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What Works and What Doesn’t – The Basic Do’s and Don’ts of Fund-raising

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Majority Money

No matter the size, scope, and geography of the effort, there is a prescribed formula for fund-raising success. Below are some best practices you can implement to help you reach your goals.

With all of the various fund-raising practices, the path forward can be confusing and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Check out our “Do’s and Don’ts” and get started on your fund-raising journey today!

The “DO’s”

  • DO: Use a variety of different mediums to communicate with your donors: mail, digital, e-mail, phones, texting – the more they see and hear your message, the more successful you’ll be.
  • DO: Thank your donors for each and every contribution.
  • DO: Ask for a specific amount, or the donor will almost always give you less than what you need.
  • DO: Do your research! Be armed with the facts so that when you pick up the phone, you’re confident that you’re asking for a reasonable amount from your target.
  • DO: Set schedule time every day that is dedicated to fund-raising. And stick to it!
  • DO: Follow-up. Follow-up. Follow-up.
  • DO: Have a specific goal in mind for your entire fund-raising campaign so that you can track your performance and develop a pipeline to achieving your goals.

The “DONT’S”

  • DON’T: Fail to build trust with your donors. Keep them engaged. Don’t just communicate with them when you need money. Build that relationship.
  • DON’T: Don’t bury the ask. Whatever the medium, make sure you are direct, clear, and precise with what you need.
  • DON’T: Give up after one attempt at contact. Do you always answer the phone when an unknown number calls? Don’t mistake silence for rejection. Keep reaching out.
  • DON’T: Don’t look for a silver bullet – there isn’t one. Fund-raising is hard work! There is no substitute for your time on the phones, at events, and going to in-person meetings. Even if you’re doing direct mail, digital, e-mail (which is great!) they are just an added part of the program.
  • DON’T: Don’t panic. Majority Money’s fundraising experts can develop, manage, and execute a plan to identify, grow, and activate your targeted audience of donors by communicating with them through a variety of mediums including e-mail, digital, direct mail, and phones.

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