Common Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid


Common Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid

Common Fundraising Mistakes to Avoid

The basic idea behind any fundraiser is to process the gathering of voluntary contributions of money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. That said, fundraising is no walk in the park, and one must adapt to some keen guidelines with insights that can help you protect your fundraising project from making mistakes that jeopardize the entire process and makes it into a failure. Here are some definite DON’TS that must be avoided at fundraisers at all costs.

1.     Simply because your organization is supporting a good cause, it would encourage people to give

Getting donations isn’t about telling people to clear their conscience by supporting a generally good cause; it’s about attracting support the old fashioned way and that is: you’ve got to earn it. People are never readily acceptable to parting with their hard earned money and their reluctance is justified. However, anything that sparks their interest would encourage them to support your project and look at it as a challenge.

2.     Thinking that Support would be raised by others

In order to make a fundraiser successful, you have to follow the pebble in a pond principle. The ones responsible for making the greatest ripples should be the ones closest to the cause. This means the greatest of donations comes from the board of directors who then take responsibility of seeing the entire campaign through.

3.     Believing that since there are wealthy people present, money will be contributed

Simply because a person holds a lot of wealth, or is thought of in society to be a wealthy person, it is no reason to assume that he or she will donate aimlessly into your project. This is the thinking of amateurs and newbies in fundraising. Only when you involve people and make them believe in your cause would they actually even consider making an impact for the cause.

4.     Failing to evaluate and research valuable prospects

Meaningful gifts come from prospects only focusing on three elements, namely: linkage {connection to the company}, ability {to pay support}, and interest {in the cause}. Thus, ample research is required to pinpoint people who fulfill these underlying criteria of a meaningful prospect.

5.     Publicity makes money

Despite our best wishes, publicity doesn’t make money. In fact, those who are considerably the most serious of donors, see them as nonessential. Instead, donors prefer a more direct approach through verbal persuasion and formal documentation.

6.     Believing that money would be generated through the Multiplication principle

Those with little experience in throwing fundraisers would think that all donors would provide equal amounts of donations. However, even contemplating such a thought should be considered punishment by seasoned fund raisers. Imagine 7.5 billion Bill Gates donating a million each for the fundraiser.

7.     Failing to have deadlines

For things to run smoothly, in a frictionless and timely manner, deadlines are a must. Not only do they convey a surge of urgency and promptness but drive the team into action keeping them on their toes at all times. In other words, your team will be forced to take action keeping in mind the campaign schedule along with the target dates properly aligned.


Mistakes are proof that you are Trying


A Selection of Learning From Mistakes Quotes

“We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.”  ~ Rick Warren  The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

“By seeking and blundering we learn.”  ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


“Failure is instructive. The person who really thinks learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes.”  ~ John Dewey


“A teachable spirit and a humbleness to admit your ignorance or your mistake will save you a lot of pain. However, if you’re a person who knows it all, then you’ve got a lot of heavy-hearted experiences coming your way.”  ~ Ron Carpenter Jr. The Necessity of an Enemy: How the Battle You Face Is Your Best Opportunity


“Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.” ~ Richelle E. Goodrich  Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, & Grumblings for Every Day of the Year


 

 


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