Continuing from the previous post, accountability and transparency go hand in hand. This means that as a charity you cannot have anything to hide from anyone that seeks information on the finances and activities of the charity. Your expenses have to be out there in the open for scrutiny. There should never be any secret agendas. If there are underhand dealings you run the risk of ruining the accomplishment of the honest objectives of your charity and driving people away. This is the most important consideration in the long-term sustainability of any charity work.
A dogged attitude is important, at times you will have funds to thrive and at times it will be a question of survival. Your fundraising techniques have to evolve from a mindset of determined faith in the goodness of what you are espousing. This means that if at times you do not obtain the desired response, do not give up hope. Do not fall prey to self-doubt. Break down your fundraising process into steps and check the step at which you are faltering. Have data at hand. Find out if prospective donors are turning you down outright or you falter at a later step when soliciting funds. This will help you tweak the process or if required make suitable changes to the manner in which you carry out your charity activities so that you can assuage the concerns of donors. Remember to keep going.
Strike a balance between donations from within the community and from outside. And very importantly keep track of gifts in kind and donations of labor. Do not undervalue the work of volunteers. Proper recognition of community contribution is essential to keep the community involved and also to let outsiders realize that your charity attracts a healthy involvement from local people. Compare time and effort offered by community to the projected cost of a fundraiser or charitable event. This analysis will enable you to present structured appeals to the community. A community-based project, whether it is a painting job or hosting a fundraiser can be of great help to a non-profit that knows how to get things done.
The setting of a charity plays a role in the types of donors it can approach. This has a bearing on the fundraising techniques that you can use in given situations. And always look inwards for there are many internal resources too.
Rural communities can be approached easily because of their inherent homogeneity; converting a community into donors is another thing. In this respect, urban centers are easier because of the social differences that exist. You are more likely to find someone ready to understand your point of view.
