Most people who need to do a little fundraising aren’t seasoned pros. But why not think like the experts when you set out on your quest to raise money for your schools, teams and other causes?
You likely don’t have time (or the desire) to read an entire book on the subject of fundraising. But the publisher of “Fundraising for Dummies” has provided an online “cheat sheet” featuring the authors’ main points. Here are a couple tips to keep in mind when creating a great pitch to present to your soon-to-be-energized donors.
- Make it clear. “Be concise and focused in your mission statement, goals, objectives, and program information,” the authors advise.
- Make it urgent. Why should people help TODAY?
- Make it interesting. Tell a story. For example, if you’re raising money for a team trip, talk about your team, your passion for your sport, your hopes for the season, etc.
- Don’t overdo it. You can only tug so hard on someone’s heartstrings. Don’t pull them off. People need those. Wait, what are heartstrings?
- Do your homework. What exactly will the donor’s money be going toward?
- Include a call to action. Provide an easy way for people to help.
One more thing: When you’re fundraising with Swagger Card, it’s important to understand all the cool things a Swagger Card has to offer so you can explain how it works to people, and they can exclaim “Wow! I get to pick 12 discounts and use them for an entire year?! Sign me up!” So make sure to watch the short video on our website so you feel confident when you approach donors.
Good luck, and swagger on.