As people responsible for fundraising for non-profit organizations, we often get “analysis paralysis,” the inability to decide on a course of action. We spend so much time reviewing great new fundraising strategies, attending conferences, reading development books, and seeking advice from colleagues that we have trouble launching a new fundraising initiative.
Over the past year, I’ve heard from many of our site’s readers that they are working with small and mid-sized non-profits, either as volunteers, board members, or staff members, trying to raise a small amount of money for a particular project or need. Many of these same readers told me that they are having trouble organizing all of the information they have read on fundraising to decide on a plan of action.
Today, we’re presenting a list of 17 different ways your organization can raise $25,000. Nothing here is particularly groundbreaking or revolutionary, but each of these strategies has been successfully used by small and medium sized non-profits to raise $10,000 – $50,000 in a short amount of time (1-3 months). If your school, church, or charity needs to raise $25,000 or so within the next few months, take a look at this list, then decide on your course of action. (Links in this list lead to more information on that particular strategy).
The 17 Ways
1. Hold a fundraising event.
2. Send a fundraising letter to your donor file.
3. Host a walk-a-thon, dance-a-thon, or other participatory fundraising event.
5. Send a fundraising e-mail to your list.
6. Approach your top supporters to ask for individual gifts.
7. Start a viral fundraising campaign.
8. Launch a board giving campaign.
9. Recruit volunteers to raise money on your behalf.
10. Host a cookbook fundraiser or a candy bar fundraiser.
11. Find donors to run hosted events.
12. Seek out a major donor to fund the project.
13. Use scratch cards.
14. Hold a silent auction.
15. Choose an unusual fundraising idea.
16. Choose a “quick” fundraising idea.
17. Find in-kind donations to meet your need, rather than asking for checks.
By no means is this an exhaustive list. These 17 ideas should, however, provide a great starting point for deciding on your organization’s strategy for raising a quick $10,000, $25,000, or whatever you need to help you accomplish your mission.
