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So,
You Were Asked
To Volunteer And To Work
On A Fund-Raising
Campaign!
As a businessperson, you are among the
most sought-after volunteers for support of non-profit organizations.
Officials of non-profits want you to take leadership positions with them
because:
- They
know that you are a natural leader and a strong advocate for
charitable groups and their causes.
- They
know that as a good corporate citizen you are aware of their
problems and needs and are sensitive and responsive to them.
- They
are aware that you are able to help them gain support from other
business and civic leaders because of your own stature in the
community and through your friendships and contacts.
- They
recognize that involvement in charitable organizations is in your
own self-interest and that the networking opportunities they provide
for you is good for your business.
But
where and how to you find the time to best serve those non-profits which
look to you for your leadership and involvement?
You
look again at your watch and you finally say, "It's time for me to
go back to the office and help raise money for my own company." You
say this as yet another fund-raising meeting comes to an end for one of
the several charities with which you are involved as a volunteer
fund-raiser.
This is a
common dilemma for business and industry executives. It's hard enough to
balance the demands of career and family, much less those of the many
worthwhile non-profit organizations that want your time and energy even
more than they need your money.
But
successful businesspeople most often do feel the need to make such
contributions of their time and efforts. So the issue of creating
balance and of succeeding in the non-profit sector is critically
important to them.
In your case, it means the added
responsibility of regular meetings and phone calls to raise money for
the organizations which do so much good for the community in which you
live and work.
Before you
take on that next community project, here are some pointers to consider
relative to evaluating a non-profit organization and how you will get
the job done:
- The
process of raising funds for non-profit organizations differs very
little from any well-organized commercial sales and marketing
campaign. Being aware of those similarities can help you to be far
more efficient in carrying out your volunteer responsibilities.
- To
be successful, non-profit organizations must have a well-defined
mission and serve an identifiable constituency. Their programs and
services must be of the very best quality and delivered in a timely
and efficient manner.
- Potential
donors must be solicited personally by knowledgeable and dedicated
advocates of the organization, and supporters must be made to feel
important and appreciated.
So far, this should seem familiar to
anyone who provides a high-quality product or service to a known market
and employs salespeople to call upon potential customers. To meet those
objectives in a non-profit setting, the organization for which you're
raising funds must provide the same information and resources you use in
your own business.
What
To Expect And Demand From Your Favorite Non-Profit Organization When
They Ask You To Help Raise Money For Them
- Know
the organization's strengths and, more important, its weaknesses so
you won't be hindered by unexpected obstacles. You need to be
assured that earned revenues have been maximized to lessen the
requirement for contributed income---because it's easier to raise
money for new initiatives at a growing organization than just to
keep the doors open at a struggling one.
- Ask
to provide input or at least give your informed consent to the
organization's campaign plans.
- Request
a detailed job description of the volunteer position you are being
asked to fill and the length of time you'll be expected to serve.
- Know
in advance that you will be given the necessary staff assistance and
resources to succeed in the task at hand. Often, people are asked to
join boards and campaigns because they are perceived to have such
resources available through their companies.
Whether
you are working to put bread on your own table in a commercial business,
or providing for others in your non-profit community, knowledge and
commitment are your most powerful tools. With knowledge, you can present
a credible case to those asked to support you. With commitment that
comes from full understanding, you will maximize the results of your
time and hard work.
Those are my views on the subject. What
are yours? I welcome your comments and suggestions.
tony@raise-funds.com |
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