3 Big Fundraising Mistakes
No More Mistakes
Life is about learning. We live and learn. More importantly we should learn from history. Learn from other peoples mistakes is what my mother taught me. Another truth I found to be valuable is the fact that some mistakes have more impact than others. Yes, some mistakes can be brushed off as sweat off your brow while others can cause long lasting injury.
Making mistakes when raising money for your personal goals or organization can cause long lasting damage! These mistakes are avoidable if you take the time to acknowledge three components of your fundraising network.
I’ve created a Quick List (Cheat Sheet) of issues that may negatively affect your fundraiser. The Fundraiser Accelerator Checklist highlights these issues in greater detail.
Fundraising relies on 3 fundamental components:
- Donors
- Members
- Volunteers
Hint: Don't forget to download your FREE 14 Point Fundraising Checklist. The Fundraising Checklist will outline the critical areas needed to boost your fundraiser so that you can meet your goals fast!
Donors
- Prevent donor burnout.
- Donors can feel used and abused if they are seen as money not human beings.
- Solution. Allow donors not seeing the final result of their donation. Donors need to see how their money is being spent!
Members
- Some of your members don’t believe in your organizations mission.
- Because some of your member lack belief, they go through the motions and suck the life out of your fundraiser.
- Solution. Stop letting anyone participate in your fundraising event. 10 excited members are better than 50 uninterested members.
Volunteers
- Volunteers are stressed because of lack of organization and time issues.
- People who help you fail to get compensated on a human level, i.e. food, drink or a simple thank you.
- Solution. Appreciate your volunteers. Respect their time by organiziing and planning your event. Remember your volunteers are want to help and are not “forced labor.”
More Solutions
Clearly define the mission of your fundraiser. Defining the mission provides clarity and helps people use their creativity to help bring more success. Your fundraising mission should fit within the morals of your organization. Choose fundraisers that don’t demand huge time and puts volunteers in an uncomfortable position. Also, don’t neglect to provide simple reward and award your donor and volunteers. Certificates, small gifts and public acknowledgments can bring an abundance of positive energy to you and your organization.
Accelerate your Fundraising. Download your FREE 14 Point Fundraising Checklist. The Fundraising Checklist will outline the critical areas needed to boost your fundraiser so that you can meet your goals fast!
Dale Scriven
PMP, Inventor, Fundraising Advisor
