Fundraising Advice from Ruthellen Rubin at New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership Annual Conference April 27, 2009

“If you want advice, ask for money. If you want money, ask for advice.” So said Ruthellen Rubin, fundraising consultant, at the New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership Conference this past weekend in Princeton, NJ. Ruthellen was speaking to staff, board members and volunteers of New Jersey education foundations about how to raise money. Of course the GiftWorks team was there demonstrating how GiftWorks is part of the fundraising solution. Let me share fundraising challenges that I heard and solutions that Ruthellen offered.

Leading fundraising challenges that education foundations face:

• "How do we cultivate new donors?"
• "How do we get corporate donors?"
• "How do we find larger donors?"
• "How do we generate support from local business donors year after year?"
• "How do we state our need for support in a way that motivates donors?"

Fundraising advice from Ruthellen Rubin

• Don’t stop asking for money despite the poor economy. Many who gave to you before will give to you again, and based on the growing need for your services, they may even give more.
• Focus on donors who have a personal connection with you- they know what you do and stating your case with them is easier than with strangers.
• “The best prospect for fundraising is the person who just wrote you a check.” - Focus on those that have been giving small contributions; you may be able to move them up the ladder to larger ones.
• Don’t ask others for money until 100% of your board members have made contributions to your organization. This is an essential selling point for prospective donors.
• “People give to you because you meet needs, not because you have needs.”

Ruthellen also recommended GiftWorks Fundraising Software. Thanks Ruthellen! And thanks to all of those at the New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership who presented a great first annual conference!