Increase fundraising because you increase market share. (i.e. 126% in four months and 371% within sixteen months)
“Like” the Facebook Group (free) – check in here
Schedule a call or send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.org
Category Archives: Learning Fundraising
Relationships with Grantors – Four Tips
Leave a reply
We love this statement by Amy Clinton, “The overall success of a grant writer should ultimately be measured by whether or not the organization for which that person is writing grants is building relationships and program credibility with funders and achieving incremental increases in grant funding revenues.”
Recently, an organization in our community saw the deletion of a grant they depended on. It was something they had received for years and at the end, the $125,000 they received last year, just went away without warning. That destroys programs and, it did! The program it funded was shut down.
Relationships and program credibility – how are you building them?
Tip #1: Share your message as often as you can with as many people as you can in the most-effective way.
Tip #2: Offer opportunities for people to be involved in your program and even invite the people within the organization/foundation granting money. They are not likely to attend but will appreciate the thought of inclusion to see how their money is being used.
Tip #3: Accept the way people participate in your program. This helps you to keep momentum going and maintains a positive perspective. A happy person says good things and can provide a testimonial for you later on. This looks good on applications.
Tip#4: Respect and appreciate everyone within your community. By this, we mean anyone associated with your mission and your organization. The same is true with those organizations offering similar services. Maintain the feeling of abundance. There’s enough to go around. Be thankful. SOAR (acronym for relationship development, which is outlined above).
Consider the following data, also provided by Amy Clinton (see her full article):
1. If an organization is submitting applications to already-established funders who know them well, they can expect:
a. For existing programs, high success rates, up to 90 percent
b. For expanding existing programs, good success rates, up to 80 percent
c. For new programs, lower success rates, generally 30 to 40 percent
2. If submitting applications to NEW funders, an excellent success rate would be 30 to 40 percent
3. If submitting applications to a combination of existing and new funders, an organization should expect a success rate of between 50 and 60 percent.
#soarwithnetworkfundraising assists organizations and individuals when they are determining the best way to GROW Community among their constituents. Increasing market share and raising money goes hand in hand. It’s easy when you choose to SOAR.
Getting donations because your non-profit gives the donors what they want
A list, compiled through donor interviews, is below. These are the common answers for what a donor wants in order to feel good about a donation they make.
- good community standing for the non-profit they donate to
- a non-profit that works with others to pool resources
- respected fundraising tools
- fiscal responsibility of how they spend the gifts they get
- not being asked again and again for gifts to fund the same purpose
- donation they make reflect positively on themselves
- a feel-good system in place for everyone involved
- a well-outlined strategic plan for the future of how the money they give now impacts the future
- a realistic fundraising plan with resources already in place
- realistic and clear goals determined by the non-profit
- financial report to share
- legitimate mission, vision and purpose defined
- adequate service area in the community
- impact metrics for when their donation is made
- a way to connect the donor to the mission
- updates on progress as well as outcomes of their gift
- ways to create a personal connection for the donor
- respect for the donor (thank you’s and acknowledgements done promptly)
- a trustworthy cause to give to, meaning the non-profit accepts responsibility, and stands by their decisions
- attention to solicitation requests made – the number sent, the messaging, and the follow through afterwards
- Transparency of the organization and all systems (they do not want to be asked by more than one person for the same thing)
- a way for the donor to make a difference with whatever they give
- heart-warming stories
- clear explanation of need so there’s no guessing
- excellent customer service
- a way to solicit donors for advice
- a way for donors to be heroes
- honesty
- online systems – updated and accurate
- good communications
- photos of how dollars are impacting society – the results
- an organized way to volunteer their time
A person who feels good about their donation opens the door for others to give because they share their great experience. It also gives them the idea to give again, and to potentially give more.
SOAR is a relationship program, an acronym, which covers all the bases for helping non-profits coordinate the above list. It’s a way to grow market share and increase dollars.
S – share your message
O – offer opportunities for involvement
A – accept the way people want to participate
R – respect and appreciate others
People who SOAR spread their networking arms, expand their market, and increase the dollars they raise. They SOAR – all of the time with practices they implement. To learn more – iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com
Raising Money? A Result of Good Choices.
- You have choices to make.
- You weigh the options while educating yourself.
- You make a choice.
This is an ideal scenario but it’s not always the way it goes.
A corporation growing market share (AKA raising money) often limits their options to what they’ve always done and then expects different results. You’ve probably heard a quote, often attributed to Albert Einstein:
“Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results.”
Insanity is a BAD choice when it comes to building confidence in your community for increasing market share. People wonder why an organization is STILL ASKING for money. Why have they NOT MET their financial goal? Will they ever be sustainable? Are they using their dollars wisely? Many times a development professional at an organization becomes the scapegoat. In reality, it costs more money to replace that professional than to work on building them into the model fundraiser. Most times, an employee challenged with raising money is so lost on what to do, they lose sleep at night, and their health deteriorates. Their self-esteem suffers. They feel they’ve let the organization down. They stop trying because it’s too painful.
Organizations choosing to SOAR lighten the burden on their fundraising professional. SOAR is an acronym for a system. People who have followed the program double awareness within two months. They increase fundraising 126% in four months. The metrics in every scenario are off the charts. SOAR only works with organizations and a fundraising professional who are willing to step outside of their box and see relationship building as a necessary tool for raising money.
CAUTION: Grants and donors seeking tax benefits are NOT guaranteed. Recently, a client lost their $100,000 block grant. It’s something they’d received for many years. Now, GONE with the blink of an eye. Fortunately, they are growing their program with SOAR. They’ve found ways to educate people about their mission. They are developing a culture with people in the community. They will survive.
Your choice is to SOAR for success. Discuss options. Schedule a quick call by clicking here.
Value of Follow up – PRICELESS
People who follow up in a timely manner achieve greater success. It’s a bold statement. Do you agree? Take a look at someone who is doing well in growing their future. They share their message and then what?
OFFER opportunities to be involved. It’s the “O” in SOAR. First, you share your message and then make an offer. A person must follow up with individuals they shared their message with. The follow up includes an offer for the person contacted to participate in something for free with “no sale” involved. This is required for the next step in developing a solid relationship.
Timelier follow up is best. Meet today, call tomorrow, benefit forever. Does the benefit mean it’s a sale? Benefits arrive in many ways. Consider the basic fact and keep this with you, we feel joy within ourselves when following through on something. The act of contacting someone, preferably via phone because it allows for two-way conversation, brings enlightenment. Again – in many ways.
There’s one thing, which rings true time and time again. You’re encouraged to take notice. Following up gets put on the “low priority list” nine times out of ten. People get too busy with what’s next and forget about what’s happened. Those “easy” leads coming forward lose power over time. The longer we wait the more we lose.
Following up is truly THE KEY for moving forward in growing just about anything. This is a bold statement, in bold lettering, for a reason. People are encouraged to address the underlying reason for why they put less effort into following up when IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP in building trust for relationships.
Take the scenario of follow up calls – Have you been a procrastinator? Hands going up. YES, we all tend to put off for today what we can do tomorrow. The following list has been helpful for people wanting to shake this
- Set up a favorite spot to do calls and go there with the intent of ONLY doing calls
- Get comfortable with your favorite coffee or tea
- Avoid distractions (i.e. when doing calls happens at home, avoid doing laundry at the same time)
- Jump right in – the sooner the better (Meet today, call tomorrow, benefit forever)
- Always have something to invite people to participate in. This is the next step. This is offering opportunities. This comes in many forms.
SOAR offers 10 – 15 minute calls to anyone interested in talking more about growing market share. This is the next step we offer to you for increasing your market share. Schedule a call through this link and speak with the founder and CEO of SOAR.
Understanding Corporate Giving
By Gayle Gross
Companies are more cautious about revealing too much about their philanthropic activities, for fear of:
- being inundated with requests they cannot fill.
- raising the expectations of potential beneficiaries in a good year.
- angering shareholders who may perceive the company’s charitable activity as giving away profits, or who don’t approve of the organizations or causes supported.
- losing public support by giving to something considered controversial.
http://granspace.org is a great resource. The information above was borrowed from their website for this article.
Companies giving gifts requires a delicate balance. Engagement on behalf of the non-profit is important PRIOR to an ask.
I worked for a bank and EVERYDAY new requests for donations came in. EVERYDAY is not an exaggeration. I could add 1 – 3 new requests every day and on average it would still be correct. People the bank didn’t know came walking in the door with all of the right tools. The request letter, statement about their need, and a brochure about themselves.
Eventually, companies get the the point where there has to be a “giving back” component to the ask. What is the non-profit giving in return? Over time a strategic system began to develop at the bank. In 2017 the system was named and training others on the program began. There’s one catch. YOU have to SOAR and not be afraid to leave the ground!
At the bank, giving changed. Requests came in and they were strategically organized by which ones we could truly help. The reality was, we didn’t have a lot of money to give at the time. Instead, we did something new. The request would be for $5000 and we’d give $1000 along with resources (training) on how to fundraise $4000 more dollars. I’d sit on non-profit boards, and represent the bank through development functions. In the end, everyone grew market share! People saw the bank helping others in a new way.
SOAR goes above the basics for fundraising and lifts organizations into collaborative partnerships. Businesses, large and small, partner with non-profit(s) to create social impact where everyone benefits.
See what SOAR is…
Gayle Gross is the founder and CEO of SOAR. It’s time more businesses connect to increase market share. Collaborative Networking Events are making it happen! Email Gayle to learn more: iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com
Partnering for Social Impact Includes Raising Money
“87% will purchase a product because a company advocated for an issue they cared about and 76% will refuse to purchase a company’s products or services upon learning it supported an issue contrary to their beliefs.” Talk about pressure for businesses. This was taken from a communication case study in 2017.
Corporate social responsibility was defined and now businesses must pay attention. How are businesses you know impacting society? People are paying attention to the causes they support and businesses, in turn, are being more strategic with the money they donate. Talk about pressure for non-profits.
Let’s be real. Even SOAR thinks strategically about the best connections when preparing for a Collaborative Networking Event. We offer an opportunity, which puts businesses and non-profits together. Consider it a selection process or a way to support multiple organizations for growing their programs. A Collaborative Networking Event supports leaders in the community, non-profits and businesses. People interested in having these kinds of events have two options to learn how to do them.
- There’s the 1:1 with SOAR ($225 per month) for as many months as it takes to develop the program. The organization paying the invoice determines when they are done.
- Or, an organization takes part in a virtual workshop ($129 one time).
We encourage clients to pre-plan how they want to engage in the program. A client is a for-profit or non-profit business – period. They can come onboard individually or together.
FAQ – What’s the best way to learn the system? Depends on who’s learning. The visual presentation through the virtual workshop is great. It does include a follow up call. You just don’t get the 1:1 coaching like a person paying the $225 though.
FAQ – Can we purchase both programs and get the coaching calls included with each? Of course. There’s one call with the virtual workshop and two calls with the 1:1. That’s three calls! Sounds like a smart move. The cost for both. Well, you can do the math!
Learn more about workshops HERE and see if this is what you’re interested in. You are also welcome to send an email with specific questions about 1:1 coaching. iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com
Building Networks to Raise Money is Looking Beyond the Simple Connection
Increasing market share naturally happens when relationships are established and then cultivated to be effective, as well as, sustainable.
Networking opens doors and then it’s time to look beyond the simple connection to determine the deeper dive, which establishes opportunities for giving back.
SOAR is a system anyone can learn and implement to be more successful when growing their program.
Businesses have gained market share to more than 50% in their community within one year. Non-profits have increased fundraising 126% within four months and 371% within sixteen months.
TRICK of the trade – SOAR
- Share your message
- Offer opportunities for people to be involved
- Accept the way people participate
- Respect and appreciate
Spend money where money works. Board development has the potential to grow fundraising by leaps and bounds when the right process is implemented AND it doesn’t take very much of the board’s time!
Something to get started with – turn things inside out before building. Know where your fundraising program needs help.
- Break it down
- Determine what’s working
- Determine if there are items you can improve upon for better results
- Dismantle parts taking up too much of your time with no positive results
- Feel good about the changes!
The founder and CEO of SOAR works with boards on their fundraising program. Email iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com to schedule an initial call to determine if SOAR is a good fit for you.
Preparing for the ASK – Is fundraising a TREND?
A trend is the general course of prevailing tendency. If everyone asks for money in the same way is it a trend? Of course it is! Do you think a person you’re asking knows the trend? Of course they do.
Preparing for the ASK is usually a trend. People lean towards:
- Researching the person and their circumstances to determine a potential gift
- Reviewing patterns of giving history
- Examining personal details and developing a strategy
- Planning the next move
What if the trend shifted? Do you think the person you’re asking would wonder why? We’re not condoning being your “at-home” self but we are interested in your genuine nature when it comes to producing an effective ask.
Usually, the pattern for an ask begins with small talk, which often sounds very rehearsed. Think of it this way, people are more likely to give to someone they know, like and trust. Building that into the relationship prior to the ask is key. Here’s a short list of tips:
- Always do what you say you will
- Let people know they are thought about (when an ask doesn’t matter)
- Sincerely give back and make it effective
- Be genuine
SOAR believes a person is better to resource their natural gifts in every situation and has proven there’s a means to raise more money this way. We are often caught up in the financial goal having to be reached by a certain time and forget we are dealing with people. Human nature takes over in ALL cases. This is a trend that’s sure to last!
SOAR offers services to help you increase the dollars you raise. There are workshops, webinars, 1:1 consultations and team building sessions. email iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com to share your interest.
Seeking 5 Innovative Fundraisers
SEEKING 5 innovative fundraisers to become winners with SOAR!
SOAR gives back and now, one fundraiser in each of the 5 areas of the U.S. will be selected to learn SOAR’s system without cost. Send an email with “why you” described.
Send no more than 200 words by April 20 to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com Put “Innovative Fundraiser” in the subject line.
SOAR’s system has the potential to increase gifts 126% in four months and 371% in sixteen months and we want you to WIN the opportunity to participate. The value is $8000! Your simple reason for why you’re a good selection is important. We will do phone interviews beginning April 23.
Areas for selections are diagramed below:
