It is important to make fundraising fun and participative so that you can enthuse volunteers and energy levels remain high during the entire fundraising drive. Think of activities that are relevant to the cause so that becomes easier to plan for them. Have brainstorming sessions to come up with interesting ideas to adapt fundraising work to your situation. This is an interesting and important aspect of fundraising; things rarely happen according to the book. So you will have to improvise to meet your objectives in terms of time, money, space, getting people, informing people, etc.

Look around you, there will be scores of things that you can do to help the community and in return people will gladly help your cause with time and money. For example you could shovel snow, prune lawns, deliver groceries, do babysitting, tutor kids and so much more.

You have to get the people on your side, get them energized, and let them realize that their positive energy contributes a lot towards the cause; celebrate success. As far as young volunteers are concerned getting involved in fundraising is a great way to develop entrepreneurial skills by active participation and observation. Fundraising requires interacting and dealing with vendors for products to put on sale. It requires haggling over prices. You get to strike contacts and build your network.

In order to get people enthusiastic about attending your fundraiser you can always try and offer them something that is unique and if it is participative then so much the better. If your community has never experienced a fun bake sale then by all means hold one. It is a low-cost fundraising idea and very participative. Make use of seasons… hold a bob-sledding competition in winter; swimming and cross-country races in spring, etc.

You can also hold fashion shows for the moms and dads; invite groups to prepare skits and perform, have fun and issue prizes. Of course all these activities have to contribute towards your funds for your charity.

Advance preparation and contacts developed through experience are key in hosting a smashing fundraising event; this means that you need to scout for and book a good location in advance and also strike deals with vendors on sharing profits and return of goods not sold.

The reason why fundraising should be made stress-free and fun is because it is an activity that requires a high degree of commitment and honesty. You impact your community, the people you work to help, and the donors. Because of the tremendously deep manner in which you can affect people’s lives it is worthwhile to remember to do so in the right spirit and a cheerful manner.

Fundraisers are to accept only those donations that are voluntarily made and should be in line with the objectives of the organizations. Also very importantly, the donations should not invite unreasonable costs in processing or disbursing the donation amount.

The fundraisers should accede with the donor’s wishes regarding how the funds should be disbursed. At no time should the fundraiser raise funds for personal gain or for any financial gain for the organization. The donor’s free will in making a donation is paramount; at no time should the fundraiser use coercion, threat, intimidation, harassment, etc in trying to gain funds. Any such activities can backfire badly on the organization and invite legal action as well as a huge bad rep in the society.

The organization employing the fundraisers has three stake holders; namely the donors, beneficiaries, and the employers. The fundraisers are answerable to all these regarding the use of funds and methods employed to generate the funds. Donor privacy and donor wishes are to be respected. Also donors should be furnished with details on how the money is being used. This is not only a responsibility but also a great way of retaining donor confidence for future donations and promoting their cause.

Under no circumstance should the fundraiser act in a way to undermine the honor and dignity of the beneficiary. He has to be careful about the fundraising material and brochures that he uses to propagate his cause. The content should not cause embarrassment to anyone.

Fundraisers should try to see that the suppliers and agents they work with do not gain any unreasonable profits. They should follow the same standards in dealing with them as they follow within the organization.

Fundraisers are expected to behave in a very responsible manner when it comes to communications; their public communications are very often the basis on which donors make up their minds on giving a donation. To this end the communication has to provide accurate facts and figures. At the same time it should present the issue in a sensitive manner without hurting the dignity of the beneficiaries.

The public communication should not give the impression that the fundraising activities are carried out without any fundraising admin and operation costs. This creates a misleading picture in the minds of the donors.

If a donor wishes to be removed from a mailing list, then this should happen immediately.

Often schools find themselves hostage to unhealthy food items when they look around for stuff to sell in a fundraiser. The truth is that parents and guardians would really be attracted to a fundraiser that would give their chance to enjoy and learn about tasty and healthy snacks. America is facing an obesity epidemic and schools are where you learn about good nutrition.

It is a myth that only junk food sells in fundraisers. The myth is propagated by cola, chips and chewing gum manufacturers. Low nutrition foods sell because that is all that gets sold; faced with any competition such food items are bound to fare poorly given that parents and kids today are more conscious about health-related matters.

Schools are often attracted to vending machines dispensing junk food as these offer easy money; but given that you often get tied to a company that blocks precious real estate on your premises, you really need to calculate the costs.

Soda companies are often viewed as benefactors of schools, as being ever ready to help with funrdraising; however the truth is not so simple. The cola companies get the bulk of the money that comes from the pockets of children that spend to support a charity and what do they get in return? Empty calories that only make them obese.

Bake sales are not popular is another myth; they are popular and do great, especially in a community in which a small group prepares the bake items and the whole community pitches in to buy the stuff.

Redemption programs are good; in fact such programs are big rip offs. You really need to spend a lot to stack up sufficient points that can net you something substantial. You could consider gift wrap sales as an alternative if you can find enough items that are healthy and not just chocolates and ice creams.

One thing is certain, if you can get sufficient health food items on display, such as fruit salads, green vegetable dishes, baked pastries stuffed with veggies, tasty protein shakes, etc then you will be able to enthuse people to come forward and purchase.

Fundraising time is when you need to be creative and innovative; you also have to improvise as per your budgets. The best fundraiser in my opinion is one in which maximum people can participate and you don’t have to share the spoils with anyone. In other words, it all goes towards the cause. Of course, this isn’t always possible or practical because time is a constraint, so you involve professional fundraisers to save time. Here are some super cool and fun fundraising ideas for you to pick from –

• Let the volunteers make crafts items and sell them; you’re not sharing the profits with anyone.
• Get local nurseries to donate plants and have a plant sale.
• Sports is always a hit, have a small basketball competition with a 3-player team each side. You could consider a similar tournament with football, field hockey, etc.
• Get the best goalkeeper the in the neighborhood and have guys come forward to take a kick against him; winner gets a basket of baked goods or a gift coupon, anything!
• You can have a small-scale modeling competition; sure to be a hit with the girls. On the same lines a bodybuilding competition for the boys can be held and a modeling competition for the ladies. Of, course the key is to first check if there will be enough enthusiastic participation.
• A boat race is a great idea of doing something different to raise funds; it will be on a slightly different scale. Check if the local boat club will give you rowboats for the competition.
• Get friends, teachers, uncles, aunts, to donate old books and then you can hold a sale.
• You can hold a garage sale of donated items and stuff cleared during spring cleaning.
• A joke-telling contest in which the audience decides the best joke, gives points. You can have an entry fee to the event and add some food and drinks if possible.
• Organize a dance-a-thon.
• Hold a competition in which neighborhood bands vie for the top spot.
• A baking contest for the ladies with an entry fee for entrants.
• Board games are fun and inclusive, anyone can participate.
• Bingo is an evergreen attraction and again is open to all; you don’t need to be physically fit to play bingo.

The significance of thanking your donors and patrons can not be overstated. In most situations, it’s a courtesy but in context of fundraising it takes on a whole new meaning. It is one of the most crucial activities in a fundraising operation and perhaps the only significant one to be carried out after the funds have been deposited. Fundraisers are aware of the basic psychology that drives people to donate, to do good. It is the desire to be appreciated. Enterprises spend millions in philanthropy and moneyed individuals unhesitatingly reach out to their check books, not for anything material in return but for a positive review and the feeling that they have contributed to the society. It is up to you, the fund seeker to see that this desire of the fund donor gets fulfilled.

The best time to acknowledge a gift is soon after it is received. A Thank You letter written on your letterhead carries special weight for the donor. You need to word it sensitively and sensibly. The letter will also serve as a receipt to be furnished to the tax department; it should carry the figure for the amount donated. A handwritten personalized thank you letter is a great idea for smaller charities, nothing like a handwritten note to reinforce commitments towards charity.

If you want a donor to be there again for you when you need him next year; you have to tell him that he is wanted and welcome. Show appreciation, do not think that he knows you appreciate, tell him. If possible, explain how the funds donated by him are being put to use.

A Thank You need not be written and posted; you can email a note, call up a person and tell him how much you appreciate his contribution or you can leave a message on his voicemail. Whatever you do, personalize the message; let the donor know that without his contribution the fundraising target would not have been met. You can also show your appreciation by presenting donors with small keepsakes and mementos.

Value the donor and the donor will value your cause. Sincere and heartfelt appreciation is bound to create a lasting positive image about your organization and the integrity with which you choose to work.

The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University offers a special course on fundraising at the Fundraising School. It’s an indication of how significant and important fundraising is to the success of an organization. In a day and age where you can make a living as a fundraising consultant, a fundraising school does not sound very out of place.

Ideal students are non-profit fundraisers, executives and fundraising volunteers who can learn the methods to improve their fundraising skills by understanding the concepts and principles that drive a fundraiser. The school is also particular in teaching students specific techniques and empowering them with tools that will help them with fundraising in the real world.

There are several aspects to fundraising, none the least the legal aspect which you have to be aware of before you can even consider starting a fundraising drive. Fundraising can be seen as an art and a science; you learn how a neat balance of the two gets you optimum results. Often, you will find that you are inclined to approach fundraising in a particular manner; taking this course will help you refine your own techniques so that you can contribute effectively towards building your organization’s resources.

Non-profit orgs are important contributors to society; their effectiveness indeed their survival depends upon fundraising and you as someone involved in the running of a non-profit should know everything there is to know about ethical fundraising. At the end of the course you will be able to effectively validate prospective donors and manage a fundraising program from start to finish; with the knowledge that you gain here you will be able to decide what type of fundraising will work best for your company – it could be a sale, an online fundraiser, auction, or a combination of these.

The bottomline is that fundraisers are a core activity for non-profits; if you run a non-profit fundraising needs to be one of your core competencies and this school teaches you the skill to go about it without having to reinvent the wheel every time you wish to embark on a fundraising project.

You learn that fundraising is driven by your passion and the pride that you take in the seriousness of your mission; relationships are an important plank here. You don’t just receive gifts you strive to build relationships and get people involved with your project. The key is that in order to give you have to learn how to ask.

Direct mail was and remains a powerful medium for raising funds. Fundraising via direct mail has the potential to reach a wide audience and can be used to complement other fundraising activities such as sales and online fundraising.

Direct mail fundraising is bound by certain laws that vary with the state and certain common rules of etiquette that should be followed if your organization expects to succeed in its fundraising initiatives and stay in the good books of the community.

The direct mail may start off as unsolicited communication. You must give the prospective donor an opportunity to either accept or reject the invitation to make a donation. You must confirm promptly if the donor requests that he should not be sent any more communications and you should remove his name from the mailing list.

If a donor requests information you are bound by law to immediately provide it. The information could pertain to your organization’s contact details, contact person, the source from where you obtained donor contact information, etc. You should be aware of the maximum time frame within which you are expected to provide the donor with the information.

If you select a third party and outsource your direct mail fundraising campaign then you should have the terms and conditions written down. Decide upon the financial terms clearly; the supplier can select between a fixed pay and a percentage of the funds raised. You will have to be aware of the jurisdiction that will apply in the case of a dispute with your organization and the donor. Also make this known to the donor.

If the prospect obliges your fundraising effort then you have to give him a receipt which should include the donor’s name and address, the date and amount of donation, mode of payment, if the donor is an honorary member of the organization and a frequent donor. The receipt is to be sent to the donor within a specified number of days.

The promotional material that you use for your direct mail fundraising should be factually accurate and clearly identifies your organization as being responsible for the fundraising. Also spell out the objective of the fundraising clearly. The donor has to know where his money will go. The promotional material should also comply with federal and state laws pertaining to direct mail fundraising.

The fundraising material should not hurt the feelings and sensibilities of any group of people and it should not lead to any inconvenience or embarrassment to the recipient.

A smart organization tuned into the pulse of the community will understand how fundraising volunteers influence the opinion of the people in favor of your organization. Your non-profit benefits tremendously from being in the good books of the affluent and those who have the influence to make a difference. It is also a test for your non-profit organization to attract volunteers who can make a difference.

If individuals who are amongst the movers and shakers of society find your cause worth espousing then they can very easily move a few mountains in the path of your fundraising initiative. This could mean getting permission from the municipality for holding your fundraising, getting you space for the program, helping you getting discount deals on fundraising products, and getting fellow-rich men to loosen their purse strings.

Volunteers can be broken down into categories and you can pick and choose the ones who will best support your cause. If you have a database of volunteers then scan it for the right types according to the nature of the fundraising.

An altruistic volunteer will assist wholeheartedly in the fundraising without any desire for anything in return. Most volunteers come under this category.

Another type is the volunteer who has a strong attachment for his community and will go out of his way to help you raise funds if your efforts are directed to helping the community.

The devout volunteer is an ideal candidate if you are holding church fundraisers or any fundraiser that helps further a religious cause close to his heart.

The socialite is an important volunteer category to consider. These are usually the moneyed types and have the wherewithal to help your fundraising big-time. All they want is some approbation and some praise.

The investor is a volunteer who will look to reap some profits from helping you with your fundraising.

The repayer feels that he has a debt to pay to the cause you support and will come forward to help you. The repayer along with the altruistic and community-sensitive volunteers will form the bulk of the volunteers for your fundraising volunteering efforts.

The dynastic volunteer will carry forward a family tradition in helping fundraisers. These types of volunteers are usually associated with a project or a cause that they have already been supporting for some time.

Online fundraising has developed in a big way and blogs have proven to be a great platform to reach out to a sympathetic audience. Charities and Non-profit organizations should seriously consider a blog as a tool for letting people know of their work and give them the option of donating online.

A blog offers several advantages; it is easy and cheap to maintain. In fact you can host your blog on a free platform like WordPress or Blogger. Your donor audience is not limited by any geographical constraints. It can be anywhere in the world; so long as it identifies with your cause there is a chance that it will donate.

Therefore it is important to reach out to your prospective donor audience. Know who they are and let them know that your organization exists.

Post content to your blog regularly and spread the word about it. Make use of social bookmarking services. Keep the content relevant and interesting. Weave in stories of human interest; maintain a conversational tone, inform people. Tell them about your successes and the tribulations that you have to face in times of a financial crunch. Also tell the readers about how they benefit if they donate to your cause; is there a tax benefit in it for the donors? Publish verifiable statistics and facts. You enhance the credibility of your efforts by doing so.

Remember that getting people to identify with your cause means that you are hoping for an emotional response from them; only if you succeed in tugging at their heart strings will they loosen their purse strings. To make that happen you should try to add images of the work you do. Also add audio and video testimonials of how your organization succeeded in making a difference to the lives of people.

Make it easy for people to donate online. Place links to payment gateways so that online payment can be carried out. Encourage other sites to display payment widgets so that visitors to those sites can also provide funds for your cause.

Use the blog to generate a list of emails. Start a newsletter. Gather a database of actual and potential donors. This information comes in handy when you plan to hold a bricks and mortar fundraiser. You can inform these online visitors to your site. A blog also serves as a medium for information and idea exchange with other like-minded organizations and individuals.

Individuals and organizations that set out for fundraising have certain questions in mind regarding the process, legal formalities, tax requirements, etc. This guide will help you understand what you need to do to carry out fundraising in a manner that is safe for both the soliciting party and the donor and both stay free from fundraising scams.

The first rule to remember is that the donor cannot expect any monetary benefits from his donations. If he accrues interest on his donation or accepts goods and services in return, then he stands to lose the tax exemption for his donation. The same is applicable for the non-profit organization. If they offer inducements for soliciting donations then they are going against the spirit of the exercise and can lose the tax-exemption for the funds collected.
Charitable organizations need to register with their respective states so that their activities can be monitored.

The organizations are expected to file financial documents and describe their fundraising activities. They may be charged a fee for the administrative expenses. Go to this site for the registration form that is valid in 35 states.

There is a different set of rules that governs online fundraising. This is because the laws for online fundraising are yet not frozen solid. There is an argument that passive requests for funds that appear on websites are different from active solicitation that happen via mail and telephone. As a non-profit organization you need to check your state laws regarding online solicitation of funds.

You are required by law to clearly state the objective of the fundraising. There is no compulsion that a certain percentage of the funds being raised should be diverted to the charitable objective. This is because often the cost of the fundraising can be more than the money raised in the fundraising drive. If you are asked questions by donors about the target of the donations then you have an ethical and legal responsibility to truthfully answer these questions.

Go here for an idea on how donors should be wary of frauds with fundraising. The FTC is also in the process of amending its rules regarding unsolicited calls by telemarketers. Although the rule will primarily be targeted at for-profit telemarketers, non-profit organizations will also have to abide by it. The organizations will have to abide by a national registry that lists “do not call” numbers. Failure to do so can lead to fines up to $11,000.