Tag Archives: Giving

Understanding Corporate Giving

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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

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“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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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

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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.

 

Why People Donate & Why They Avoid You if You’re Asking for Gifts

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Have you ever asked people why they give? This can be a donation of time, money, or resources. It is crucial to know why a person gives if you’re looking for donations. It is also important to know why some people may avoid you!

The top reason a person gives, believe it or not, is because someone they know has asked them to give and they want to help. Simple and sweet!

The next eight reasons for why people give, according to experience:

  1. Usually a person or someone they know is affected by what the mission is helping. They donate with a feeling to alleviate need.
  2. People give because of what they get in return. It could be a good feeling, tax benefit, recognition, or some sort of driving force they achieve for another mission
  3. People often feel emotionally moved by someone’s story. It becomes a personal connection and they have a desire to help
  4. A person wants a sense of closeness to a community or group
  5. There’s a desire to memorialize someone
  6. Charitable family traditions – it’s the way a person was brought up
  7. A person wants to leave a legacy
  8. The feeling of being fortunate and wanting to help others

Going back to the TOP reason about why people give; people asking people they know AND getting the donation.

The reality is – there’s a downside. People get tired of being asked again and again to give. The sense of obligation soon subsides and a person being asked begins to avoid the person asking. Take a simple test:

  • Are your calls going unanswered, again and again?
  • Do you feel the notes you send get lost in the mail?
  • Do you leave a lot of voice messages, which are rarely returned?

Answering yes to any of these questions shows there’s a problem. We can help. There’s a quick remedy. Read on.

Develop a fundraising system, which does not rely on the same people giving over and over again because the group you ask continues to grow AND you know them. When you ask – they will give!

At SOAR we work with progressive people and organizations. Become part of our network, Get Free Tips – click here!

We also offer a look at your fundraising system through this quiz. Click here!

 

 

Fundraising For a Leader and a Cause

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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:

  1. Workshop details on the website
  2. FREE Initial Consultation – Schedule 15 minutes
  3. 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
  4. Audit of Systems – $374
  5. Year-long Development – $8000 ($225 gets the program started with the audit of systems)

See more about SOAR! 

Ready to Give Up on Fundraising? TALK

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Have a simple conversation. There are two kinds – Motivational and Informational. They are both important when you’re ready to throw in the towel. You make these conversations happen in order to increase your enthusiasm.

Motivational conversations are with people who are: 

  • Supportive of our mission – who is that? Can you think of a couple of people who are interested in the work you do?
  • While thinking of names think about – is this person positive? Are they going to see things from a good perspective? Ask yourself – will they raise my spirit?
  • Creativity is important. A person with the ability to see the big picture and come up with ideas to help you get through the valley of doubt. KEY player!

Informational conversations remind us why we do what we do. They also increase our desire to achieve success because they happen when we are sharing our mission with others. These conversations are with people we interact with spontaneously. They are: 

  • People in stores, at restaurants, coffee shops, at the park and anyone we begin a conversation with while passing by.
  • Members of groups where we spend our time. This could be at work, church, during extracurricular activities and hobbies, or at networking events.
  • Someone we talk with at events and parties.

A conversation reminds you why you do what you do and how important your role is. NO DOUBT there are times when the amount of dollars you have to raise is overwhelming and you’d rather shut down and run to where there’s comfort. Go there, for sure, but only for a short time. Consider it an opportunity to refresh.

Need a good conversation? Schedule a complimentary motivational call with SOAR. See our calendar.

SOAR with Network Fundraising helps people all of the time! Here’s a Feb. 2018 testimonial:

Crossing the Gap of Fundraising

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Answers to the following questions are your framework for crossing the gap:

  1. How do you educate people about your organization?
  2. What action steps do you have in place already?
  3. Where do you position yourself in the market?
  4. How do you plan to achieve your fundraising goal? Refer to your fundraising plan.

We began working with an organization February 8 who answered the questions the following way. The updated answers follow (2 months in).

  • How do you educate people about your organization?
    • Feb. 8 – We share our message through newsletters. We invite people to come into our office and we show them around. We do pretty good with our Facebook page. We are members of the chamber and go to events.
    • April 5 – We invite people to a networking event and facility tour at our location each month. We reach out to our partners, invite them and encourage them to become advocates because of the benefits we offer in return.
  • What action steps do you have in place?
    • Feb. 8 – We invite people to come in and learn about us. They can volunteer too.
    • April 5 – We designed a postcard invite for our networking events and tour. We give these out to people at events, and encourage advocates to share. We developed benefits for our advocates and share this with people. We train people on how to talk about our services. We talk more about our services and invite more people in. There’s momentum building.
  • Where do you position yourself?
    • Feb. 8 – We help people who are ____________. We have grown so much these last couple of years as more people have gotten to know who we are but our fundraising program is struggling. We host an annual event and two years ago we had 300 people attend. Last year we had 200. We have not met our fundraising goal but feel changing our event to a dinner will help.
    • April 5 – As a leader in the community. We educate people on services and we help people to get back on their feet. I love my job. It’s super, super busy but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
  • How do you plan to achieve your fundraising goal?
    • Feb. 8 – We will host our annual event in six months. Most people cannot come during the day so we’re doing a dinner instead of a lunch. We’ve already secured a speaker and the location. We will host in six months. Invitations will be sent to our mailing lists.
    • April 5 – Continue moving forward one day at a time. Keep this system that’s building active, among all of the other things I have to do. Our level of success is when we continue to move toward the goal. The process will take time but we will get there and it will be beneficial because of the relationships we’re building.

The statements above were paraphrased. The organization mentioned here learned about the program described in the book “SOAR with Network Fundraising” on

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February 8. They have chosen to begin hosting networking events and to follow the system through consulting.

SOAR

  • Share your message with others
  • Offer opportunities for people to be involved
  • Accept the way people want to be involved
  • Respect and appreciate all people, ideas, and decisions

 

networkingeventadvocates

SOAR offers monthly, six month, and year-long programs. There is also a fundraising workshop during the summer, July 6 and 7, in Colorado. This is for people to learn the system and resource the tools to help grow a fundraising program. Learn about the different avenues to be involved through this link. 

Year-long Development Program for Fundraising

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Add an experienced and successful fundraiser to your team for one year. SOAR gives a program away to one lucky non-profit every three months. Sign Up – Click Here! 

What you’ll get:

  • Monthly 1:1 Networking Meetings, which is a 50-minute call to discuss items you want to develop within your program
  • Training webinars:
    • The original series, which includes the development of your advocate program. This is the V-formation! You are also trained on a new fundraiser called the MIGRATION
    • The advanced series, which shows you how to partner with others for collaborative networking events and how to treat your advocate program like a multi-level marketing campaign.
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  • Original copy of the book – SOAR with Network Fundraising
  • Recording link for the webinar sessions so you can review, and share with your team for as long as you are in the program
  • FOCUS on growing your program, in your community, with your resources.

SOAR’s book describes a winning fundraising program. It provides the steps involved to achieve your highest success in a fast and effective way.

Register to win a year-long development program – Click Here! 

Testimonial:

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