Resource Development
Online Resources
Building and Individual Donor Base
www.civicpartnerships.org/default.asp?id=263
Nonprofit fundraisers generally agree that creating a strong base of financial support for an organization includes individual donors. According to recent studies, an estimated 80-95 percent of yearly charitable contributions are from individuals. Since most people give money, it makes sense to find a way to seek their support. This tools page includes issues to examine and resource materials to consult as one begins to design an individual donor campaign.
Foundation Center
www.fdncenter.org
Founded in 1956, the Center is the nation's leading authority on philanthropy and is dedicated to serving grant seekers, grant makers, researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public. This organization provides a number of tools and resources for grant seekers. Check out their trainings, publications and list servers.
Grassroots Fundraising Journal
www.grassrootsfundraising.org/
This website includes articles from the journal, funding news and practical tips and tools to help individuals raise money for their organization.
Funding and Grant Resources
www.civicpartnerships.org/default.asp?id=62
This page contains links to a number of resource development websites.
Fundraisers and Special Events
www.civicpartnerships.org/default.asp?id=258
Fundraisers such as tribute dinners, fun runs, auctions, or tournaments can help an organization raise funds, increase visibility of its mission and services and introduce potential new members or supporters to its work. However, special events are one of the most expensive and time-consuming forms of fundraising. For tips and resources on this topic, visit the following webpage.
Fundraising FAQ
www.allianceonline.org/FAQ/fundraising
This website includes answers to several fundraising questions, such as “How do we ask for a major gift?” “How do I get my board involved in fundraising?” and “How do I figure out how much someone can give my organization?”
Fund-Raising Forum Library
www.raise-funds.com/library.html
This website has a wealth of information: articles, tools, resources, etc.
Grant Proposal.com
www.grantproposal.com/index.html
Grant Proposal.com is a site devoted to providing free resources for both advanced grant writing consultants and inexperienced nonprofit staff. The site contains hundreds of tips, including advice from grantmakers.
Internet Nonprofit Center – Internet Fundraising FAQ
www.nonprofit-info.org/misc/981027em.html
The Internet Nonprofit Center website includes an FAQ on Internet fundraising.
Sustainability Tips Page
www.civicpartnerships.org/default.asp?id=290
This page outlines a 10-step process to guide organizations or communities through sustainability planning.
Suggested Reading
Articles
55 Ways for Board Members to Raise $500 by Kim Klein, founding publisher of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal. Unlimited possibilities exist for a board to help raise funds, and this article lists a variety of suggestions.
www.allianceonline.org/FAQ/fundraising/how_can_our_board_members.faq?k=fundraising&t=1079803753365
Publications
Carlson, Mim. Winning Grants: Step by Step, 2nd Edition. In easy-to-understand terms, Mim Carlson leads you through creating a proposal--from start to finish--that fulfills the three most important criteria grantmakers demand from a competitive proposal: a clearly stated purpose describing what your organization is trying to achieve, compelling evidence that demonstrates the importance of this goal, and a well-reasoned plan that outlines how your organization will meet the goal in a cost-effective manner. Once the workbook exercises are completed, your organization will have a fully developed grant proposal.
Center for Civic Partnerships, Public Health Institute. Sustainability Toolkit: 10 Steps to Maintaining Your Community Improvements. The Sustainability Toolkit: 10 Steps to Maintaining Your Community Improvements is a practical guide, complete with worksheets, a CD-ROM, templates and resources. It takes the user through 10 logical steps with built-in checkpoints and offers concrete examples and exercises. Ordering information available at: www.civicpartnerships.org/default.asp?id=227.
Greenfield, James, M. Fund Raising Fundamentals: A Guide to Annual Giving for Professionals and Volunteers. This is a practical and valuable resource for fundraising professionals, trustees, philanthropists, and nonprofit executives who aspire to raise substantial monies for worthy causes. It provides proven methods and techniques for running a successful annual giving campaign.
Schaff, Terry and Schaff, Doug. The Fundraising Planner : A Working Model for Raising the Dollars You Need. Missed deadlines and forgotten follow-ups are a thing of the past with these guided exercises for creating campaigns that bring in the funds nonprofit groups need, when they need them. This plan covers everything from recruiting volunteers to writing mailings, cultivating prospects, targeting financial goals, launching fundraising efforts, and monitoring their progress.
Schumacher, Edward C. Building Your Endowment. As nonprofit organizations struggle to raise money to cover the cost of their immediate needs and ongoing operating expenses, more and more nonprofits are learning that one key to stabilizing their financial situation is to build an endowment. This practical workbook will help individuals put in place the last component of a comprehensive development office— an endowment program. Building Your Endowment gives development professionals, executive directors, consultants, and volunteers the information needed to understand and implement an endowment program that will get bottom-line results.
Tempel, Eugene R. Hank Rosso's Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising. This revised and updated edition of the classic book in the field provides a conceptual foundation for the fund raising profession. Hank Rosso's Achieving Excellence in Fund Raising examines the profession’s principles, strategies, and methods and is filled with practical examples. Guided by the enduring philosophy of fund raising master Henry A. Rosso, contributors explain the reasoning behind the planning and selection of strategies for all fund raising activities, including building your case for support, approaching donors, managing campaigns, and demonstrating stewardship.
Warwick, Mal. How to Write Successful Fundraising Letters. For busy fundraisers, writing letters of appeal can be confusing and laborious. Now, a guide shows fundraisers what makes the best letters work. Whether its general advice about the most effective mail strategies, or specific advice for those interested in the details of a direct mail campaign, Warwick keeps fundraisers on track when he reminds: "You're writing for results—not a Pulitzer Prize."
Warwick, Mal. Fundraising on the Internet: The ePhilanthropyFoundation.org's Guide to Success Online. In this second edition of the popular Fundraising on the Internet, Mal Warwick, Ted Hart, Nick Allen, and a sterling group of experts in the field have completely rewritten the first-ever hands-on guide for navigating the ever-changing world of fundraising on the Internet. This no-nonsense book gets beyond the hype and takes into account the new realities of the post dot.com crash marketplace to offer solid advice on how to use technology to raise funds. Both timely and informative, this invaluable resource will be kept current with frequent e-mail updates from the authors.
© Public Health Institute, Center for Civic Partnerships 1999
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