How to Run a Successful Silent Auction (Part I)

Many non-profits have turned to silent auctions either as stand-alone events, or as a way to maximize the revenue from an ongoing fundraising event.  I just finished running a major silent auction for an organization I am involved with, and wanted to pass along some lessons I learned during the process.  In the first part [...]

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Four Low Cost Fundraising Ideas

Keeping fundraising costs down is a necessity for small and mid-sized non-profits.  While larger organizations may hold huge galas or invest in ten thousand piece direct mail prospecting, these smaller charities rely on low cost fundraising ideas to maximize their revenue and keep their programs funded and strong.  For more information on maximizing revenue read [...]

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Five Fundraising Ideas for Growing Non-Profits

Almost every non-profit wants to grow – to expand and serve more people, to accommodate more students, to encourage more attendees.  That’s why most non-profits exist: to serve as many people in a target universe as possible. If you’re growing your non-profit (or if you want to grow your non-profit), you’ll need to grow your [...]

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How to Use Scratch Cards for Fundraising

For smaller organizations with large volunteer bases, I like the concept of using scratch cards for fundraising.  Concepts like scratch cards, candy bar sales, or cookbook fundraising shouldn’t replace your organization’s efforts to build strong donor networks and annual giving programs, but programs like these can and should supplement your revenue and provide a good [...]

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10 Ways to Supersize Your Donor Cultivation Efforts

We’ve all heard the old maxim, “it’s easier to raise money from a donor you already have than from a donor you haven’t met yet.” The meaning of this saying is true, and clear: your best donors are your current donors. They’re likely to give to you again and again, so long as you continue [...]

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Thinking Big in Fundraising

If there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s thinking small.  Far too many people spend their time and energy thinking small.  That’s true in the wider world, and it’s true in fundraising. There are a lot of fundraisers in the world – some professional, some volunteer.  Some work on staff, some consult, some are on [...]

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Local Fundraising for Larger Non-Profits

Doing local fundraising for a large organization can sometimes seem complicated and unwieldy.  Whether you are running a local affiliate of a large national organization, or are responsible for raising funds in a single neighborhood for a small, city-wide charitable group, raising local money for larger groups presents a unique challenge. Working with a larger [...]

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Raising Money through Discount Card Fundraising

We’ve all seen (or been asked to buy) one of those “Entertainment Book” fundraising cards (and the accompanying phonebook-sized discount directories).  Perhaps you’ve even wondered whether or not you could go it alone and hold your own discount card fundraiser, catering to your own small corner of the world.  The answer is yes… many schools, [...]

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