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This area will be regularly updated with bulletins on fundraising issues. (Posted 03/04/2001)

Capital fundraising

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Q: Consultants versus in house on feasibility studies. Any opinions?

A: Difficult to answer, but as a consultant (!) you will always find "politics" within organisations and external people often are able to get more "real" views of what is and what is not possible. (Posted 16/04/2001)

Q: We would like to look at running a major gift campaign and think we will need external consultants. Are there opinions on this?

A: Many, but the best advice before starting a specific Major Gift campaign (as opposed to having a major gift policy) is to find out if there are enough individuals with affluence and influence who will be interested in what you are proposing. Research is ABSOLOUTELY vital and a resource or feasibility study needs to be conducted. (Posted 16/04/2001)

Corporate

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Q: We've got an idea that we want to present to a few corporates should we only present to one and wait for their response or present to all.

A: This depends on your past association, but I'd be inclined not to wait because there are no guarantees, but to present the idea along with the fact that you are approaching other corporates or with a deadline, when you will be presenting to other interested parties.

Although you need to use your own judgement, you need to be aware that relationships take time to build and it's good to plant as many seeds as possible initially. You could also just go for one company from different sectors so that you don't go to their competitors. (Posted 16/04/2001)

Fundraising events

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Q: Events seem to be a hard area to budget for and control. Does anyone have any simple ideas on how to do this?

A: There are two types of events. The one that is organised in-house and external events or community events where members of the public organise and “own”.

In house events need to continuously be evaluated to a) ensure that lessons are learned, b) that should a project/event be in decline it can be spotted and sorted out. Budgets should include all costs that will incur should sponsorship not be found. This shows worse case scenarios that otherwise could have implications for cash flow.

Community fundraising should remain in the community and the clients should hold only be supported by the Charity. E.g. providing packs volunteers. Clear, honest expectations need to be set between you and community fundraiser.

Event fundraising is one of the most rewarding areas for fundraisers because of the extraordinary things that people achieve at grassroots level. (Posted 16/04/2001)

Organizational planning

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Q: I've just taken over a team of fundraisers and they're so demotivated. I'm almost at a loss as to know what to do.

A: Motivation is probably the key factor to successful fundraising. I suggest you simply take each one off site and talk to them about their job, what they want from it, things they feel they want to change and why. Keep it about work. Follow up what you hear, and make positive changes as quickly as possible. It is better to start with small things as they show you have been listening and they gain your trust before you decide to change policy!

If at all possible try and have a personal early success that shows you are someone of action who has experience and can make a difference. Respect is a very good motivation and management tool. (Posted 16/04/2001)

Annual fundraising

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Q: Has anyone got any easy way to get Gift Aid back on sports events and sponsorship forms? We're finding having a back up audit paper trail impossible.

A: Yes. So are we. Our finance department wants a very clear paper trail as they think that if audited we wouldn't be able to prove it adequately.

A: For sponsorship events we have decided not to claim gift aid back unless the individuals are past donors.

A: Finance has decided to look at what if it is worth across the board to see about employing someone specific to Gift Aid.

A: Our charity haven't even got round to figuring out what to do about it. None of us have any time! (Posted 16/04/2001)

Q: In general terms what would you be looking for when setting up your annual fundraising. What do you think are your main streams of income?

A: One main theme needs to run through your fundraising strategy. The ability to have multiple streams of income is obvious, but the single most important thing is to always have a major gifts policy.

Every fundraiser should be aware and understand the importance of major gifts i.e. Major gifts being those individuals who want to put larger sums of money into specific projects or programmes e.g. living legacies, naming rights, bursaries etc.

If you do not have a major gift policy within your organization, you will be missing out on one of the most effective forms of fundraising. You will also not be providing your committed donors with a vehicle through which they can show this commitment. (Posted 16/04/2001)

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