A List of Specific Fundraising Methods Particularly Helpful At the End of the Calendar Year

We are fast approaching the end of the calendar year and there are certain fundraising methods that are particularly important at this time of year for any nonprofit to consider conducting.  Any one or more can be done for a year end boost to your organization's bottom line.

__ Year End Appeal - The year end appeal is usually similar to the annual appeal except the written and mailed request sent to everyone who donated a certain amount and above perhaps for the past two years (such as maybe $25 and above), usually lists all of the organization's accomplishments and accolades for the year clearly providing as well (perhaps in two separate pie charts or other quick but informative representation) all of the organization's spending and income, and stating what the goals are for the coming new year.  Usually, too, it is pointed out (gently) that a contribution to your group at the end of this year will provide an equivalent tax deduction (to the extent that the law allows) for the donor when they file their taxes for this year.

__ Major Donor Year End Appeal - Is a specific appeal, exactly like the Year End Appeal described above, except any major donor request is always conducted face to face with the nonprofit's major donors (again keeping in mind that the major donor is often eager to donate at the end of a calendar year to benefit their tax deductions and can also afford to give major assets such as land, stock, bonds, etc. and especially give on this magnitude at the end of the year for the tax break).

__ Grant Donors Looking to Spend Down The Rest of This Year's Giving Budget - By law foundations are required to donate a specific percentage of their total assets each year to remain in good standing with the IRS and other government entities that oversee their operations.  Sometimes a given grant donor will find, at the end of their fiscal year (which can fall, of course, on the end of the calendar year for some grant donors) that they have money left to give in order to meet either this oversight rule or to meet the giving budget for the year.  Either way, it never hurts to research grant donors, more likely to give to your specific nonprofit (see the link in this sentence to know how to determine which grant donors they are) and see if they happen to be needing to spend down this year (as it's the end of the calendar year).

__ Governments Looking to Spend Down The Rest of This Year's Giving Budget - Like the foundations described, above, (and though the economy is down still) some government agencies or programs gave budgets this year and some of those may have money to give yet in order to meet their giving goal for this year.  As suggested above, if their is a federal, state, local, or Tribal, etc. government agency that your organization knows has or would support your nonprofit, it doesn't hurt to research whether their office is looking to spending down some last unused money marked for grant donations.

__ Request Outstanding or Due Memberships, Pledges, and Other Final Quarter Donation Balances- Often, like a for-profit business, nonprofits can run their Accounts Receivable for their donations (or expected income report) for this year and see which donors (sponsors, in kind donors, etc. included along with individual, business, and foundation donors) have yet to give in full for the year if they promised or pledged a certain amount before 2013.  Requests all of these outstanding amounts.

__ Board of Director Annual Contributions - Often nonprofits raise money, annually, through annual leadership contributions which is a specific often larger amount that each board member promises to either raise or donate personally (or give through a combination of the two).  If your organization conducts Board Contributions, be sure to request any outstanding remaining balances from any board members still needing to fulfill their contribution amount for this year.

__ Employee Giving Programs - Many corporations provide their employees with the choice to give to any one (or more) of a long list of area or related nonprofits.  If, for instance, your organization operates in Dallas, Texas you might want to find out how your organization can get onto Hewlett Packard's Corporate Giving List (for their employees to select to give to your nonprofit) over the coming year - usually through a monthly (or other regular incremental) contribution deducted (pre-tax for the donor employee) from their pay check.  Another example is, if your nonprofit operates in Seattle, you could contact Microsoft's Human Resources offices and find out how to get onto their Employee Giving list for 2013 and on.  Always be sure, when requesting/receiving volunteer time or donations from any employer's employees whether the employer matches the contribution.  Often they do but if you don't ask, you don't know to request the matching contribution from the employer, once their employee's donation or volunteer time is given.

__ Corporate Used Items Warehouse Donations - Some corporations warehouse used and old office furniture, kitchen appliances, office appliances, etc. that they intend to donate (for the community goodwill and tax benefits to their company).  Some sell these items at very low prices.  If your organization is needing new equipment or furniture, for your office, contact a local large corporation and ask if they have such a giving program.

__ Thank Supporters - This is a 'no brainer'.  Always make it a point to thank volunteers, partners, and donors without asking them for anything at least four times a year (if not more often, such as thank the donor events).  As we are winding down this year, in all of your organization's year end publications remember the community that allows your organization to achieve its mission goal and the goals of its programs: the community partners, donors, and volunteers who without your organization could not operate, let alone succeed.  In your nonprofit's final newsletter, blog post, Tweet, Annual Report for the year, etc. thank them each and all.  Acknowledge the importance of the partnership you have with them.  State that your  nonprofit and its leadership knows that this ongoing relationship with them is how your organization's successes are achieved.

Your Nonprofit Needs Cash Flow. That Means Your Nonprofit Needs Your Individual Donors. Take Great Care Of Each One...

In such a tough economy, we're all doing what we know best to retain the donors that have given to us already. Donor care, also known as "relationship building" and "donor maintenance", is a powerful way to sustain your nonprofit in tough times.

Nonprofits that plan regularly and on an ongoing basis, that create organizational and program budgets, save money where they can, and put a little away at regular intervals are doing damn good. This is the type of economy that reminds us that we need to spend less, save more, do more through a few extra sponsors' contributions, call on our major donors for a bit more assistance, and rally our volunteers - anything more that they may be able to give is a huge help.

We individual nonprofits, tiny or large, do not want to lose the resource that is American nonprofits' single largest donation source; individual donors. More donations are given to any American nonprofit by individuals and families than any other donation source.

Individual donors are your donors who send a ten dollar check when they can, the local family who runs the store that donates doughnuts and coffee for each of your board meetings, the family who sends a memorial to your nonprofit commemorating a family friend who recently passed. The individual donor may not lavish your organization with tens of thousands of dollars each time that they give, but they give regularly, they are committed to your organization (not just the cause you serve); and their connection to your organization is your nonprofit's lifeblood.

Individual donors respond to your newsletter donation remittance envelopes. They sent a check to your agency years ago, sent a check last year, and will likely send a check this year in response to your annual appeal letter. They may be members of your organization, but they give beyond the membership, and every so often. They've given to your organization for an extended amount of time; maybe years. Their level of commitment to support your organization is worth more than the amount of the check that they write when they do give. Why? Individual donors provide regular cash flow. Do they give in amounts that we dream of raising? Hopefully, but more likely they don't. Lamenting that money doesn't grow on trees aside; there is no greater support any nonprofit can raise than retaining donor who gave yesterday, gave today, and we are pretty sure they'll give tomorrow. It's this last phrase that I'm getting at, in this post. Help make sure that your donors give again. Take good care of each and every one of them.

If we have a commitment from any donor, as a nonprofit, we are getting a guarantee. Can something change, do crises happen, are their misunderstandings, even accidents? Unfortunately, of course. So, we never know without a doubt that a commitment will be kept; but we can up the odds. We can also up the chances that our individual donors will give tomorrow. Healthy nonprofits operate via cash flow. The only way any organization raises regular, reliable, consistent cash flow is by developing their regular (or individual) donors.

Maybe your nonprofit raises mostly grants and only sends an annual appeal to local individuals, families, and small businesses once a year. That's fine. I'm willing to bet, though, that raising grants isn't sustaining cash flow enough that your organization is growing (providing new services in addition to the services you've been providing while maintaining good consistent cash flow). So, to you I suggest that you look over that list of the local people, families, and business owners who have given, and realize that year to year, month to month, through tough times and good growth - they are always there to support your organization (much more often and quickly than any grant donor who has given to your agency). Grant writing is not a quick way to raise funds and grant donors do not necessarily give again in the short term, if they ever do again.

Keeping donors happy involves some basics that are not too expensive for any nonprofit to learn about, instigate as regular operating procedures for the organization, and then maintain (all the while you and pertinent staff should be learning what more could be done for your donors, year to year).

Donors can be kept happy and connected to your organization in a healthy and strong relationship by doing the following:

__ If you haven't been, start recording who you receive donations from. Any and every donor should be recorded (your organization could do so in Excel, in a custom made Access database, in a donor database software system, or even just on recipe cards filed into a recipe box). Every time you receive a donation: note their names (do not just address everything to one individual if the donation is coming from a couple or an entire family - treat people as people - not as ATM's). Note their mailing address, phone number, and the date, amount donated, what they gave for (some will give in response to annual appeal letters, some may give to a specific fundraiser, etc.), and any other information that you know (for certain) about them that might lead to a stronger relationship between them and the nonprofit. For instance, if the Smith family donates $100 in response to your golf tournament and you happen to know for certain that the Smith's own the local hardware store - note it. Some donors give over and over and you'll pull their note card every time that they do, note the pertinent information, and you'll also begin to know the names of the people who are most committed to your agency. If you should receive a call from Mrs. Smith, you could pull the recipe card with their information and while you speak to her - you have information on hand so that you could indicate that your organization knows who she is - she isn't just a cash source, you are aware of their work in the community (besides supporting your nonprofit). Also, be sure to thank her for all of her support over the years. Some donors' giving history will run on for months and then years - these are people demonstrating their commitment to your organization. They are critical to your organization's abilities. Maybe they give $5 each time or maybe they give $2,000 every time. I don't care - they are equal because they are demonstrating a consistent commitment to your organization that it can not do without. Your task could be to increase how much each donor gives but the key is that your constituency is healthy and active.

__ Thank your donors. I am still stunned when my family and I contribute to a nonprofit and no one at the nonprofit has the professionalism, manners, or foresight to thank us. I guarantee you that I know who those organization are and I will never give to them, again. They probably won't know that I am not giving again, but they also don't care much, either. Start a protocol and for each and every donation acknowledge the donor's contribution and interest in your organization. Nonprofits who value the people in their communities who support them (they may give money, volunteer work, in kind donations, etc.) are going to do just fine. It may be expensive to mail thank you letters, but then thank every donor through e-mail, or a phone call. Maybe you feel that only people who give $25 or more should receive letters - fine. But, be sure to acknowledge the retired woman who can only give $5 but gave it to YOUR nonprofit. You need her. Really. Thank all donors somehow. Letters are best as donors need record if they are going to claim the donation for tax deduction purposes, but the most critical and perhaps the simplest maintenance is to take the time and resources to thank your donors. Also, if you run into Mrs. Smith at the grocery store and you know who she is and what she looks like - thank her, then, too. Never give a donor a reason to not give again.

__ Never give a donor (or volunteer, etc.) any reason to not support your organization. If, for instance, your organization mails newsletters, regularly, and Mrs. Smith phones and requests that your nonprofit not send her newsletters anymore as she wants to do all she can to reduce paper use, and reads it online; BE CERTAIN that your organization notes that (on your mailing list). She (and whomever else has requested such) should really and truly no longer receive newsletters. You must provide each donor with customer service - you must follow through. If they are happy they will give again and if you are developing them to do so, they may give more. Your regular (individual) donors are your nonprofit's "customers" and your organization (and everyone in it, representing it, etc.) MUST treat everyone in your community professionally, graciously, openly, and accommodate people. They are your nonprofit's people! Initiate and require excellent customer service (provide training regularly) of your volunteers and staff. Your volunteers and staff must make room for and help everyone who wants to support your organization. No nonprofit can afford to pick and choose who will receive excellent care. Not one. We've all heard the urban myth story of the old gentleman who gave a local nonprofit $5 each and every month for years; and when he passed on, he left the organization $10 million. These things happen. All I can say: he must have been treated really well by the organization's volunteers and staff for his consistent dedication to the nonprofit. Imagine if there was a time when all the organization needed was $250 more that month to make budget; $5 goes a long way.

__ Listen to your donors. Pay attention to what they are donating to and in larger or smaller amounts compared to recent years. If they are demonstrating through their giving patterns that there is no interest in that five year old special event that your nonprofit does annually, you would be wise to research why people aren't attending it. If they aren't interested in the special event, you'd do well to find out what they would enjoy and provide them with it. All things being equal, you must account for costs, viability, etc. but if your donors want to attend, for instance, a 1950's style Bunny Hop and your organization's been holding a formal black tie ball - that change isn't difficult to provide them with.

__ Analyze your donations, your donors' giving history, what events raise what amounts, what time of year you raise the largest and smallest amounts, etc. and make changes as necessary. Run analysis regularly every year. Compare, year to year. For instance, if you have regular donors who give in larger amounts, they're indicating a certain amount of dedication and giving ability. These folks could be now (or become) your organization's major donors. Learn what a major donor program is and how to develop these people into consistent donors who happily give at larger amounts. Remember, donors give for a reason. They are connecting with the issue that concerns them and have chosen your nonprofit as a solution that they support. Ask them what they are concerned about (relating to the issue), and ask them how they came to know about your nonprofit. Ask if they'd like to get more involved. Remember, if you ask them for $50,000 for the new program two years away - they always have the right to say 'no'; but if you don't ask, they won't give.

__ Learn. If you don't know how to build better relationships between your organization and its individual donors, or how to do something, would like to achieve some donor threshold goal, or fundraising goal, or how to do X, or when to do Y - LEARN. There is no point in your career that you know it all or are 'done' with needing to know the latest and best practices. Always learn.

I often place caveats in my post, and this one has one, too. I need to be sure to state clearly that no nonprofit should give any one donor carte blanche. If your organization has decided to, for instance, build a new building and give naming rights to the major donors who contribute to it (e.g. Mr. and Mrs. Smith gave $500,000 and want the library to be named The Smith Library) that is fine IF your organization's bylaws, articles of incorporation, current leadership, and perhaps even your lawyer are OK with it. If your organization, for instance, is a public school that is pushing nutrition and has decided and initiated that no sugar drinks or junk food will be made available in vending machines; you may have an established policy stating that your organization will not accept any donation (no matter how large) from any donor that requires that your school place their sugar laden or junk food products in your cafeterias in order to receive their $500,000 grant. Having boundaries is paramount, even for nonprofits. Your organization exists to achieve its mission statement - not to serve any one person or peoples' desires.

Donors are any nonprofit's lifeblood. The source of the most of any American nonprofits' donations is individual donors. Be sure to retain them as they already have 'buy in' to your organization - you can't afford to lose them. Take good care of them.

A Bit More For Individuals Looking for Grants

I've written one other post about individuals who are seeking grant money, "Are There Grants for Individuals?". It is without a doubt one of the most read posts on Seeking Grant Money Today.

I'm writing this post to offer even more suggestions to individuals seeking grants. Please keep in mind that you most likely do not need to be disabled, sick, low income, etc. to ask for assistance from any nonprofit. At one point or another, we all need help. Nonprofits exist to fulfill their mission.

Let me be clear that most grants are only available to legal nonprofit 501(c) 1, 2, 3...etc. entities, as recognized by the IRS. Be leery of grants offered to individuals unless they fall under the following scenarios. There are grants offered to individuals but most often these are offered to scientists, artists, or students attending school. Grants offered by governments or municipalities (e.g. United States federal government, State of Oregon, City of Bellevue, Dade County, or The Confederated Tribes of the Yakama Nation, etc.) may be offered to individuals (who are not scientists, artists, or students) - but they are most often dictated by that government's current year's budgetary goal (e.g. people returning to the workforce from rehabilitation, farmers using water-saving methods, getting veterans returning from combat settled back into their community, etc.). Notice that, while the above example grants are made up for the sake of this post, it does usually happen that grants legitimately offered to individuals by governments are based in recent societal (etc.) issues. The money has been directed to individuals because the government knows it is an issue in their community.

Perhaps due to our intimidating economy, my grant writing consulting business, The Grant Plant, LLC, has received more inquiries, lately, from individuals (in contrast to nonprofits) who are contacting us because they are seeking grant money, as financial assistance.

I am going to share, here, some of the advice and suggestions that we've shared with them:

The Foundation Center does offer a resource that specifically lists grants currently available to individuals at Foundation Grants to Individuals. The Foundation Center is a standard in the American fundraising world, professional, and trustworthy.

Anyone considering attending a private school, technical school, college, or university who needs financial assistance (e.g. to pay for school, books, supplies, housing, etc.) should contact the Financial Aid office, of the school that you are considering, and ask what options you have.

It is not easy to admit you may need help, or to ask for it. You are not alone, though. If you are in need of financial assistance, seek it out from reputable, safe, effective sources so that your life, safety, or welfare are not placed into jeopardy. Coming from this point of view, contact each and all of the following organizations that you may be assisted by. Contact your local United Way if you are in need of basic needs (e.g. food, money, housing, warmth, clothing, etc.). If you are affiliated with a religion, contact that affiliation and ask a trustworthy confidant, there, for assistance. Also, there's a great list of money saving ideas for any household. Check out Elaine Appleman Grant's Extreme Savers Share Their Secrets for Bankrate.com, but is here located on Yahoo Finance. If your situation of need is based on a disaster, dislocation, asylum, etc. you could contact the American Red Cross. Research (Internet, phone book, word of mouth, etc.) nonprofit organizations in your local region that focus on the issues that you are facing (the issue(s) that has led to your financial difficulties for example, veterans organizations (besides the V.A.), mental health organizations, health insurance rights organizations, displaced Katrina refugee organizations, various diseases, etc.). Veterans can also go to Warrior Gateway which is an online website with resources for veterans for all kinds of different issues and care.  There are nonprofits to offer assistance for probably most any issue, illness, trauma, difficulty, etc. If you search in your local region and don't find the kind of assistance that you need search the nearest large city, search within your state, and always also be sure to search for national nonprofits who focus on the issue effecting you. Your regional United Way will be a 'nonprofit directory' for your region, besides offering assistance. Contact them if you aren't sure who may be available to assist you.

As nonprofits are usually the recipient of grants, receiving assistance from the appropriate nonprofit is the way that YOU can grab grant dollars and benefit, without having to apply for the grants, yourself!

If you are facing unemployment (or losing your income) because of a disability or a health circumstance, you may qualify for state or federal income/assistance (e.g.SSDI, or SSI; Medicare, Medicaid etc.). If you do need this kind of help, look for a nonprofit that deals with your specific circumstance, who also assists people in getting federal benefits. Successfully applying for and receiving financial assistance from any government requires expertise. Nonprofits dealing with the issue you're facing, who assist clients in receiving government aid, will have this expertise.

If you're having a tough time with utilities (phone, heating, water/sewer, etc.), you can call each utility and ask them about their low income program. You may qualify.

If you are having a tough time with groceries, you can look into signing up for state or federal food stamps.

Whatever your situation is, look into it through nonprofit organizations and each of your governments (city, county, state, federal, Tribe, etc.). There is good, safe, professional assistance available to you.

Good luck!