Nonprofit Fundraising Resources

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Overwhelmed by Fundraising?

Great fundraising is not just about raising money.

Great fundraising is an integral part of the way sustainable organizations connect to their communities. When done right, your fundraising efforts actually pull people closer to the heart of the organization. These efforts not only raise money, they also serve as a form of outreach and, in the best of cases, the actual act of fundraising can directly support your mission.

With a job so huge--no wonder fundraisers and development professionals sometimes look like this.

While this lens has no magic bullets to instantly solve all of your fundraising challenges, the resources here can help ease your fundraising headache--and will help you realize you don't have to do it alone.

Photo Credit: Flicker user dearbarbie

How to Raise Money (when you don't have any money)

A free e-book

Just getting started with fundraising?  This free e-book can helpHave you noticed most fundraising advice is really about how to raise more money? The general assumption is your organization is up and running, you've got a staff, donor list and some grant writing experience and are looking for ideas to raise more money to grow your organization.

This book is for a different type of nonprofit leader.

If, when faced with an unmet need in your community, you feel compelled to band together with some of your friends to meet it, this book is for you.

Maybe you've done (or are doing) the necessary paperwork to become a "real" nonprofit. Maybe you are working on your own to support the work of a larger, more established organization. Maybe you are just doing what needs to be done - with no thought at all of how to organize yourself.

Whether you've found yourself scraping by with just enough money or never had a group specifically raise money to support your cause - this book can help.

It's not a comprehensive fundraising guide because that sort of guide won't help you right now.

In fact, a comprehensive guide could be so overwhelming, you might find yourself unable to accomplish much of anything at all.

Instead, this book is about helping you to take your first step.

Click here to Jump-start your Fundraising

Fundraising Books from NOLO

Words cannot describe how much I love the NOLO books--especially the ones for Nonprofits. I love them so much, I wrote a whole other lens about them.. But that's another story. You are here for fundraising help, so here are NOLO's fundraising resources.
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We want to Write Grants!

Pamela GrowIf you want to raise money by writing grants that get funded, you need to get to know Pamela Grow. In addition to the free resources she shares on her blog, facebook page and twitter stream, she's also written an e-book designed to help you create the systems you need to get your grant proposals funded.

Here's what readers are saying:

John Mercer wrote: "I have been writing grants for seven years and it has taken me that long to develop some of the processes that you outline. I wish someone had shared that information with me years ago."

Othelia Vacura wrote: "Your book struck me as being the "Reader's Digest" of grant writing manuals.....I'm sure I will refer to it many times in the future as a road?map to success."

And K. Purcell wrote: "Five Days to Foundation Grants" is a succinct (a mere 77 pages) distillation of grant proposal writing magic! The author covered all the basics of grant proposal writing, including foundation prospect research on a budget (nothing needed but an internet connection), how to use storytelling to your organization's advantage, how to submit an online grant proposal, and what materials you'll need. I've taken two day accredited courses that didn't cover as much material as this book. The grant checklist forms alone are more than worth the price! Highly recommended!"

Click Here for more information about Pamela's Book!

Best Nonprofit Fundraising Advice the Web has to Offer

from some of my favorite nonprofit bloggers

Want to learn more about nonprofit development and marketing? The easiest way to get started is to add these blogs to your regular reading schedule.
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Your Turn

I want to hear from you!

Do you have a favorite fundraising resource I missed?
Need specific ideas on how to raise money for your cause?
Just want to say hello?

This is the place to do it. Can't wait to hear from you!

  • javrsmith May 30, 2011 @ 3:07 pm | delete
    These organizations do so much with so little. Thank-you for helping them.
  • JoyfulPamela May 23, 2011 @ 11:03 am | delete
    Thank you for sharing your helpful suggestions. :)
  • HomepageHeroes May 22, 2011 @ 9:57 pm | delete
    I think the key is to try to be innovative. If you can offer people some sort of fun activity that benefits a charity you will find fundraising easier.
  • lizthefair May 23, 2011 @ 7:15 am | delete
    Thanks for weighing in! There is certainly a place for events in fundraising--especially when trying to attract new supporters. They can also be a trap though--the time and money that goes into hosting a great event means the ROI is much lower than it is for more direct forms of fundraising.
  • HopeOrphansBurma May 20, 2011 @ 9:49 pm | delete
    Thanks for the info!!

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lizthefair

Maureen Carruthers brings a passion for the performing arts, open source software, social networking, consensus based decision making, and learning or... more »

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