Converting Enthusiasm to Funding: Efficient Fundraising for Small & All-Volunteer Nonprofits
Sat., June 12, 2004, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Hitchcock Environmental Center, Amherst, MA
So many good projects and programs in Massachusetts' communities are the result of tremendous vision and enthusiasm of small-staffed or all-volunteer nonprofit organizations. Most projects require some amount of funding to be successful and too often the concept of ‘fundraising' is an intimidating one that is seen as a road block rather than the means to achieve a goal. This workshop is designed for board members, active volunteers, and staff of very small nonprofits that are committed to conserving natural, cultural, historic, or community resources, and who need to know the fundamentals of fundraising. Questions to be addressed include:
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How do you determine a viable, realistic, fundraising goal for your specific project or organization?
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Who are your best prospects and how do you identify those who might be predisposed to your cause?
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What makes someone a good candidate to be a donor and how do you reach him/her?
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What do potential donors need to know about your organization or project?
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What issues may impact your organization's ability to raise funds?
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How do you actually ask someone for money?
Workshop Leader:
Anuradha Desai is the Director of Organizational Development for Citizen Schools in Boston -- a new standard for after-school and summer programs for children ages nine to 14 in Boston and across the U.S. After raising funds for Oxfam America for 10 years, Anuradha joined Citizen Schools in 1998 and helped their budget grow from $600,000 to $7,000,000.