New Kid on the Block: Taking Over a Fundraising Event
Have you ever found yourself in the position of inheriting a fundraising event? This can be scary and exciting at the same time. A recent article at fundraisingIP.com talked about ways to make your transition to fundraising leader a smooth one so that your first event can be successful. Here’s my take on some tips from that article, as well as some of my own:
Understand your organization’s needs before you set goals. You might have a really cool idea to raise a bunch of money for an innovative service or program, but is that what the agency really needs right now? Find out (1) how much money the organization needs, (2) for what, and (3) when it is needed. Only then should you set goals for your fundraiser.
Get to know your organization’s people-power and other resources. How many employees and volunteers are available for your event? What are their specific skills and how can they be matched to the tasks involved in planning this event? What businesses are willing to offer discounted or in-kind products and services? After you’ve determined your agency’s resources and talents, you can start delegating tasks to the perfect people to complete them.
Dissect previous fundraisers. Find out exactly how much was spent and how much was raised at previous fundraisers as well as how the money was used. Also talk to those who worked on those past events – both employees and volunteers – to find out what worked, what didn’t, and why. Then when you are planning for this fundraiser, you will know what to do again, what to do differently, and which ideas to discard.
Find a balance between leadership and humility. You are the new fundraising leader for this organization, so it’s important to instill confidence and excitement in your fundraising team with your leadership qualities. That being said, you are still the new kid on the block, so it’s also important to be humble and appreciate that there are others there who know more about the organization than you do at this time. Thank your fundraising team and tap into its knowledge and experience – the team will appreciate you for doing so and your event will be all the better for it.
Have you been the new kid on the block? Post a comment to this blog and tell us about your experiences.
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