Saad & Shaw :: News You Can Use


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News You Can Use

Saad & Shaw partners with newspapers and publications across the country to provide readers with FUNdraising Good Times a weekly column written for the diversity of people involved with fundraising - board members, staff, executives, volunteers, alumnae... It provides easy to read and vital information that can be hard to come by. It's our way of giving back. If you know of a newspaper in your community who might be interested in carrying the column, please let us know.

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Prerequisites for Success - Part One
Learn what you need to know to conduct a successful fundraising campaign. Fundraising requires much more than a willingness to ask others for funds. Fundraising requires commitment, completion of a fundraising assessment and feasibility study; a time-phased fundraising plan; and a compelling case for support. Learn the details and see how your organization measures up and how you can improve your fundraising. Part One of a two-part series.

Prerequisites for Success - Part Two
Fundraising success depends upon volunteer leadership. While staff members can facilitate fundraising activities, those organizations with strong fundraising programs depend upon a well-trained team of volunteers who solicit funds and in-kind services. Financially healthy organizations are known for their powerful development committees, their donor recognition programs, and the ways in which they attract publicity and donors. Learn how your organization can train and attract volunteer fundraisers. Part Two of a two-part series.

Marketing your Organization: Everything you Ever Wanted to Know About Creating your Case for Support
Learn how to create or revise your case for support. Saad & Shaw share the basic ingredients needed to create a compelling case for support. Communicate where your organization is headed and what it will cost to get there. Proactively answer questions that donors and funders need answered before they can make a decision regarding whether or not to give and how much to give. Two part series.

To Hire or to Plan – That is the Question… A Two-Part Series
Do you hire fundraising staff or do you create a fund development plan? Which action comes first? Does it matter? You bet it does! Learn the benefits of creating a fund development plan before you hire fund development staff. Get the most out of your fund development hires. Reduce turnover by hiring to the criteria of your fund development plan. Find the secret to hiring in a competitive market. Increase productivity. Know your evaluation criteria before you hire. Learn what needs to be included in your fund development plan so it can be used to help guide hiring decisions.

Creating a Fundraising Plan - Part One
Fundraising is all about planning and preparation. A fund development plan orchestrates your volunteers and resources and coordinates all activities. Having a fundraising plan is key fundraising success. Learn how to determine your financial goal. Make sure you define the costs associated with fundraising. Determine your organization's capacity to raise money. Find out how to plan for diverse streams of revenue. Part One of a two-part series.

Creating a Fundraising Plan - Part Two
Learn the power of the fund development team. Successful fundraising requires coordination, training, and well-defined roles and responsibilities for staff, board members and volunteers. Document what is required of all fundraisers, provide them with training, and meet regularly as a development team. Hold each other accountable, strive to meet and beat your goals and have fun as you identify and solicit donors. Part Two of a two-part series.

What Do You Mean? – Fundraising Lingo Explained
Learn the secret language of fundraisers. Gain a working knowledge of fundraising terms. Learn the difference between an annual campaign and a capital campaign. A lead gift and a major gift.

Corporate Sponsors – More Than Money. When a corporation uses its creativity and marketing resources it can make a great impact on a non-profit.

When Is The Right Time to Fundraise? Learn the answer to this common question. And learn the important role of your case for support. What are you raising money for? Will people give during challenging economic times?

Sponsorship, Sponsorship, Sponsorship. It’s all about partnering. What does your institution have to offer that will help a sponsor meet their business objectives? What is your brand? Learn the seven things to consider as you evaluate and grow your sponsorship program. (insert link to article.)

The FUNdraising Doctor Is In A Two-Part Series
If the board of directors is responsible for an organization’s financial health, how do you measure the health of the board? Learn the nine symptoms of board health and the eight symptoms you need to look out for. Increase the fundraising health of your board.

Outsourcing Your Fundraising
Do you wish you could just outsource your fundraising so you could get on with the “real” work of your organization? In most cases this is wrong thinking. Fundraising should be woven into the full fabric of your organization. But strategic use of fundraising consultants can make a real difference in the financial health of your organization or institution. Learn the 10 things to keep in mind when hiring a fundraising consultant. Find out the 10 benefits and 10 challenges to working with consultants.

It's A Numbers Game: Creating Your Prospect/Gift Chart
Fundraising is an art and a science. The gift chart is part of the science of fundraising. Learn how to create your own gift chart based on your campaign goal. Make sure you are identifying and cultivating enough prospective donors to meet your fundraising goals. Article includes an example and the prospect-to-gift ratios to be used. The gift chart is finally demystified.