Creating Fundraising Solutions For Small Shops

As a small non-profit organization, fundraising can be daunting. It can be overwhelming to know where to start and how can you know which strategies will yield results? As a nonprofit consultant with over 25 years I'm here to share my experience with you. Let's walk through the process of successful small shop fundraising that I use with my clients.

First, a quick stat. Did you know that 60% of all American households participate in some giving? That's right - no matter how tight the budget is, people still want to help where they can. But here's the other side of it - as we know, different generations (millennials, Gen Xers, and boomers) have diverse relationships with charitable giving. So, how do you appeal to your donors?

Start where you are

Before doing any external work, it's important to start where you are. That means taking the time to understand your sector and doing thorough research to tailor your approach to your organization. Take some time to dive deep into the stories of your organization, donors, and volunteers. What are your goals and values? Who benefits from your work?

To do this, I recommend completing an organizational assessment. Ask some tough questions, like what you're doing and not doing well. Dig into the stories behind your donors' gifts and determine what motivates them to support your cause. It's not always easy, but taking the time to do this groundwork can make all the difference in successfully fundraising for your organization.

Sensible Solutions

Next, you must establish robust systems to take your organization to the next level. The first step is ensuring that you have a donor database to store critical details about your supporters, such as their names, addresses, giving histories, and contact information. Identify a suitable donor software that meets your organization's needs and aligns with your values and goals. There are some great databases that are affordable and user friendly. I’m happy to share some with you, feel free to reach out!

Creating a donor database is essential to building a sustainable, successful organization that makes a positive difference in the world.

Define your organization's data entry and reporting protocols to ensure everyone responsible for managing the database can work seamlessly. By collecting relevant data and using it effectively, you can efficiently demonstrate your organization's impact and attract more supporters. Ultimately, creating a donor database is essential to building a sustainable, successful organization that makes a positive difference in the world. And please do not assign the database to an intern, unless the intern demonstrates savvy with technology, has great attention to detail, and is accurate.

Define your organization's data entry and reporting protocols to ensure everyone responsible for managing the database can work seamlessly. By collecting relevant data and using it effectively, you can efficiently demonstrate your organization's impact and attract more supporters. Ultimately, creating a donor database is essential to building a sustainable, successful organization that makes a positive difference in the world. And please do not assign the database to an intern, unless the intern demonstrates savvy with technology, has great attention to detail, and is accurate.

As part of your work with the Board, be sure to also create a Gift Acknowledgement process and Gift Acceptance Policy. These must be in writing, outlining the organization's steps for accepting, acknowledging, and using gifts responsibly.

Additionally, it's crucial to develop a workflow that involves collaborating between various departments within your organization, such as finance, marketing (which is probably you), and volunteer committees. This workflow will ensure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. Having templates for grants and scripts for staff and volunteers is also helpful in streamlining the process. And all the action culminates in building that donor database you already set up. These systems will create a solid foundation for success.

Strategy & Key Initiatives

As a small shop striving to make a huge impact, it's important to identify your top priorities to maximize available time and resources.

Several key initiatives that help small shops succeed are:

• Non-ask engagement experiences - This means engaging with donors and potential donors in ways that don't involve asking for donations directly.

• Individual giving - This accounts for 70% of all giving in the United States.

• Sharing impact stories and data - This is crucial for demonstrating your work's impact and mission's importance.

• Establishing collaborative partnerships - Collaboration allows organizations to work together towards a common goal!

• Peer-to-peer fundraising and volunteerism - Individuals getting involved can help your org engage with the community and raise funds in a more grassroots way.

You might be thinking, wait, what about events? Events can be a valuable tool for fundraising, but I’m not a big fan of the ROI. That’s a separate article. And I’m sure that your board may be talking about an event. My best advice, partner with another like minded organization. Share resources and ideas. Save on expenses.

It's important to identify your top priorities to maximize available time and resources.

Evaluate Progress

Throughout every initiative, build and evaluate your donor database regularly. And also remember, you cannot do everything by yourself! Prioritize what is most important to accomplish. You can’t possibly do it all. Step back and evaluate

Imagine taking an escalator to a platform high above your organization. From this vantage point, you can see the bigger picture and make decisions that align with your goals and aspirations. Be bold and take a step back to gain a new perspective! It may be the clarity you need to make that next big move.

When fundraising for a small shop, the key is to start from where you are, know the sector, and understand your organization's story. That way, you can create meaningful action with sensible solutions that offer tangible results. Finally, remember to step back and evaluate progress periodically.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for fundraising; however, with thoughtful awareness and insightfully crafted plans, small shop fundraising can be manageable and successful!