The document provides an overview of nonprofit fundraising strategies and ideas. It discusses getting started with fundraising and developing a fundraising plan that includes setting goals and a calendar. It then outlines no-ask strategies like thank you calls and newsletters to keep donors engaged. Finally, it lists various fundraising ideas like events, product sales, recurring donations, direct outreach, and corporate gifts that can be used to raise funds both online and offline with both asking and non-asking approaches. The key is to tell compelling stories, maintain relationships, and engage donors through various ongoing efforts.

1. Nonprofit Fundraising
Getting Started: Simple Strategies & Fun Ideas

2. Agenda
1. Getting Started
2. Making Your Plan
3. No-Ask Strategies
4. Fundraising Ideas

3. 1. Getting Started

4. Getting Started
Why fundraise?
1. To get money for operations / programs
2. To raise awareness of your org
3. To develop an emergency fund

5. Getting Started
Fundraising facts:
1. Raising friends is a great way to raise money
2. Orgs must earn trust before people will donate
3. Fundraising is selling
4. Orgs must nurture their donors
5. Nonprofits have to ask for money at some point

6. Getting Started
Fundraising points to remember:
1. Don’t apologize when asking for funds (giving makes people feel good).
2. Relationships are key - they must be maintained (this takes time).
3. Storytelling is important - it helps build a strong case for support. (Web and
social media are great for this.)
5. Don’t depend on a small group, always increase your reach (Internet, personal
relationships, and social media).

7. 2. Making Your Plan

8. Making Your Plan
How to build a successful fundraising plan:
1. Develop a realistic budget. (What resources will be used to execute the plan?
What will it cost to execute the plan?)
2. Write the plan down, create a timeline.
3. Set your goal for the year. (How much do you need to raise? Is there a gap in
funding? Do you have initiatives you’d like to launch but can’t because you need
more money?)

9. Making Your Plan
What types of fundraising will you use?
Create a calendar for the year with timelines for each campaign type, and
fundraising / outreach goals for each one.

10. 3. No-Ask Strategies

11. No-Ask Strategies
Keeping in touch, storytelling that shows where donations go
1. “Thank you” calls
2. Hand-written notes
3. Donor-focused newsletters
4. Update videos
5. Annual report
6. Cards for birthdays and holidays
7. In-person meetings

12. 4. Fundraising Ideas

13. Fundraising Ideas
Events - Not 100% Ask-Based
Formal & Casual
Examples: Happy hour, sports event (watch party), dinner party, online auction,
or online gathering (webinars)
Events are are great way to raise funds and keep in touch - whether they are
happening online or offline. When you gather people in a place (virtual or IRL),
tell them about your org, its impact, and explain what you are trying to
accomplish. Tell them stories, show impact.

14. Fundraising Ideas
Events - Not 100% Ask-Based
Offline & Online
Offline: Ask local businesses to donate space for the events; ask board members
to host events (at their home or a location); ask volunteers to host events.
How to—with a low budget? Ask for in-kind donations (food, drink) to help make these events happen. Charge for tickets or
collect a suggested donation at the door (but make sure you have a really good door person)!
Online: Online campaign, Facebook Causes, Giving Tuesday. Funraise or Fundly
can help with online donations and online fundraising events.

15. Fundraising Ideas
Product Sales - Not 100% Ask-Based
Selling physical items is also a great way to raise funds.
Goods are sold, either in person or online, and then the org receives a percent of
the goods sold. Mugs, t-shirts, sweatshirts, etc., can be sold to raise funds. Try a
service, like Fundraiser Tee (you pay after the funds are raised). This can be also
be done through a program with a big brand. Ideas: Krispy Kreme, Yankee
Candles. Many big brands have programs like this.
How to—with a low budget? Make something to sell or ask people to donate items to sell

16. Fundraising Ideas
Recurring Giving - Ask-Based
Ongoing, monthly
Ask past donors, event attendees, new donors, etc., to donate monthly. Use a
subscription service to set up monthly gifts.
Subscription Service Example: Square for Nonprofits

17. Fundraising Ideas
Direct Outreach - Ask-Based
Phone Outreach, Email Campaigns, Snail Mail, Text
1. Reach out to past donors, like-minded individuals, recent grads, etc., asking
them to make a small donation (it doesn’t have to be a lot - $10). Also, ask them if
they would like to volunteer, or if they could recommend volunteers.
2. Contact fellow alumni, and ask them to make a small donation to your org, and
to recommend volunteers. Alumni associations could also help.
Text platforms, like OneCause/Txt2Give, are becoming popular.

18. Fundraising Ideas
Special Gifts, Corporate Donations and Grants
In addition to fundraising campaigns, orgs should also set up a corporate
fundraising strategy - while applying for grants and sending requests to contacts
for special gifts from donors and friends of the org (unplanned, spontaneous
donations) throughout the year.

19. Thank you!
Hope this helps
you get started!
Kelly Ann Collins