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Smart fundraising ideas from Hartsook
Smart fundraising ideas from Hartsook
June 15, 2016
A need for more space at the headquarters of a 90-year-old national membership organization meant it was time to start a capital campaign. The organization had doubled its size, but had never conducted a true major gift campaign.
Everything was going smoothly until it came to constructing a giving pyramid. Since the organization didn't fit the standard pyramid model, Hartsook created a strategy to fit the organization.
Here are some tips to manage a non-traditional giving model:
Give your plan a reality check
Just because a pyramid model (where the tip is made of smaller levels of larger gifts and the base level contains many small gifts) is the standard, it doesn't mean this is right for every organization. Our nonprofit had only two prospects who could make six-figure gifts, but we had many very dedicated members with 30 years of continuous giving to the annual fund. The giving pyramid was more of giving rectangle with four levels of low to average size gifts with many gifts at every level.
Focus on relationships
We knew the importance of relationship, so a mass appeal was not going to raise a lot of money. We had to build on the relationships we had, while creating the capacity to make lots of personal asks.
Create campaign ambassadors
We created campaign ambassadors trained in the basics of making an ask - often remotely. Each ambassador was tasked with finding 10 people in their personal network with whom they could cultivate a relationship and solicit a pledge of $10,000 or more. The board and cabinet handled the top prospects, and the rest were reached through the ambassador program.
If your organization doesn't fit a standard model, be willing to get creative and adjust the model to fit your organization.
Bob London, CAE, Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, Executive Director (Independence, Mo.)
Join Us on the Growing Philanthropy Tour
Next stops on the road to achieving Hartsook's mission of growing philanthropy by 25 percent in the next 20 years:
London, U.K.
July 4, 2016
Institute of Fundraising Convention
"Relationship Fundraising: Where Do We Go From Here"
Adrian Sargeant
Kansas City
July 8, 2016
NonProfit Connect
2016 Executive Director Institute
"Resource Generation Funding"
Terry Snapp
Washington, D.C.
July 13, 2016
Bridge Conference 2016
"Building Donor Loyalty: Just What Do We Know?"
Adrian Sargeant
Charlottesville, Va.
July 28, 2016
Virginia Fund Raising Institute
"Fundraising Leadership"
Keynote: Karin Cox
John Warren
Beijing, China
July 28, 2016
2nd China Fundraising Conference
Adrian Sargeant
Kansas City
August 15, 2016
Inspired Fundraising Summit
Adrian Sargeant
Jen Shang
Charlotte, N.C.
August 18, 2016
2016 NC AFP Statewide Conference
"Sustainable Fundraising"
Karin Cox
Janell Johnson
New Orleans
August 24-26, 2016
Boy Scouts of America Top Hands
Matt Beem
Ross Pfannenstiel
Tammy Weinman
Washington, D.C.
September 15, 2016
NonProfit Times Power and Influence Gala
Hartsook Sponsor
Kansas City
October 26, 2016
Shepherd's Centers of America
National Conference
Karin Cox
Kansas City
November 2016
AFP Mid-America Chapter
National Philanthropy Day
Hartsook Sponsor
Minneapolis
November 18, 2016
National Philanthropy Day
"Relationship Buidling: What Works and What Doesn't"
"Donor Retention and Loyalty"
Adrian Sargeant
London
November 22-23, 2016
Directory of Social Change Fundraising Fair 2016
Adrian Sargeant
Oklahoma City
August 2017
Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits
"Relationship Building: Where Do We Go From Here?"
Adrian Sargeant
Tulsa
August 2017
Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits
"Massive Fundraising"
Adrian Sargeant
Resources for Smart Fundraising Available on Kindle
Keep up to date on the latest fundraising trends with the Kindle ASR Media collection:
Book Deal of the Month
Nobody Wants to Give Money Away! (ASR Media) CEO, Bob Hartsook, details his nine principles for raising major gifts, starting with, "Nobody wants to give away money." Learn the nine principles that helped him raise billions of dollars. Click here for a special price of $10 (plus shipping and handling).
On the Web
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Blogs and articles. President and CEO Matt Beem and Founder and Chairman Bob Hartsook regularly share simple, but powerful messages about philanthropy, fundraising and the power of relationships. |
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Visit the Hartsook website for:
- Educational opportunities
- Books/reference articles
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Strategies for Success explores smart ideas, connecting with thousands of fundraising professionals. We welcome your best practices contributions or comments. Send to Strategies for Success editor Karin Cox, [email protected]. If you'd like a free subscription to Strategies for Success or its monthly companion, eHartsook on Philanthropy, contact [email protected].
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