For a few days now I’ve been cursing Jeff Brooks at Future Fundraising Now for his post titled Best Church Fundraising Ever.
The truth is, his post — apart from being absolutely correct about fundraising — is truly mouth-watering. But I can’t be at the Greek Festival he’s talking about; I can only imagine it.
Here’s the appeal, delivered as an insert in the St Demetrios church newsletter …
And here’s what Jeff so rightly comments:
“This isn’t the work of a fundraising expert. Just someone close to the cause who knows what the festival requires and needs to get the job done.
If more fundraising were built around specific realities like that, we’d be raising a lot more money. Can you find ways to connect your donors so directly and specifically to your cause? Give it a shot.”
Amen!
Tom
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To be this direct I think there must be a strong feeling of being a community and ‘sharing’ the problem.
Share, the Newton, MA based telemarketing firm, has long worked with The Appalachian Mountain Club on their annual Spring Trails fundraising effort.
Every year, the membership based outdoors organization raises money to help clear about 1,500 miles of hiking trails after the usual harsh northeastern winters. The appeal is very focused on specific asks based on the needs of trail crews, from $42 for an axe, all the way up to $850 for a Wall Tent, or $1,500 for a 250 watt generator.
We always find that these tangible items give AMC members and supporters that we speak to a very clear idea of the needs of the Spring Trails campaign (being close to those usually harsh winters doesn’t hurt, either!). Every year, AMC’s creative team comes up with unique items — bug spray! bear proof food box! — that connect the work they do in very concrete ways.
We know there’s no ‘magic bullet’ in fundraising to bring in the $$, but this strategy works well every year.
This is a great idea…sometimes! It wouldn’t work if all contributors decided to give Rice Vinegar. That’s the problem with designated giving – it ignores everything else.