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| ESSENTIALS
OF A SUCCESSFUL FUND-RAISING CAMPAIGN |
A
fund-raising campaign is an organized endeavor directed
towards achieving a specific amount of money within
a given time period. There are three prerequisites
in order to realize a successful fund-raising campaign.
All three elements should be present (and relatively
strong) for an organization to risk launching a public
drive for contributions.
A.
The Cause must be truly worthy, realistic and yet
inspiring to generous people.
B.
There must be an identified reservoir of potential
donors with a known interest in the cause and a
history of generous giving.
C.
Volunteer leadership and workers are equally essential,
for they are the personal links which bring the
organization and potential donors together.
The
securing of gifts thrives on momentum; peer performance;
optimism; and challenge, all in an atmosphere of progress
toward an exciting and meaningful goal. A successful
fund raising campaign creates such an atmosphere.
It
is wise to remember that professional fund-raising
consultants rarely perform actual solicitation, since
this is largely ineffective because donors prefer
to make financial commitments to their professional,
business, and social peers, usually volunteer solicitors.
Consultants organize; motivate; offer support and
backup; and generally take administrative responsibility
for the fund-raising campaign. |
