Why Fundraisers FailWhy fundraisers fail? If you fail to plan you plan to fail - well, duh. But, while the intentions of many volunteer fundraisers are truly admirable they lack little if any previous fundraising experience which sometimes ends quite frankly…poorly. That’s not something you want when you are trying to raise money! Many fundraising flops are very common and often times very predictable if you know what to look for during the planning stages. We’ve put together some of the common mistakes to avoid when considering fundraiser ideas.
COMMON FUNDRAISING FAUXPAS TO AVOID Incomplete Planning Jobs are not defined, tasks are not delegated, communication plan is not considered, deadlines aren’t realistic, resources aren’t adequate, research on fundraising methods not done thoroughly, etc. Planning goes a L O N G way.
Check out our FREE FUNDRAISING TEMPLATES AND TOOLS Not Understanding the Target Prospect or Donor Pool Underestimating (or overestimating) the target pool of donors and perhaps asking too much (or too little) in the solicitation amount is a classic reason why fundraisers fail. New Year – Same Old Fundraising (or Fundraiser) OMG – not again! Selling the same product over and over (and OVER) or having the same event year after year (you get the picture) without growing or changing based on your organization’ or constituents’ needs. Selecting the Wrong Method Consider the return on investment. Would it be better to try catalogue sales or a direct mail campaign with a simple mailing that describes the need?
Not Enough Help A classic rookie mistake! Many hands make the work lighter. If only one or two people step up to volunteer – you are doomed to fail from the start. No matter the scale of the effort, the work needs to be shared to avoid burnout AND to ensure continued success year after year. Our Volunteer Resource Section can help Lack of Publicity If know one knows, then no one cares! Lack of proper information distribution will crush your effort. Think about the big things, radio, TV, posters, internet (social networking), website and most importantly, word of mouth. Failing to Use Fundraising Resources Very few grassroots or community organizations have professional fundraisers on staff. However, with the vast array of resources available now through the internet and other places there is always enough information and education available on the basics of fundraising. Fundraising-Guide.com is just one resource available to you. Substandard Merchandise It’s true that most products offered in a fundraiser could be purchased somewhere else for less. However, people are more than willing to pay a little extra to support your group or an organization that they value. But, that doesn’t mean that they will continue to support your group if the merchandise you offer is poor quality or something that isn’t of value to them. Before choosing a fundraising merchandise supplies, ask for product sample. Our Fundraising Companies and Products section has some great advice. Bad Timing Sell products when people are looking to buy specific things. For example, pre-selling seasonal Christmas ornaments or wreaths is great in October/November but a really bad idea in March. Another reason why fundraisers fail is that the group didn't consider the activities in the community such as high school graduations, other large fundraising events or sports or religious functions that could impact attendance. In Summary Fundraising isn’t hard. It’s all about the PLANNING. Your fundraising ideas and efforts don’t have to be massive, just strategic for your fundraiser or event to be a success.
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