Category Archives: marketing, investment

Fundraising For a Leader and a Cause

Theodore Roosevelt made a speech titled “The Leader and The Cause” on October 14, 1912. A portion of that speech is printed here: “I am in this cause with my whole heart and soul. I believe that the Progressive movement is for making life a little easier for all our people; a movement to try to take the burdens off the men and especially the women and children of this country. I am absorbed in the success of that movement.”

This statement was made right after he was shot in an assassination attempt. He took the bullet and then mentioned it takes more than that to kill a bull moose. SOAR offers education for fundraising – for a leader and a cause. As a fundraiser, you have to bite the bullet at times. And, being stronger than a moose certainly is a benefit.

SOAR offers a workshop in Colorado for leaders. This is the location where moose have been seen. Woodland Park, Colorado in July is one of the coolest places around, quite literally. It is usually 12 degrees cooler than Colorado Springs.

While nibbling down…what if someone gave you the tools to say:

In this cause with my whole heart and soul
Making life a little easier for all our people
A movement to try to take the burdens off the men and especially the women and children of this country
I am absorbed in the success

The only way to change results with fundraising is to adjust systems as needed.

SOAR offers the workshop and also other options:

Workshop details on the website
FREE Initial Consultation – Schedule 15 minutes
50-minute call ($1 a minute) to set goals for your program – focused on YOU raising money in your community – email iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com with your interest
Audit of Systems – $374
Year-long Development – $8000 ($225 gets the program started with the audit of systems)

See more about SOAR!

Simple Steps for Building Networks to Raise Money

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Collaborative Networking Events – THE way to spread your wings and SOAR! This is when you partner a business, nonprofit, sponsor and attendees. The business and the sponsor may be one in the same.

Business – provides location
Sponsor – pays for event amenities (food, etc)
Non-profit – featured during presentation
Attendees come to NETWORK and will see the presentation

The Collaborative Networking Event is a mix n’ mingle partnered between two presentations. SOAR is an acronym for a relationship management style. Network Fundraising is the system. SOAR with Network Fundraising is described in a book – by the same name. There are also educational platforms described on the website. soarwithnetworkfundraising.org

Why network at all?

Develop relationships for business
Grow market share
Create sustainability

When does networking really work?

Growth happens within your network because of reciprocal services you provide to others
Reciprication happens when you’re giving back in meaningful ways because you know what someone values.

Networking methods – there are many. The one to consider, which happens officially in three meetings, is 1:1 networking.

Meeting #1
- Learn more about the individual
- Listen to ideas
- Determine where there’s an overlap
- Mutually share information about networks
Meeting #2
- Offer support in meaningful ways
- Add value
- Determine how to recognize
- Provide network leads and opportunities
Meeting #3
- Determine the best way to develop a collaboration
- Make the ask

SOAR with Network Fundraising – the book on Amazon – Click to order

Let’s connect on Social Networks

soarwithnetworkfundraising.com (FB)
gaylegross.com (FB)
gayle_gross (Twitter)
Linkedin.com/in/gaylegross (LinkedIn)

The V formation for Fundraising

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The V formation is a volunteer format. Think of birds flying in a flock.

V Formation is a pattern most often used by a flock of birds. Birds maintain a healthy balance and do not get tired while flying because they lift each other up. Their wings create an updraft as the flock works together to reach its common goal. They soar.

Leaders and Followers are part of the V formation for birds. They have a leader at the head of the V formation and there are many followers, which form the flock. The leader drops back into the flock when they become tired. Another bird takes over the lead when this happens in order to continue the momentum.

Building a V formation for your fundraising efforts starts with you, the leader of fundraising. There’s a three step process, which involves meeting with a person you’d like to bring on board. We (SOAR with Network Fundraising) suggest putting the process into three months because it takes time to build relationships but you can change it. Each situation is different.

Month 1: Leader meets with an individual to learn more about them, listens to their ideas, and determines where the organization and individual overlap. In addition, they also share information about the networks where they each belong. This is considered a one to one (“1:1”) networking meeting.

Month 2: Leader supports the individual in ways, which are meaningful for them and adds value to their business or other interests. The Leader determines how this new person likes to be recognized, and provides network leads and opportunities.

Month 3: Leader determines the best way to integrate the new person into the formation as an Advocate and makes the ask with an established role already in mind.

People want to know how much time they are committing to you for your V formation
They want to know what their job description looks like
The biggest and most important thing to remember is that these people are giving of their time to you and to your organization. This is energy they can spend elsewhere – be appreciative

The 8th thing to do when asking for money!

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1.) KNOW the person/organization you’re asking. AND, know why they will say yes when you ask for a donation. Ideas for getting to know them:

Invite them to attend activities you’re hosting (when you’re not asking for money or anything else in return) so you can talk and learn
Take a genuine interest in the things they do
Get involved in things they support
Attend something of their choosing

2.) Discover a general overlap of interests. This helps with building lasting relationships. It is always good to focus part of your appointments on a friendly discussion. Ideas:

FORM – family, occupation, relationships and mission/message

3.) Avoid boring anyone with information they already know. ASK for perspectives upfront. Find out what is already known and what participants would like to learn. Questions to ask to get clear:

What would you like to get from today’s meeting?
How would you see me being more involved in your mission?
Do you have a specific interest in the mission I’m involved with?

4.) Set an agenda for your meeting. Let anyone involved with the meeting know the meeting’s agenda. Also, ask anyone involved to add items ahead of time. Tips:

Set the agenda one week in advance
Send the agenda to everyone with a deadline date for adding new items
Always have the last section scheduled for new business and setting the next meeting

5.) Determine mutual benefit. Share this when asking for an appointment. What will the attendees gain through your meeting?

6.) ASK for the donation. Realize the benefit of giving to your organization and feel good about someone doing so. When you know why they will say yes it is time to ask.

7.) Thank everyone involved with a phone call and/or hand written note. Respect and appreciate others for the time they give to you.

If we were to add #8 it would be to attach yourself to a system for fundraising. Whether it is one you develop or one you adopt from someone else. A system is the way you implement fundraising. SOAR lays some groundwork below for our system.

Share your message with others.

Offer opportunities for people to be involved with your mission.

Accept the way people want to participate.

Respect and appreciate others.

We also have a networking event, which helps organizations increase their volunteer base, engage people interested in growing the program, and see the benefit for being involved. Want to learn more? See this link.

Raising Money & Building Networks!

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“The more people you know, the more places you’ll go.” Sounds like a familiar quote, right? It’s close but not quite the same as Dr. Seuss (if you’re wondering).

Building networks goes hand in hand with raising money and increasing market share. Take the text literally. The more people you know and share your message with, the more growth you’ll have. NOW, the caveat. There are ways to do this without appearing overt and this is where developing your skill comes in.

“I want what I want, not what I need” may seem familiar if you know the band The Federal Empire. Take this text literally and ask for what’s needed while also giving what’s needed to the person you’re asking. Confused? You’re not alone. What a person needs is not always what they ask for because they ask for what they want, remember? There are ways to get everything sorted out to put yourself on the right path toward achieving fundraising success and asking for what you need. There’s a simple system, which you may not want to do BUT it is what you need to do!

Organizations go through growing pains – that’s right – growth in fundraising through a new system causes the same pain you feel while growing in other ways. The good thing is that it doesn’t last long. The reality is 4 – 8 weeks and then, the process and persistence pays off. It’s happening now. Statistics prove raising money is done through building networks. SOAR is the way to go when you’re ready to fly.

FREE strategy sessions available – Schedule Now – Click Here!

Learning to Raise Money

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How fast are you learning to use social media, hash tags, and your phone for everything?! It’s a necessity when doing business these days. What if your job is raising money? How you use the tools improves your chances for being successful. Learning is education and systems are easy to learn when they are introduced step by step.

At SOAR with Network Fundraising there’s a proven system, which works for raising money in any community. You are encouraged to learn more. And, if you want to talk 1:1 then send an email to iwantto@soarwithnetworkfundraising.com and let us know!

What Two Things Improve Fundraising?

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Volunteers and outreach. They were the same two things you were thinking of, right? Great minds think alike! Volunteers and outreach improve fundraising. You’re nodding and saying, “Okay, but how is the volunteer who’s helping us file papers in the office going to help us raise money?”

First – he/she is filing and you’re not. That’s the first helpful thing. Your job is raising money and it’s difficult to do that if you’re filing papers instead of talking with people.

Second – he/she knows people to share your message with.

If you’re like most people you spend time training volunteers to do whatever your non-profit needs and it is time-consuming! It sure is. The best volunteer is actually an advocate who shares your message with others because they are a part of your fundraising team.

You’re skilled in what you have to do. What if I told you it doesn’t have to be so hard? What if you could have two new volunteers every week for the next month who are helping you spread the word about your mission?

To put it simply – volunteers are the main solution to picking up momentum in your fundraising program. They just are. How you bring people on board is your recruitment process. How you maintain them is your retention process. Spending time in these areas will help. Then – the outreach will come.

It’s a process – anyone can learn and use!

SOAR with Network Fundraising is a system for raising money. There are two opportunities to be educated. They both include a personal connection with a fundraising consultant. To learn more – click here!

The Essay on Life: “To You, I Raise a Cup of Cheer for Prosperity!”

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“Through a life of laughter – I raise my cup of cheer.” I ask – are you a better person now than you were twelve months ago because you rose above and learned through a challenging time?

Napoleon Hill’s essay on life is a good look at perspective on life. Through this link you can hear him talk about it and below it is written out. My hope is that you find peace knowing you’ve done your best in 2017.

Essay on Life By Napoleon Hill

Life, you can’t subdue me because I refuse to take your discipline too seriously. When you try to hurt me, I laugh — and the laughter knows no pain. I appreciate your joys wherever I find them; your sorrows neither frighten nor discourage me, for there is laughter in my soul.

Temporary defeat does not make me sad. I simply set music to the words of defeat and turn it into a song. Your tears are not for me, for I like laughter much better, and because I like it, I use it as a substitute for grief and sorrow and pain and disappointment.

Life, you are a fickle trickster — don’t deny it. You slipped the emotion of love into my heart so that you might use it as a thorn with which to prick my soul — but I learned to dodge your trap with laughter. You tried to lure me with the desire for gold, but I have fooled you by following the trail which leads to knowledge instead. You induced me to build beautiful friendships — then converted my friends to enemies so you may harden my heart, but I sidestepped your figure on this by laughing off your attempts and selecting new friends in my own way.

You caused men to cheat me at trade so I will become distrustful, but I won again because I possess one precious asset which no man can steal — it is the power to think my own thoughts and to be myself. You threaten me with death, but to me death is nothing worse than a long peaceful sleep, and sleep is the sweetest of human experiences — excepting laughter. You build a fire of hope in my heart, then sprinkle water on the flames, but I can go you one better by rekindling the fire — and I laugh at you once more.

You have nothing that can lure me away from laughter, and you are powerless to scare me into submission. To a life of laughter, then, I raise my cup of cheer!

Wishing you a happy and joyful New Year. May you prosper in new ventures and live the life you’ve always dreamed. CHEERS to laughter and your prosperity!

Gayle Gross, Founder and CEO of SOAR with Network Fundraising

Help Yourself – Fundraising Offers Opportunities for Expansion

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Raising money is a skill. Some are more apt to have it BUT everyone can learn it!

There are simple steps you can take to be successful at your work for raising money. Help yourself by learning a system, which works for all businesses although at SOAR we focus on helping non-profits because the control they have over funding is a lot less stable.

Anyone can register for a Year-long Development Program before December 31, 2017 and get 37.5% in savings with only $150 upfront. Payment options are available for the rest, which works out to be less than $14 per day!

Explore the best way to achieve success for raising money within your market. History proves a year-long development program with a professional fundraiser at SOAR raises, on average, 41% more money for an organization.

Register for this special offer – click here and pay only $150 now!

THERE’S MORE!!! We are offering a three-fold return on your investment of $5000 for the year-long program OR you get your money back upon completion!!

Cost for Year-long Development returns to $8000 on January 1, 2018.

BENEFITS TO BUYING ANY PROGRAMS WITH SOAR!

They are guaranteed to increase the results of programs for raising money! These may be programs you’re already doing, or they may be new programs you choose to do because of the education you receive.
It has helped every organization who’s gotten involved! There are no down sides to the program. EVERYONE says it was THE thing, which made the biggest difference for them.
Everybody mentored by the founder of this fundraising system has, on average, increased dollars raised by 41%! The results have been amazing and it is why SOAR shares the methods now.
People are successful at using the system for raising money in any community! This is a situation where one box fits all. The systems were built with knowledge of how markets react. It is geared to work in any community where people communicate.
The founder has faith, works with individuals to achieve success, and is motivated by helping others achieve their goals!

TESTIMONIALS

Gayle Gross is the founder of SOAR with Network Fundraising. Her personal mission is to live with goodness and positive intentions. She shares intellectual knowledge for raising money with others. She says, “It can be so simple for non-profits to reach their financial goals. I can continue to help a select few although anyone can learn to help themselves. SOAR’s system duplicates in any community.”

The Appeal For Giving Comes First

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Fundraisers talk about appeals all the time when raising money. It’s the appeal, or ask for a gift! Is now the right time to ask? It certainly is if you’ve already prepared and educated people about your organization. If not…stay away from the ask! Instead, think about the future and how you raise the appeal or desire in others through your actions.

We’re sitting on top of a gold mine for 2018. SOAR is in Colorado where the Gold Rush happened in the middle 1800’s. Gold mining continues with the Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine, which is close to where we live. They are the largest employer in the area. If gold mining goes away in this county so do a lot people’s dreams. The same is true with your fundraising. No dollars – no dreams!

Raising the appeal for giving is when the people you ask for money – GIVE IT!

The appeal in our lives is that we always have the opportunity to sit back and let the chips fall where they may. “We’ve done all we can do” is often our excuse. The last five days of 2017 are no exception. People say: We’re done for the year; What we do now is not going to make a difference on the bottom line. Is this really true!? NO!

Actually, now is the most-important time to be diligent. You have five days to impact your future financial success for 2017. But, more importantly, this rolls into what happens for 2018 as well. You know THIS to be true.

Raising the appeal within others to give a gift to you is extremely valuable. Lots of people do their annual giving through campaigns set up nationally now. The list is online. They can donate from the comfort of their home and no one is “asking” again and again for a gift.

This statement is now common, “I now give to two organizations each year and I’ve already given.”

Now, more than ever, relationships matter if you want to be one of two organizations a person is giving to. SOAR develops relationships. We help organizations become THE “connector” in their community. People CHOOSE to donate to the organizations we are involved with because the organizations are making a difference for others and not just asking for money!

SOAR works with a handful of organizations each year and we have a few openings for 2018 available in our Year-long Development Program, which is currently discounted through December 31, 2017. Learn more here!