Stimulus Stealing Your Wealthiest Donors?

Wall Street will GET its share of the bailout money, but executives may have to GIVE up lofty salaries with Washington’s plan to limit their pay. According to an article in the New York Times, “Charities Fear New Pay Limits Will Hurt Executive Donations.”

This article makes me think of one of my rants about fundraising from individuals--never underestimate the power of your entire donor base---not just the ones that write big checks. In 2007, Americans gave over $ 300 billion to charity, however according to the American Express Charitable Giving survey, the average charitable gift was $ 172. Now more than ever its important to take good care of all of your donors.

10 Ways to Energize your fundraising efforts

Some of these tips are simple and small but if deployed they will breathe new energy into your organizations fundraising efforts

1. Evaluate how you can best diversify the ways you raise money. Focus on efforts in: Individual Giving, Foundations and Grants, Corporate Giving. Special Events and Earned Income.

2. Write personal notes on your donor letters.

3. Add a meaningful P.S. to your donor letter---the P.S. is often the first thing read on a letter.

4. Create win-win proposals for prospective corporate partners. Carefully measure the benefits and financial return a company will receive by partnering with your non profit.

5. Ask your well connected supporters to host a house party to raise money and visibility.

6. Highlight your success stories; show how your organization is changing the lives of those you serve.

7. Collect personal information from your special event attendees—especially home addresses as people are more likely to make a job transition during tough times.

8. Ask your vendors to donate.

9. Update your prospect lists.

10. Share your grant prospecting list with your board and staff. See if anyone has connections that you can leverage to land the grant.