Know-How Exchange : Strategy

I have always served on a board of a nonprofit most my adult life-- I feel its very important to give back.

During those years, and because my background is sales, the job of fund raising was always mine. As advise, remember that fund raising is traditionally a shared responsibility of the board.

You can either fund raise by event or by a yearly campaign. I like a combo. A yearly campaign gives you opportunity to continually market and takes the highs and lows out of managing cash. It stretches your fund raising-- especially if you find you are constantly tapping a few good sponsors. You get them onboard for the yearly campaign and are forced to tap other sponsors for events. This is a good thing and expands the contact/support base.

This was my latest nonprofit volunteer effort-- an org I was a cofounder of. https://www.usgbccolorado.com/. We created (on top of events), our 100 Friends campaign. You can see how we recognized our sponsors.

In addition, we held monthly meetings on an educational topic which were revenue generating. We gave a company the opportunity to sponsor each one-- for their dollars their name was on the signage and they received recognition from the podium. Then twice a year we did educational series. Sell everything! If your event needs pens to write notes with-- give someone an opportunity to provide those pens. If the event requires signage sell the opportunity to put a company logo on that sign. Those dollars add up!

As a rule, we drew up our budget to have sponsorships cover the expenses of the event-- the "take" from ticket sales was where we made our profit.

Hope that helps, Carol
Sell Well and Prosper tm

Hi Brenda

A few thoughts:

Have a health/fun fair offering different screening opportunities for adults and children combined with rides and food (a mini-fair). Some medical organizations will donate their services, corporate sponsors will fund the rides and local restaurants can provide food with a split arrangement (portion of food sales go back to the organization or you can charge a flat rate for booth space.) A nominal ticket fee ($10 per family for example) would be charged for entrance.

Partner with local businesses and offer a mini-olympics for families of those in the armed forces in your community. (The children and families of soldiers that are in service over seas are the participants...or expand it to include children of police and firemen in your community). Games such as three legged races, egg toss, potato sack races, frisbee toss, etc. Again, have food and other vendors. Video the event and send it to the parent serving in the armed forces. In addition to the actual Olympic events, have fun activities for the public.

Other activity you may include at either event could be"Let's Make a Deal," "Are you Smarter than a ___ grader (using your curriculum as the content) type game activity for adults.

As with all sponsorships there has to be a benefit to the sponsor. You can offer a tiered sponsor package, the greater the commitment the more prominent the promotion and mention of the sponsors.

Of course, at any event distribute materials about your organization (printing is one of the sponsored activities), a short presentation and where feasible, a video presentation of your organization in action.

Each of the above ideas provide not only benefit to your agency through financial support and exposure - but shows your support for those in the community...you are receiving and giving. Thus, a sponsor is actually meeting two objectives in one, helping you and the community at large.

Of course, you will need to create a compelling story that makes your organization worthy of the support but the goal is to show your support of others while asking for support yourself. Be sure your marketing materials soliciting sponsorship are top notch and of excellent quality.

Hope that helps.

It is about the kids-- and as you know, without support the child will not grow-- whether the support is parents, great teachers, community or funding. Driving the commitment to supporting children is sound, and it will drive the sponsorship dollars. But it doesn't all have to be only for kids to create dollars to support the kids. There is no reason why it can't continue to have large sustainable growth.

I can see why the event wasn't a success. You are right, most parents only want their own child's artwork. They will buy their own child's art and that is about it. Have events that involve the community to grow. Your care centers provide a huge service to its community. Beyond the students themselves, but by establishing the values of future adults that are the future of your community. There is no reason the community shouldn't be involved and give back to your org that serves so well.

Carol

In Des Moines there is a very, very successful fund raiser held every year that pits adult teams in a spelling bee competition. The ability to spell has very little to do with the outcome as bribes are allowed, etc. The teams have comic names - outrageous dress, etc. A good crowd comes to watch the teams "spell it out." It is for a children's cause, but can't remember which. Teams are formed by companies or by groups of individuals. Good media coverage too.

Good Luck!
CVN

Mark has a great idea, in addition to creating her own, she might want to tap into this org. https://www.corporatedonations.org/

Nonprofits wish lists are matched with excess furnishings, etc from corporations. Our Colorado Nonprofit org, the group we get our directors insurance-- also does this.

Carol