Fundraising and Donor Development
Is it Okay to Fundraise?
Your organization may realize that more people would donate if they knew of your good work. You may have dedicated
in-house Public Information and development staff working to raise your profile as best they can. But no matter what organization you
belong to, Public Information efforts will exist within tight spending constraints. Philanthropic organizations cannot spend on publicity or
awareness-raising without adversely affecting their percentages.... you know the ones we're talking about: the percentages that donors look at
when making philanthropic decisions. But before you decide you cannot fundraise, consider the following arguments set forth by Arthur Brooks in
his book Who Really Cares: America's Charity Divide - Who Gives, Who Doesn't and Why it Matters :
- charity stimulates prosperity, happiness, and health
- fund-raising organizations receive, on average, more than five times as much donated income each year as those that don't
- non-profits should see themselves not as supplicants but as offering a valuable service, of benefit to their donor: their very well being. Donors do not need t-shirts, they need "a good cause and prompt evidence their donations are being used wisely"
Cost Consciousness In Fundraising
While certain arguments above may support of fundraising, this fundraising should be done within acceptable limits. It bears repeating that fundraisers
have the responsibility to donors and to the underlying causes to use the vast preponderance of proceeds raised to benefit the causes
the donors expected they would benefit, and to keep fundraising costs to a minimum.
Do you have a communication tip to share with others in the philanthropic community? Please use our contact page to share it with us.
