Today there are more non-profit groups than ever.  On the one hand, this is a great development - it means that as a society we are becoming more aware of a need to give to others and are even taking the necessary steps to ensure that we help others.  On the other hand, though, the presence of so many non-profits creates a unique problem - “giver burnout.”

Giver burnout happens when individuals get so many appeals for help - from large cancer societies, small women’s shelters, literacy organizations, and every possible non-profit group in-between that they feel overwhelmed and are less apt to contribute anything to anyone.  Even those individuals who do want to contribute have had to cut back on who they contribute to - there are simply too many groups requesting money and only so much disposable income any one person has.

What all this means if you are a non-profit group is that you must work harder to get funding.  Where in the past groups often did well just by asking for money or organizing one big fundraiser to fundraise each year, now fundraising is big business.

Most non-profit groups will find that they need to take a more organized and diversified approach to fundraising in order to raise the money they need.  Most groups will need to rely on a number of efforts and money sources just to survive.

The increased competitiveness of fundraising has created a whole fundraising business.  There are consulting firms and public relations firms that will help you fundraise more effectively - for a price, of course.  There are also many companies that claim that their fundraising efforts or products will make money for your non-profit in exchange for a share in the profits.

Advertisers, computer programs, and even paid workshops have all been set up to help you learn how to fundraise.  If you are a small non-profit group, however, all these services and products can quickly add up, and if you are looking for effective fundraising ideas, chances are you are looking to make money rather than looking to spend it.

Luckily, with “Fundraising Basics: How to Get All the Money You Need for Your Nonprofit” you will learn the effective strategies and techniques you need to start making real money for your group - all within your budget.

The good news is that if your non-profit group has:

•determination

•the willingness to work hard

•a real desire to success at fundraising

•perseverance

You already have the basic groundwork for success in fundraising.  All you need now is some basic tools and ideas that can help you become more effective at raising money.  That is exactly what this book is all about.  By the time you finish this book you will know:

•Where to turn for money

•How to tell great fundraising ideas from duds that will not make you money

•How to stay organized

•How to ensure that your group works together and follows through for fundraising success

•How to organize a fundraising team that will get real results

•How to use technology to make more money for your non-profit

•How to use the secrets of fundraising to raise more money with less hassle - each time

•How to communicate in a way that will ensure more fundraising money for your organization

Before you dive in and start learning the secrets of fundraising success, you need to make sure that you understand a few basic concepts:

What is a Non-Profit?

Many people who first begin fundraising do not always know what a non-profit is, and many groups assume that it does not matter whether their organization is a non-profit or not.

However, how much money you make and how you are able to use that money is determined largely by the way you are classified.  A non-profit group is simply a group that is designed for a charitable purpose; no money that the group makes is used for the gain of individuals.

Rather, a non-profit uses its earnings to further its goals.  Groups such as the United Way, as well as groups such as the Scouts, hospitals, and most universities are non-profit groups.  There are also many smaller non-profits such as animal shelters, human rights organizations, and women’s shelters.  In most cases, these groups try to make the world a better place in some way.

If this general definition fits your group you must contact your local government and ask about the process of registering as a non-profit.  In most areas, you cannot advertise or claim to be a non-profit unless you are officially registered as and declared as a non-profit or charitable organization.

The procedures and qualifications for becoming this sort of group legally vary from area to area, but generally you will need to fill out forms and prove to someone that your group exists not to make money but to better society.  Often, you will have to file a mandate that explains clearly what your group intends to do.

It is hard to overstate how important this step is.  If you have not yet officially registered as a non-profit group, you need to phone your local city hall or mayor’s office and start the procedure of doing so.

Even if your group is new or small or has modest plans for improving society, you need to be officially registered, as this will affect how you raise money.  Groups which are officially non-profit groups are eligible for all kinds of money that other groups simply do not have access to.  That is why you need to register your group before you begin fund-raising in earnest.

What is Fundraising?

Fundraising is just what it appears to be - the raising of funds or money.  For a non-profit, fund raising is often the only way to get the money to pay for the facilities and programs that the group wishes to organize.  Fundraising can take many forms, from sales to direct asking for money to organizing events or lotteries for which people will pay.

Why is Fundraising Important?

Since non-profit groups are by their definition groups that do not wish to profit many people wonder why they must raise money at all.  In fact, fundraising is often the only way that non-profits have of gaining the money needed to rent the space and organize the programs needed to fulfill the group’s mandate.

Fundraising can help raise awareness through newspapers or newsletters, it can help a group establish an Internet site, and it can help people that the group is hoping to help.  For example, a women’s shelter will need money for a shelter space, money for food and board for abused women, and money for programs such as education and job training for the women who visit the center.

The costs of even a small women’s center can be enormous, and fundraising is the way to raise this money. All simple non-profit groups need some money in order to really do good, and this is where fundraising comes in.

Why do I need to learn about Fundraising?

Plenty of people assume that fundraising is as simple as holding bake sales or some other organizational activity until enough money is raised.  If you only want to raise a small amount of money, this may be fine, but for many groups this approach is too uncertain and too limited to be very effective.

If your group will be around for a while, then you will want to raise money consistently in order to keep your group going.  You will need to learn many things in order to keep enough money coming consistently:

•How to find enough money to keep your programs going and your group expanding

•How to find ever new sources of money in order to ensure that you have enough consistently

•How to continue to run the group’s programs and fulfill the group’s mandate even while taking the time to fundraise

•How to stay organized and keep group morale and interest high - even after many years of fundraising

You will learn these basics and much more as you keep reading...

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