1. Fundraising Tips
COD Living Leadership Program
September 26, 2013

2. The WHY & Challenges
• How many have donated to a cause?
• Why do you give to causes?
• How many have fundraised?
• What are some challenges of fundraising?

3. Overview
• Traditional Fundraising
• BEYOND Bake Sales
• WAY BEYOND Bake Sales
– Online Fundraising
Myth!

4. Assessing Needs
• Examine where funds currently go
• Identify resources to improve the club
• Establish goals
• Brainstorm projects
• What are your estimated costs/resources?

5. Common Fundraisers
• Vendor Sales
– During fall and spring semester
• Bakes Sales
– Sign up for a table anytime
– Clubs can purchase supplies to make items or
members can bake and donate items for sale
• Club Grants
– Detailed info available in Student Life

6. BEYOND Bakes Sales
• 2 Types of Strategies
– Personal Appeals
– Special Events / Activities

7. Personal Appeal
• Direct request for support from individuals,
other clubs, organizations, businesses,
and corporations.
– Face-to-face
– Letter or e-mail citing your club’s webpage
– Phone

8. Personal Appeal
• Personal appeals are the most effective
way to raise money.
– Identify your prospects
• Make a list
– Ask your prospects
• Select your approach
• Select style of message
• Suggest level of giving
– Thank donors

9. Special Events / Activities
• General Event Ideas
– Parties/get-togethers with a variety of themes
– Sell something
– Store front collection
– Coupon / Voucher Fundraising
– Home-based Retail Organizations

10. Special Events / Activities
• Important Tips
– A successful fundraising event takes
ADVANCED planning and TEAMWORK
– Do the math. Be realistic about your
EXPENSES and your potential INCOME
– Keep your fundraiser SHORT and SWEET

11. General Tips
• Asking for a donation is not begging
• Have specifics on exactly where the donations will go
• Part of the process is building relationships
• Do not be afraid of the “no”
• Be pleasant about taking rejection.
• Regardless of the donation outcome, always say
“Thank You”.

12. WAY BEYOND Bake Sales
Online fundraising is here!
•Crowd-funding: the practice of funding a project or
venture by raising many small amounts of money
from a large number of people, typically via the
Internet.

13. Student Launcher
• 6 Steps to Online Student Fundraising
– Pick you weapon
– Make it tangible
– Build your story
– Tell your story
– Champion your donors
– Close the feedback loop

14. Pick Your Weapon
Student Launcher

15. Make it Tangible
• When a donor gives $, they want to know
their $ is going towards something.
• Being specific = Higher giving rates
vs
Help Support a
Local Food Bank
500 Meals for
Local Homeless

16. Build Your Story
• Why does your project matter?
– Describe your project, highlighting WHY
• Video or Picture
– Telling who you are
– Telling the story
– Asking for support
– Thanking everyone

17. Tell Your Story
• Avoid the MASS BLAST
• Divide donors into
– High Probability
– Low Probability
• Personalize Outreach
• Follow Up
• The Final Plea

18. Champion Your Donors
• Do it right away!
– Spread good feelings around
– Current donors will be your best marketers
– “Thank Yous” pave the way for the final plea
– … and for coming back next year!
• Use social media

19. Close the Feedback Loop
• After the project is completed
• Thank donors in a special way
– They will feel great!
– Secures future giving!

20. Questions?
Stephanie Quirk
Coordinator of Student Life
quirks@cod.edu
630-942-2243