Each non-profit regardless of its size requires a fundraising plan to meet the development potential. Events are one of the effective ways small organizations use to raise funds. But after you become part of the planning committee, you should know that the meetings you attend are not for fun. You have to work to plan unforgettable fundraisers, which will entice the attendees to drop more cash in a hat. The size of the organization and the donor level will determine the type of event you will host and the plan. Here are the main steps to observe during the planning part.
Research, consensus and meetings building
When planning for a fundraiser, you will have to do some research and gather the information you would need to write the plan. You will have to gather information relating to the form of funding your organization has been relying upon and the number of donors you already have and the levels. Furthermore, you will have to research on the tactics that have been working and those that have not been working in the past. If a tactic has failed or has failed to perform as you had planned, you will have to avoid it. Research on the number of prospects you already have, and where you can find more.
After you are through with the research part, you will have to hold several meetings with your staff, the board members, donors, advisors, and the supporters. During the meetings, you should try to identify what the key stakeholders think of the fundraising efforts of your organization. Discuss with them the mission-related items and the programs they would want your organization to engage in. Build consensus on the direction of the fundraising efforts for other years. For your discussions to go on smoothly, you might need to rent one of the party venues in Melbourne.
Write the plan
After the research and stakeholders meeting part ends, you should sit and start writing the plan – it is important for one person to write the plan. Most consultants and organizations might suggest a team’s effort, with each member taking his/her responsibility for a different part of the plan. Such a method might lead to disjointed fundraising plan, where the constituent parts will not add up to a whole of the needed strength.
You might not need to get your team together to discuss the plan or to revise it, but having one competent person to write the draft is necessary. And depending on the complexity and size of the organization, the person might need at least 1-3 weeks to write the plan and hand it over for the revising part. The whole team might then get together to refine and strengthen the plan.
Build the support
After you have completed the plan, edited and strengthened it, it should be ready for the prime time. Start shopping it around to all your staff members, the board and the key donors so that you can get their support during the planning stage. Moreover, it is always good to have the board approve the plan through voting. That way, you will be able to record their support, something that will help your staff to get their help with fundraising easily.