Philanthropy
6 Steps to Making a Bigger Splash
You, yeah you!
Everyone is involved in non profit work, however, some are more focused on changing the world with their involvement than others. Read on and figure out how you can make a lasting impact in that which you focus your charitable giving and involvement.
We all give money to charities and we all volunteer doing [...]
The Wonder of a Star
Have you ever sat on a clear night and gazed up at the stars in wonder? Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and was having trouble getting back to sleep. After laying in bed for 20 minutes I decided to get up and take a walk around the house, jot a few things on “Things” a killer to-do list on the Mac. As I walked into the family room a twinkle caught my eye outside through the glass sliding door. We live on a saltwater inlet so just out side our back door is a beautiful view of the night sky over the water. Through the pines was one lone star twinkling as if to say “look at me and be amazed.” Stars amaze me because not one twinkles like the other. It also amazes me that the light we are seeing from a star has many times taken 10,000 years or more and the star might cease to exist. The reason being that the light from the star took so many years to get to us that the star burned out many years before.
For me gazing at the stars puts many things back into perspective because of the magnitude of the universe and the realization of what your actually gazing at. Standing on planet that is spinning about 1,038 miles per hour on the equator or if you live in the U.S. and Europe the speed is around 700 to 900 mph. The earth is also hurling through space at 67,000 miles an hour around the sun. When we look into the sky we are looking into the endless vastness of space and some 9800 stars are visible to the naked eye at any one time.
I am reminded of the hope that the rhyme, “Star light, start bright, the first star I see tonight, wish I may, wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight” gives us. There is a magical thing that happens in our minds when we believe there is hope that someone or something cares about giving us a break of unprecedented magnitude. For many that hope that someone cares is what gets them through the cold winter nights, the time to the next hot meal, the pain of a medical condition, or even the death of a loved one. Some non profits even encourage our hope by touching us with plays, the arts, music and stories of hope found.
$2k in 2 Hours
The scenario: You realize you need some quick capital for your nonprofit to get your marketing looking professional and polished.
In this quick post, I am going to explain how you can gain some quick nonprofit funding that you can then spend on your image and in turn get started on the “Simple Fundraising” strategy. There is only a few quick steps to it, read on.
Nonprofit fund raising does not have to be daunting as we learned in “A Simple Formula” it is simply about telling your story in a quick effective way and then duplicating yourself and that story so that more and more people know your nonprofit exists. One of the most important elements in retelling your story is to be able to equip others to retell the story once they know it. Make sure you read the post “A Simple Formula.” However, excited you may be about following this simple formula you are faced with the lack of capital to get your image and story in a form so others can retell it correctly. We are going to fix that in just a few concentrated hours.
Your First Capital Campaign
The secret to this quick and effective fund raising strategy is that you are not going to be looking for large financial contributions. Instead, your looking for a few smaller contributions, the kind people will easily help you with and not be a challenge for them to donate to you. Remember, don’t make starting a non profit or fund raising hard, instead, start simple and make it easy. Relax, it will all come together, just work the steps.
Step 1- Develop Your Story
You need to develop the “story” of your nonprofit which is why, how, when, and who you are going to help. As the founder, you can develop this story the easiest because you have a passion for something they wanted to do to help people or things. For an example, see the “About” tab on the Start a NonProfit | Ocean Grand site. Your story (product) should be compelling and give a brief background of how the passion for this nonprofit was birthed. In addition, it should include why the nonprofit was started, who or what the nonprofit is going to help, and how you’re going to help.
For your First Capital Campaign you only need a concise 3 minute version (”A Simple Formula” gives more specifics). This version is going to briefly tell about the new nonprofit you just started, why you started it, who you are going to help and why. Hone it down and practice it on a spouse or a friend several times and make sure it “flows” and compels people to want to be a part.
Step 2- Two Hours and $2K
Come up with a list of 20 to 30 of the most generous and willing to help a cause friends you know. Everyone knows at least that many people whether it is friends, family, co-workers. Remember to focus first on those that are most likely to help a good cause. It is also important to remember, you are not asking them for yourself, you are asking them on behalf of an organization that is going to make a huge difference in the community.
Schedule two uninterrupted hours that you can make phone calls in a quite place. If your using a cell phone make sure it is a place that has good reception. There is a brief idea for a script below, but take the wording and make it your own- like you would say it. Don’t fret, you simply have to go through the script (practice it so it does not sound like you are reading it). Then ask a quick question at the end and your off the phone.
Script
Here is the script:
You: Hi [person's name]. I was wondering if you had three minutes I could bother you and ask for you input?
{person says yes}
You: I will make it brief and appreciate you taking the time to listen.
{person says no}:
You: Ask them when you might call them back that they would have a couple minutes?
You: Tell your three minute story.
You: [Person's name] I am making a few phone calls to those people I believe I can count on that could donate $100 in the next couple days so that we can get our story printed on a brochure and website started. We have some fund raising scheduled to start in the next couple weeks and need to know we be able to put our best image forward to help [whatever your helping]. $100 is all I need from you and I appreciate our [friendship, relationship, etc] and that I can feel comfortable calling you and asking for your help. Could I count on you for this help?
{person} yes, how do I get the funds to you?
You: Thank you, I really appreciate it [tell them the name to make the check out to and how to get it to you, you might want to pick it up]
{person says no}
You: Hey, [persons name] thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule, can I count on you to help in the future when your able? [wait for response] Again thanks for the time, have a great day, I will keep you updated on our program.
Step 3- That’s it
You simply need to call 20 to 30 people and give them a quick 3 minute phone call asking for some quick help. Find twenty people that will help, spend 3 minutes on the phone, and you will have your $2k. Granted, some may not be able to help but now they know your story and you move onto the next person. Don’t make the phone call complicated or long. A concentrated 2 hours plus the time you take to develop your story and it is not hard to see you could have your funds. Make sure you put the funds into polishing your image with a design company that can make that image stand out.
Read “A Simple Formula” to begin getting the next phases of your fund raising efforts underway.
Best of fund raising! Let us know if we can help.
Purple Hearts Projects
Year in and year out a US soldier’s work is never done. We see their faces on the news, and read about their movements in the paper, but rarely do we have an opportunity to thank them. Purple Heart Projects makes that thank you easier than one could ever imagine. From simple donations, Purple Heart Projects puts together and mails care packages.
Purple Heart Projects is dedicated to helping military service members and their families, deployed and at home. We do that through organized projects that are designed to help ease the stress that soldiers and their families are placed under during periods of deployment, combat, recovering from wounds, and family issues. We are also committed to increasing awareness in our communities of the sacrifices that our soldiers and their families are making.
“We are constantly identifying areas that Purple Heart Projects can make life more normal and happy for service members who are fighting the war on terror, and their families.”- Carter Love
Mercy Ministries
Mercy Ministries, is focused on helping the young women in its care find healing and wholeness. Young women come to Mercy Ministries by choice because they want help. Mercy Ministries does not charge any young women for its services. I think this aspect of the program is very important because I have heard countless stories of girls going to rehab to seek help and as soon as their insurance runs out, they are sent home before they have fully healed.
