No matter which way you look at it, community organisations need money to survive – but there is no one way to make this happen. Successful fundraising includes several streams of income, and is so much more than sausage sizzles and community grants.

For an organisation to be truly successful with their fundraising efforts, they need to think outside the square and be prepared to do some serious planning. There are 7 key income streams available to community groups, and a good fundraising plan will cover them all – Membership, Sponsorship, Donations, Enterprise, Community Grants, Contracts and Traditional Fundraising.

While each of these areas have different things you need to do and consider, some things are important right across the board. Here are our 5 Top Fundraising Tips:

1. Grow your Profile

People need to know who you are and what you do before they will give you their support. Raising your profile, raises your credibility – so make it a priority. Get into the habit of sending press releases, start a blog or hold an open day. Do whatever it takes to get your name out and about.

2. Ask

It’s that simple. In most cases, if you don’t ask, you won’t get. Most people are happy to help or support you if they can, but they don’t know what you need unless you tell them.

3. Spend Wisely

Always keep in the back of your mind that you are spending someone else’s money. Whether it’s from a sponsor, funder or donor – they gave it to you for a purpose – make sure you stay true to that. Ask yourself, if this was my donation, would I be happy for it to be spent in this way?

4. Build a Team

Your donors, sponsors, funders and volunteers are not just cheque books, they are real people who are actually a part of your team. Let them know what’s going on and how their contribution is making a difference. Give them opportunities to contribute in other ways as you go along.

5. Show Appreciation

Just because you think people should support you, doesn’t mean they actually have to. Always say a genuine thank-you to your donors, sponsors, funders and volunteers. If you don’t appreciate them, someone else will.

These tips come from Exult – a Tauranga organisation that provides practical resources for community groups right across the country. They provide workshops and seminars, training resources and an online network where organisations can access useful articles and templates. They are also responsible for producing Tonic Magazine (especially for community groups) and are the force behind the FREE Seriously Good Guide to Fundraising.

For more information about Exult, you can check out their website www.exult.co.nz or email tracy@exult.co.nz  .