Increase your funding with these giving essentials.

Increased Giving Essentials

Here are a few giving essentials that will get you on your way to greater benefits for your nonprofit organization.

Upgrade Now

Always seek to upgrade your givers

annually. Ask for at least 10% above

what the donor gave last year. That's

right, make a concerted effort to ask

by mail, e-mail, telephone or in

person by appointment. They may

not give you 10%, but you may be

surprised that they will probably give

a gift increase.

Involve Your Donors

Seek to involve your donors. Send a special letter from the President, Executive Director, Chairman of the Board, Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, or Committee Chair. Explain your accomplishments for the previous year and what you expect to accomplish this year.

Mention that you would like each donor to assist you with this years goals. Be specific and mention how they can help.

Some nonprofit groups want to report on the facts only. You probably know all about the statistics, how many lives touched, and the impact your organization has on the community. You should challenge yourself and your organization to go beyond the stuff on the surface to educate your contributors.

Express your deepest desires and emotions about what you are achieving with your nonprofit. It is a known fact that most people respond to emotional requests more readily.

Don't fabricate those needs with frivolous "wants", but convey real needs only. Instill in your donors a desire to act promptly without delay. Ask them to respond immediately to your request when you give one.

Try A Variety Of Methods

Use a variety of fundraising activities several times during the year. Plan on sending at least a couple of appeal letters.

Also, set up a telephone bank toward the end of the year to recoup lost pledges and update your records. Try at least two e-mail marketing campaigns each year. Put on a special event that draws both supporters and the community.

Try sending a survey out asking specific questions so that you can get to know your contributors better. Once you determine their interests and desires for helping your group, then make a specific request by letter or personal visit.

Spend Money On What Works

When sending out a special appeal, spend more energy and money on those that continue to give. Spend less of your funds on sporadic givers or new prospects. That is, place a First class postage stamp on those special letters to givers versus using bulk mail to reach out to new prospects.

Thank Your Donors

Thank every donor for their past involvement and contributions. Make sure that you send a thank you card or letter to every gift made.

A common and yet all too true story portrays the small occasional $5 donation that turned into several hundred thousand or millions made to an organization, because of the thoughtfulness of a simple "thank you" on your part. It really works so, don't skimp on sending a note of thankfulness.

These are just a few of many ways that will simply and effectively increase your donations will little extra effort on your part. Give them a try. Who knows what might show up in tomorrow's mailbox.