With a weak economy, small nonprofits are having a tough time raising funds. With that challenge, organizations need to completely rethink strategies and implementation.
Follow the Challenge
A Boston-based nonprofit, One Home Many Hopes is a home for orphaned girls in Mtwapa, Kenya. The organization currently provides 35 Kenyan girls a nurturing home, proper health care and an education.
In the fall of 2008, One Home Many Hopes struggled to raise funds and entered the We Need Funds NOW! Challenge.
The challenge was prompted by Kristy Hall, a nonprofit mastermind, through her site Nonprofit Super Series. One Home Many Hopes was given 30 days to raise $20,000 by following the principles and strategies of the We Need Funds NOW! Program created by Hall herself.
Get the Results
Results of the challenge were double the expectancy. By following Hall’s 30-day program, One Home Many Hopes accomplished multiple objectives:
- Raised over $40,000
- Increased their donor database from 180 people to 1,000 people
- Received press coverage in The Boston Globe, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Charter Magazine and more
$40,000 is One Home Many Hope’s annual budget and was raised in only one month. This money will provide housing, education and medical care for the 35 Kenyan girls for an entire year. Even better: the impact of 1,000 new members will last longer than the money.
Achieve Similar Results
- Set a goal to raise $20,000 in 30 days or less. Focus on individual donors as well as corporate ones. Spread out donations in $10-20 increments from person to person. By aiming to reach a thousand people or more, you will increase awareness and membership of your cause and organization. You will need help from volunteers to go door-to-door.
- Understand the elements of a great pitch. Allow potential contributors to know exactly where his or her money will go. Tailor a message for your audience and train volunteers how to deliver the pitch.
- Learn how to build nonprofit corporate partnerships. This is one of the best PR strategies in nonprofit brand building.
- Take advantage of online methods. Social media costs practically nothing and can reach large audiences. Use online fundraising, the latest trend in nonprofit PR.
- Lastly, learn how to identify and approach potential joint venture partners.
Get Free Advice
President Kristy Hall of Universal Synergy Group, LLC, helps nonprofits and NGOs all over the world to accomplish their mission. Hall provides successful and professional guidance to organizations on leadership, advocacy, fundraising and development.
Check out Hall’s site for a free copy of her book, “7 Secrets Every Non Profit Should Know To Find Funds Fast.”
To receive more tips about Hall’s program, register here cost-free to receive useful material on quick nonprofit funding.
2 Comments
April 6, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Hi Kristen.
Thanks for featuring One Home Many Hopes, their amazing work and fundraising results.
Here’s the update:
One Home Many Hopes has been cultivating the new 1,000 donors with updates and photos of their girls over the past 4-5 months.
And now, they are creating a campaign to develop some of the 1,000 into monthly donors. It’s exactly what great, high-functioning organizations do – no matter the size of the organization.
The good news is that their results can be replicated by small nonprofit organizations everywhere. And, that changes the world.
Kristy
April 7, 2009 at 1:24 am
It’s great to see One Home Many Hopes was able to raise its annual budget in such a short period of time while raising awareness through F2F fundraising and publicity efforts. It’ll be interesting to see how other nonprofits use F2F communications and social media to raise necessary funds in a struggling economy.
Rebecca
http://coffeehour.wordpress.com