How To Raise Money For Charity

The most important part of raising funds for your charity is understanding your donors. Most folks creating a campaign utterly overlook the donor's side of the equation. What problems do they have in deciding to give, what complications might keep them from enjoying giving, why would they choose your non-profit over the alternatives?

Solve problems for your donors and you will be far ahead of those that just write catchy slogans.


The remaining fundamentals of asking for money for a good cause are much like businesses separating their customer acquisition and retention efforts.

In business the two parts of influencing clients are marketing and sales. In the nonprofit world donors are acquired and retained through presentation and relationship.

The fundamentals of presentation revolve around knowledge and construction.

Can you write a letter that shows a need to great effect? Is the headline to your ad copy informative enough to impel investigation? The techniques can be found in a good copywriting book; proper execution comes with experience and the testing of results.


Retaining donors is less expensive, and of more value, than finding new donors. This is where direct contact with your contributing supporters becomes so important.

The most powerful theme for successfully seeking and growing donors is within trusted relationships.

I may be a nice guy, I may represent a real need, but if I can't communicate that need one on one my overall effectiveness will be small. Compassionate gifts will go to other causes, or perhaps not be given at all.

Most charities overcome this barrier by cultivating board members and leadership givers that believe in their cause. They then back them with fundamental skills from the organization. these leaders give and also develop relationships with others that will give. Their excitement will be persuasive, they just need to be taught how to ask for donations.


There are fundraising books available that will teach you how to cultivate major gifts based on relationships. In most situations the training of leadership givers is done in the field. A representative of the organization normally accompanies the board member or large giver to offer support and details.

Where do you find the original large donors?

Major givers and transformational donors normally start as small donors that have shown an interest in your cause. As you keep them informed of your progress you will develop a relationship of trust. Many charities have realized the value of membership on boards and in associated foundations with important names and duties - one of those values is keeping influential givers involved by recognizing their leadership contributions.


Offer sincere collaboration for achieving mutually beneficial results. Then follow through.

Two foundational supports, belief in the cause and trust in you, will influence your largest donors to consider increasing the size of future donations. These same two focus points, belief in the cause and trust in you, will be what inspires them as leadership givers to seek donations from their peers.

You have to ask, as directly and personally as possible, for the donation. Then you have to ask them directly to assist with fundraising.

They have demonstrated their philanthropic goals and your organization's mission are the same. They will know others holding similar views.

Creating a giving legacy in three steps:

* make current gifts of any size - right now

* decide your donation goals for the future

* determine how to accomplish your goals

If you do not have a will, for everyone's sake, create one immediately. Without a will you won't have your values represented as the estate you built is distributed.

You have the opportunity to direct your money that will otherwise be forfeit as taxes. This is your money that would not go to your family, business, or favorite causes; but will be lost in the powerful currents of political special interests.

While planned giving and estate or legacy planning are separate issues, they overlap frequently. Your advisers will likely meld them together once they understand your giving goals. They will use planned giving and estate planning tools to direct needed funds toward good works of your own choice.

Writing a first will can be a quick and simple project.

List individuals and organizations you wish to impact. Take care of people first; with fixed amounts or a percentage of the net estate. Now give 1% of your estate to each of up to nine worthy causes you wish to support, finally contribute everything that remains to one very special organization (a residuary bequest). Now read a book or see your lawyer and make it legal.

With your completed will as a guideline you can now develop increasingly meaningful estate planning or planned giving ideas. Consider all the responsibilities you feel are important:

* Family - multiple generations, prior marriages, family members with special needs

* Business - succession in the family business, key person retention or replacement, buy out provisions

* Charity - religious organizations, schools, orphanages, micro-finance lenders, and other causes dear to your heart

After initial contributions and with your will as an outline -- it may be time to consult your advisers for more detailed planned giving analysis including estate planning. You may be able to receive tax benefits or income now, and retain use of promised gifts.

Philanthropy is an important part of your estate plan.

Also consider donating to worthy causes by listing them as a beneficiary in your IRA or life insurance policy. The long term effects of charity bequests can create a personal heritage that will extend far into the next age.

Your selected worthy cause will probably have pages to print or a download form to help you define your gifts. Ours is available for you to look at, copy, and adapt if you click on The Bastiat Free University Contribution Form.

Develop a consistent approach of supporting worthy causes during your lifetime. Extend your own version of empowerment by creating a planned gift legacy. Your donations will keep valuable initiatives growing. Your bequest is a last chance to powerfully implement meaningful change in society.

Life insurance can therefore also play an important role in estate planning. Investigate having ownership of any life insurance policy outside of the estate to avoid possible extra estate taxes. Estate laws vary by location and change often. Confirm any statements from a salesman, or from this article, with your personal accountant or attorney.

Take your time and invest your thoughts first.

As in all important areas of your life, do not be led by others opinions or sales talk. Make your own decision on how you wish to direct your planned giving donations, your bequests, and your legacy gifts.

How do you want to be remembered?

The love of money is the root of all evil, not money alone.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. - Timothy 6:10

The poor or the rich can be destroyed by the misplaced love of money.

While money is a risk to all, you have chosen to use money for good. A successful businessman, entrepreneur, or speculator does not avoid risk but seeks to control risk. You want to control money, not have money control you.

While the job at hand is asking for money, it is the purpose to which it will be applied that matters.

"We hear fables about the past, we develop dreams of the future, but the work needs to be done today." - Allan R. Wallace

Money is a tool.

Do you believe in your charity enough to give generously yourself? Your leadership gifts are important affirmations of your commitment.

If your belief is not that deep, go find another worthy cause where you want to give. It will always be easier to ask for money if you have already given yourself. If you do not want to give - don't give and don't ask.

"As a fundraiser, you too must have, or you must find, a purpose that has heart and soul in it. You must be consumed by a burning desire to change something in the world for the better. You will know it when you see and feel it. It will become your be-all-and-end-all. You will experience an 'ah ha' about it. You will not be able to imagine doing anything else."
Stephen L. Goldstein

Once you have discovered the joys of giving, it will inspire others to also discover your cause.

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To send someone to this charity fundraising information, helping them learn how to ask for donations, use this easy to remember internet address:

fundraisingadventure.com



100% of direct income from my lenses goes to micro-finance solutions for world poverty provided by the Grameen Foundation. The Grameen Foundation is creating a rising tide of positive influence upon our world.

Will YOUR life be based on what you want to use it to accomplish, or by random urges of what you want to do? - Allan R. Wallace