Charitytalent

Author Archive

Charitytalent Comments: I love attending fundraising events and especially for good causes. My favorite events are those that support the arts. There’s an awesome party happening in Toronto next month on September 23rd, 2011. Artbound presents the “evolution of pop” in support of Free the Children. The goal this year is to raise $300K to with funds going to a school in Kenya and to break ground on a project in Rajasthan, India in 2013.

I hope to attend this prestigious and superb fundraising party! I will dress as a pop star, and who will you dress up as? Buy your tickets today! Go to: http://www.artbound.ca/theparty/

Charitytalent Comments: I was a member of the Rotaract Club from 1995 to 1997 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  I was 22 when I joined and it’s a service club geared towards those ages 18 to 30 years old. We worked on various community projects, painted women’s shelters, did fundraising bbqs and engaged in fellowship.  When I moved to Japan in 1997, I was able to visit Rotaract Clubs in Japan and even attended a Rotaract Club conference for 1 week in Hong Kong in Feb 1998 where I was able to meet Rotaractors from Australia, Hong Kong and Malayasia.  When I went to Malayasia in the Summer of 1998, I was hosted by local Rotaractors for an evening out in Chinatown and then they even made sure to see me off on the train to Thailand.  It’s an internationally connected club and has many great benefits.  If you are between the ages of 18 to 30, I highly recommend you join a Rotaract Club.  It’s one of the best decisions I made for my life.  Thanks to my dad for introducing me to Rotaract, it was such a great gift and taught me “service to humanity”.

To learn more go to:

http://www.rotaract.org

Charitytalent Comments: Fundraising is important to any charity or non-profit.  Some organizations receive government grants and private sector funding, but it is still important to be creative with fundraising ideas and to use fundraising products.  A strong team of fundraising experts is also key to executing a successful fundraising strategy.  It is essential that you be comfortable asking people for money.  Create the opportunity for people to “GIVE”.  Check out this free fundraising kit:

http://www.fundraising.com/free-fundraising-kit.aspx

 

Charitytalent Comments: Refugees are those who are displaced or flee war, and persecution based on race, religion, nationality or membership of a particular group.  I have come across refugees in Canada while going to school and in my work life.  I have seen people cry about the wars they fled from as a child.  These refugees that I have met, came to Canada to start a new life.   What do you do when you meet a refugee?  Do you embrace them?  What do you think you can do in your own way to make a difference in a refugee’s life?  Take a look at this  short video by Angelina Jolie, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador talking about “Do One Thing”.  What one thing can you do today?

Charitytalent Comments: What will you do to end hunger in the world? Take a look at this thought provoking video about the current food crisis and how we can all take action to stand together and tackle this issue worldwide.

http://www.ted.com/talks/josette_sheeran_ending_hunger_now.html

Charitytalent Comments: Short films are a great way to get started in the film making world. Finding funding can sometimes be a challenge. Since I am based in Canada, I have included a link to a film festival site that outlines resources for film funding.

http://worldwideshortfilmfest.com/resource-centre/getting-started/

I have one film credit for a short film. Please review the film “Happy Birthday Anna” by Senthil Vinu.

Happy Birthday Anna

Charitytalent Comments: “You know Harvey” is a documentary project by Linda Matarasso about an exceptional individual named Harvey Lalonde who is a film festival addict and volunteers practically for every film festival in the city of Toronto.  I first met Harvey in 2006 when I became Volunteer Coordinator for the ReelWorld Film Festival in Toronto.   I worked a few other festivals that he volunteered for as well.  I have also seen him around the city when attending other festivals as a guest. I was filmed as part of this documentary, check out the blog post on my interview: http://youknowharvey.blogspot.com/2010/02/day-47-lynn-manwar.html

What amazes me about Harvey, is his dedication and passion for making a difference in the world of film festivals.  Michael Yarde, another extraordinary individual who I have had the good fortune of meeting in this lifetime, interviews Harvey in this video segment. After watching this video, take a moment to think about the “Harvey’s” you have come across in your life.

Charitytalent Comments: I have learned through many years of personal development that the language used in conversations makes an impact on individuals and community.   It’s important to keep empowering language and words present in the workforce at non-profits and charities.

Source:  Sandy Rees, CFRE, is a coach, consultant, and trainer who shows nonprofit organizations how to raise more money and grow their Boards. For free tips on how to raise all the money your organization needs, visit www.getfullyfunded.com.

Asking “How” can change everything

I had a conversation recently that I wanted to share with you.

I was talking with an Executive Director who wanted to hire me to lead a retreat for his Board. He was certain that I could help get his Board members engaged and excited about a fundraising campaign. Everything was going well until he asked what I charge.  When I told him, he suddenly seemed disinterested.

I understand that sometimes your organization is cash-strapped, especially if you haven’t learned how to raise big money. But all too often, it’s a poverty mentality. Way too many nonprofit leaders and volunteers think they can’t spend any money to operate their nonprofit. They attempt to operate on a tiny, thin shoestring, even when they have the money to do something else.  Instead of thinking about the value they are receiving from their purchase, they simply look for the lowest price.

There are all kinds of problems with this thinking.  The biggest one is that it will keep your organization small.  If you look at every opportunity that comes your way and say “we can’t afford that” you will never raise the kind of money you need to make a significant impact.  You’ll never fulfill your mission and change peoples’ lives.

One small word can make a big difference.  Ask “How?”

Try saying “HOW can we afford that?” Instead of immediately assuming you can’t afford it, look for ways you can make it happen.  Brainstorm ways you can raise the money to afford the opportunity.  You’ll find that it can quickly change things for your nonprofit and get you on the road to success.

In your brainstorming, you may find a Board member or a loyal donor who will fund the particular opportunity you are looking at.  There are always options.

 

 

Charitytalent Comments: I started volunteering in my early 20s and it helped me develop skills, meet new people and have new experiences.   Volunteering was my foundation for building my current expansive network of contacts.  Why do you volunteer and why would you want to volunteer?  To me, a great volunteer experience, depends on relationships built in the journey of making a difference in the community.

Charitytalent Comments: I have participated in fundraising over the course of my life. My first fundraising was for the Ismaili Run for Charity in support of North York Hospital in Ontario, Canada in the early 90s. More recently, in 2010, I participated in the Joints in Motion program fundraising in support of the Arthritis Society. Although I raised about $3, 800.00, I could have been more effective. Read this article to get famiiar with SMART goals that assists with fundraising.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Rees

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2414784

How do you set your fundraising goals? Do you randomly choose something or do you methodically select what you’ll work towards? Have you decided to “raise more money than last year” or “get more donors”? No good. Do yourself a big favor and make your goals SMART.

SMART is an acronym that will help you set yourself up for success. It’s a way to set goals that you can easily create action plans for and later determine if you’ve met them or not.

Here’s what the acronym means:

S=Specific. Set specific goals for your fundraising activities, like “acquire 100 new donors this year” or “write 10 grant proposals in March”. Answer the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, and ‘why’ questions to make your goals specific.

M=Measurable. Make sure your goals are easily measured. Establishing concrete criteria will help you determine if you are successful or not. Think through questions like ‘how much’ and ‘how many’ to make your goal quantifiable.

A=Attainable. Set goals for yourself that can be reached with the skills and resources you have. Don’t set goals that are unrealistic – you’ll likely get frustrated and stop working on them.

R=Realistic. Set goals that you are willing to work on and that are reachable. Otherwise, it’s just a dream and that won’t move your fundraising program forward.

T=Timely. Create a timeline for reaching your goals. If you plan to double your donor base, by when will you do it?

Good examples of SMART goals:
o Increase our donor base by 10% by June 1, 2009.
o Recruit 2 new sponsors for our Spring Golf Tournament by March 1.
o Find 6 volunteers to help sort donations at the thrift store on Mondays. Orient them and have them in place before April 15.

By setting SMART goals, you’ll be much more likely to be successful in reaching them and raising the money your organization needs.

Want more practical tips and ideas for successful fundraising? Get the twice-monthly “Bright Ideas for Fundraising” at http://www.getfullyfunded.com

Sandy Rees is a nonprofit fundraising coach and speaker who shows small nonprofit organizations how to raise more money, gain more supporters, and strengthen their Boards.

(c) Sandy Rees, CFRE