People are more committed to solutions they have helpeddesign so invite comments and conversation from key stakeholders, staff, board and donors about what they believe is the organization’s best future.
• Talking over important decisions in groups before implementation leads to higher commitment to change. Aggregate ideas and work as a group to create a shared preferred future that has the meaning and life value needed to motivate high performance - and then asks them to join you in achieving it.
What challenges have you faced in redefining your fund raising strategies?
