Engaging Community January 31, 2008

I have long been a believer in events which gather donors and prospects and mix them together. From my early fundraising involvement with a longstanding annual donor recognition dinner event to experience with annual fundraising auction events and even a more focused 100th anniversary celebratory Gala, the intent I saw as always the same. First, to affirm the committed, honor the "doers", build affiliation, educate and, secondarily, raise money.

It didn't always work well. All too often, the raising money agenda squeezed attention away from the cultivation and stewardship functions that needed to be served. In small shops, especially with a paucity of volunteer help, a fundraiser will likely have problems juggling all the competing goals. Luckily, there is help available.

For the fundraiser with the need to grow fundraising but, perhaps, without current buy-in from board and leadership, consider Terry Axelrod's "Raising More Money" strategy now offered by Benevon. It provides clear, defined strategies and proven processes along with great opportunities to engage your board and leadership in non-threatening involvement. With appropriate leadership and support, this professionally developed program can help you build a new pervasive fundraising culture for your organization.   

For the fundraiser with some current buy-in from board and leadership but no processes in place, Nancy E. Schwartz's "Put House Parties to Work for You Nonprofit - Here's Our Pre-Primary Party Concept" article is a great idea-generator to help you invent your own processes. On her Getting Attention marketing blog for nonprofits, she describes in detail how this event works. I found it very insightful in terms of all the ways her event engages people to interact, speak their minds, affirm their views, and all in a venue that left no bruises. Just the thing we hope for all our friend-raising events. Consider how this can be adapted to give leadership and board members hosting roles and engaging them in the critical business of cultivating donor relationships.

Of course, neither of these approaches can do you much good if you are not recording, tracking and communicating. Whichever path you pick, without doubt, GiftWorks can help get you there.