Step By Step Fundraising Newsletter
January 2007
In this issue -
- What's Your Vision?
- Top 15 Fundraisers!
Welcome to 2007 - a new year is upon us! This month I bring you
resources to get your year started off right.
No non profit organization should be without strong leaders with
a clear plan for the future. Heidi Richards brings us some valuable
insight into planning your vision so that it can guide your actions
this year, and beyond.
Feature Article: Planning the Vision of Your Non Profit Organization
by Heidi
Richards
Planning is essential (critical) to the success of any endeavor,
whether it be a for-profit or a not-for-profit organization. That’s
why so many organizations participate in planning retreats.
For retreats to be successful there are key factors that must
be included in the process. The following overview can be a guide
in getting the most out of the time you spend in the design of your
retreat.
1. Include key stakeholders. Representatives from
all aspects of the organization should be included in the process,
from staff to board to volunteers.
In order to create a team atmosphere and buy-in, key people need
to be involved. Those people that will help implement the plans
once set, as well as those who would influence buy-in from other
stakeholders in the organization.
2. On the first day, participants should reconnect
with the “mission” and vision of the organization. Discussions could
include who the organization serves, what the organization does
well, what could be improved upon, what are the hopes for the future.
3. On the second day - phase two - participants break into
small groups and recognize the organization’s potential for
positive influence and impact. Day two is a dream and deliver day.
What will the organization look like in ten years? What will the
world look like? What is the best we can hope for? How will we make
the best happen? After the small groups dream, they will deliver
their findings to the entire group.
4. After the dream and deliver phase, participants will
focus on creating the “plan” to incorporate the dreams into a strategy,
process and system to realize those outcomes established by the
participants. The Result: action-oriented statements about
how the organization will perform.
5. Stakeholders claim responsibility for each area
of the plan. When stakeholders take ownership, things happen. Once
this phase is complete, R & R is in order – reward and recognition.
Thanking stakeholders in advance can help to cement their commitment
to the tasks at hand.
Updated Top Fundraisers
If you're a long time reader of this newsletter and website you
may notice some changes! We've updated the website color scheme
and some of its features.
One of the special additions is an expanded "Top Fundraisers"
section. Here you'll find the top 5 suggestions for each of the
three fundraising categories.
Top
Fundraisers
Top
5 Fundraising Events
Top
5 Product / Sales Fundraisers
Top
5 Donation Request Fundraisers
If you have any questions or suggestions as always, just let
me know!
To Your Continued Fundraising Success,
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