The Activist Guide to Changing the World - For VISTA Volunteers

The Activist Guide Website (http://www.activistguide.com ) is a cool hang-out place that I created to be a resource for VISTA Volunteers, Americorps members, service-learning practioners and participants, change agents, social entrepreneurs, and anyone who wants to take action and make the world - or their little corner of it - a better place! It has a bunch of free resources - worksheets, templates, checklists, articles, etc. and I add more as quickly as I can. There's also up-to-date information about what's going on and links to sign up for our free teleseminars, a catalog page, and of course the "Spotlight Magazine" a monthly magazine that puts the spotlight on VISTA Volunteers and their projects.

Syd and I are putting together free teleseminar/webinars for you right now - this series is all about fundraising and is called "Putting the 'FUN' Back in Your Fundraising" and here's what's up on the schedule so far:

SAVE THE DATE:
October 2, 2007: Title: "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Getting In-Kind Donations But Didn't Know Who to Ask" (Finished) Keep an eye out for an update about the workbook and audios for this product...

SAVE THE DATE:
Wednesday, November 7, 2007 (10:00 a.m. CDT)
"How to Organize the Perfect Special Event in Less Time, With Fewer Hassles and Without Losing Your Sanity or Your Volunteers"

When we decided to start the free teleseminar series with the module on getting In-Kind Donations, we were amazed by the number of people who responded and who had questions. Enquiring minds wanted to know:
What's the best way to get In-Kind donations for my organization?
Who is the best person to ask for an In-Kind donation?
How is the best way to ask for an In-kind donation?
What do I do if I'm turned down?
How long should an In-Kind donation letter be?
What should go into the letter?
What are the legal requirements about asking for In-Kind donations?
What should be tracked when getting In-Kind donations?
How can I ask for bigger In-Kind donations?
What can I do to increase my chances of getting In-Kind donations?

And many others...We did our best to answer all of those questions during our first teleseminar - and we're putting together an audio recording, a transcript and a workbook on this subject, which will be available shortly.

In my 13-plus years of experience in fundraising, I have to admit that getting In-Kind donations has to top the list of the ones that are the most fun to get!

And I've gotten some doozies - Lady Margaret Thatcher once signed a T-shirt for an auction...we got a 54-foot houseboat on Lake Powell...2 round-trip airline tickets to any city that Southwest Airlines flies...even a building for a Learning Center in a rural community.

The biggest "secret" to getting In-Kind donations is simple...you have to ask.

Yep, that's it. If you don't ask, you're not going to get In-Kind donations.

But there's another secret too. And that's to get connected. The more people you know, the wider your "Circles of Influence" - the better your chances are to get what you need - whether it's In-Kind donations, recruiting volunteers for your next project, finding donors for a fundraising campaign or even finding the perfect career after your term of service ends.

Getting connected is going to be the subject of an upcoming teleseminar/webinar. But in the meantime, let's talk a little bit about it in terms of getting In-Kind donations. Here is an article that talks about how to get In-Kind Donations:

"10 Never-Fail Tips to Get More In-Kind Donations"

1. Create a plan. What do you need? Why? When? Who might be able to help you get it? Who is the best person to ask for the In-Kind donation? (It might be a board member, it might be a staff member or volunteer of the organization or it might be you. But remember - training other people how to ask is usually the most important thing you can do - it will help to ensure that you leave a sustainable project behind you.)

2. Decide how you're going to ask. It might be that you'll need to write a letter (for most corporate donations and sponsorships and big-ticket items a letter or special form is usually required). Maybe a phone call is best, or even going in person. Do your research first - and whenever possible, ask the potential donor how they want to be asked for the donation.

3. Ask. Make sure that if there are guidelines, you've followed them. And in most cases, give your potential donor enough time to make a decision and get the item to you.

4. Make it easy for your donors to say yes. If they're giving an item that can be redeemed with a gift certificate or letter, offer to create it for them. If it's something that has to go through a committee, make sure that what you're asking for matches their giving criteria and that you're giving them enough time to make the decision. If it's something you need to pick up, make sure that you've got someone available to pick it up when it's convenient for your donor.

5. Thank before you bank. As soon as you get an answer - whether it's yes or no, get a Thank-you card in the mail. If you were turned down, thank them for their time and consideration. If it's a yes, thank them for their generosity and support of the community or cause.

6. Add them to your mailing list and also put them on your VIP invitation list, and invite them to the event that they donated to. Send them periodic notes - either about what their donation accomplished, what your organization is doing, or what their support meant to the people your project serves.

7. If they said no, make sure you get the answers to these questions:
*Is there another cause or charity that you already support or would be interested in supporting?
*Can we ask for your help again at another time?
*(If the answer was yes) Is there a certain time of the year or month that is best for you?
*Is there a particular type of donation that you'd prefer to be asked for?
*How would you prefer to be acknowledged for your gift?

8. Keep in touch with your donors - and if they want you to acknowledge their donation in your newsletter and with a press release. (But do ask first - some business owners get literally dozens of requests each and every week - and they are on donor overload. So if your donor would rather just get a nice letter or a plaque - do that instead.)

9. Let your donor know that s/he is special. When you've got something going on - whether it's a special event, press conference, award ceremony, ground breaking, workshops, volunteer projects, etc. - send a special invitation to your donors whenever appropriate.

10. Support your donors - especially if your donor is a business person, make sure that you support their businesses too, by shopping or doing business with them whenever possible.

And I just want to add one more thing - don't hoard your donors - especially donors that don't support your cause or organization. If you get turned down, but the donor tells you they support a different cause, ask the rest of the donor questions - and then when you get back to your office, call one of your connections from the organization or cause that the donor mentioned and let them know what was said - your connection and the donor will appreciate it because they're both getting something they want - and you're helping to maximize the limited resources in your community. And ask your connection to return the favor if s/he finds someone who supports your project or cause. It's a win/win/win situation and it's a way of helping to insure continued abundance for everyone!

1. Understand the needs of the grantors:

Behind every foundation grant is a philosophy, intention or basic principal. These principles not only determine how grants are funded, if you pay attention, they will also tell you how to approach the foundation and what areas of your proposal are the most important to the foundation. Before you even start writing the grant, you need to:

* Find out about the granting organization and understand the reasons they are offering grants.
* Determine what they want in return for the funds -positive publicity, leverage of funds, provide vehicle for in-house volunteers?
* Discover who actually will be reviewing your application - is it the director, a funding or grants committee, bureaucrats?
* If the information isn't available on their Website, ask for examples of recently funded projects, and also for some that have been rejected.

2. Develop your proposal to fit the application:

You have a great idea, you've identified a need, and you've got the tools to make it work. And you have found a grantor who shares your goals. But you still have to make sure that your project matches the funding guidelines of each potential funder.

* Make sure the major budget items in your project are clearly eligible for funding. If only part of your project is relevant to a particular funding opportunity then find other way to fund the rest of the project, and let them know (this not only shows them how resourceful you are, it will ensure that you have enough money to actually fund your project).
* Use the restrictions and guidelines of the grant opportunity to make sure that you've thought your project through and have planned for all contingencies. If you don't understand what the funder needs or wants, the ASK - don't make assumptions.
* Look at your project through the eyes of the grant reviewer. Where is your project weak? What are it's strengths? Are you duplicating services? Do you have the capacity to carry out the work? If you've got any doubts, now's the time to address them.

3. Understand and comply with eligibility requirements:

* Make sure that you understand and can comply with the eligibility requirements and regulations you must comply with. It's a waste of everyone's time and resources to apply for grants whose requirements are beyond your resources.
* Before you start writing your grant, make sure you understand what you're getting into - including grant deadlines, scope of work, reports, etc.
* A grant is a legal contract -- are you sure your organization has the resources and ability to commit to the contract and carry out the work as promised?
* If the application process takes a long time and funding is not for six months to a year, will your project still be relevant and ready to go?

4. Get a second opinion, and ask for help when you need it:
* Often people don't flock to help with fundraising activities. (I don't know why!). But, if you're new to proposal writing and you're taking on the grant writing job for your organization, once you've done the research and know what it's going to take to put together a winning grants package, ask for the help you need from others in your organization.
* Get someone else to proofread your application, and make sure that it's clear and compelling. A confusing application will end up in the discard pile.
* When possible, ask someone who knows little or nothing about the project, because if they can understand the need, urgency and goals of the project, you have a better chance that so with the grant reviewer.
* The budget is one of the most important parts of your application. If you don't understand them, get help from your accountant or someone who does.
* Don't be afraid to ask the grantor for help. Don't expect them to write the application, but they can answer specific questions and even help you to brainstorm ideas.

5. Bring your own resources to the table:

* Even if you're not applying for a "match grant" every funder wants to get the maximum "bang for their buck". Identify partners, associated projects, volunteers, supporters, donors, resources, etc.
* You want to give them the sense that you are able to stretch the resources you receive to the maximum amount. Provide documentation that you have more time, resources and expenditures invested into the project than the amount you're requesting funds for.
* Funders want to fund projects that are important and valuable. Show that you have resources from a variety of places; the broader the support the better. This will demonstrate that you're a good risk.

6. Show the public support for your project:

* Every project can benefit from grassroots support and involvement. Document the support. This can come from a record of volunteers, testimonials from clients, newspaper clippings, letters of support, etc.
* Go beyond support from the "usual suspects". Think outside the box - who else in the community would benefit from your project, or support it?
* Think of corporate volunteers, other organizations who are in a similar line of work, or who have similar issues, your local city council members or other politicians, youth or church groups, etc.
* Provide ways for volunteers to help with your project, even in the beginning stages. Keep track of the hours spent, take pictures, get letters of support.

7. Make your application come alive in the minds of the grant reviewers:

* Help them to see your project. Use words that paint a picture of what you want to accomplish. Let them feel your excitement and passion for your work. If they are conducting a site visit, have clients attend.
* Prepare a short slide show, or put together a photo album. Put pictures on a Website.
* Don't forget about new marketing tools such as blogging. There are many free blogs now, and you can post pictures, invite comments and provide interaction.
* You can let the funders know about your blog before you send in the application, or include the URL with your contact information.
* Know your audience - understand what their needs and priorities are. Don't assume they know technical jargon or acronyms related to your project. State your goals and objectives clearly and concisely.

8. Make sure that every sentence in your application counts:

* Say what you need to say, but make your words convey exactly what the funder needs to hear to be able to say yes.
* Don't waste their time or try their patience. If you don't have a good answer for some of the questions, be honest and say so.
* Use bullets, or bold-face type, or a list of key elements to convey the high points of your project, and don't bury them in paragraphs of verbiage.
* If you're invited to do a presentation, practice first, and stick to the point.

9. Make the grant application easy to read:

* Use a reasonable-sized font and leave enough blank space. Don't include voluminous attachments, unless you have a very good reason clearly stated in your application.
* Make every word convey an important point to the grant reviewer. If it's not relevant, leave it out.
* If allowed, use pictures, diagrams, plans, or maps instead of long, confusing descriptions. The history and war stories of your project are vivid and important to you, but a grant reviewer may not care; keep your background and history brief and focus instead on the project.

10. Give them what they ask for:

* Make every effort to give the funder all the information they've asked for.
* If you can't provide the information requested, call the grantor to be sure it is acceptable to send it in without it.
* If something isn't asked for -- or if you're told NOT to include something -- don't.

As an AmeriCorps Member, You'll Receive a Wealth of Benefits!

Perhaps the biggest benefit you will experience when you join AmeriCorps is the satisfaction of incorporating service into your life and making a difference in your community and your country. But there are other benefits as well.

Whether you are tutoring kids, building homes, clearing trails and streams, mobilizing resources to create a local health clinic, or participating in any of the hundreds of other goal-oriented AmeriCorps projects, you will be able to really see the results of your work and know you made a difference.

But there is more. As an AmeriCorps member, you'll be eligible for a variety of benefits that make the dedication of a year of your life worthwhile.
You Will Be Able to Pay Your Bills

Many AmeriCorps members receive a modest living allowance. You will not get rich from it, but most AmeriCorps members have found that it covers their basic expenses.
Help with College Costs and Student Loans

Congress established the National Service Trust to provide an AmeriCorps Education Award for members who successfully complete service in AmeriCorps. You can use your AmeriCorps Education Award to pay educational expenses at qualified institutions of higher education, for educational training, or to repay qualified student loans. The award - recently renamed the Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards after Eli Segal, one of the pioneers of the national service movement and the first CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service - is $4,725 for a year of full-time service, and is prorated for part-time. You have up to seven years after your term of service has ended to claim the award.

At the time you use the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, you must have received a high school diploma, or the equivalent of such a diploma.

If you successfully completed a term of service with AmeriCorps*VISTA in an approved national service position, you are eligible to receive either a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award or an end-of-service stipend of $1,200. The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award option is subject to available National Service Trust allocations to AmeriCorps*VISTA and must have been selected prior to the start of service

* Learn more about the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
* View a list of colleges and universities that match the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

Work and Life Skills

As an AmeriCorps member, you will gain valuable experience in an area that interests you that can translate directly into job experience in your chosen field. You will learn teamwork, communication, responsibility, and other essential skills that will help you for the rest of your life while gaining the personal satisfaction of taking on a challenge and seeing results. Many find their AmeriCorps year to provide them with more experience and skills than they would have gotten in a traditional, paying job.

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