Fundraising and How to Add Fundraising Options to Events Senior Program Officer National Main Street Center Organization Typical Areas of Responsibility that All Lead to Successful Fundraising: Promoting the Program Selling Your MS Program Volunteer Development Recruitment and management strategies Fund Raising For Downtown projects and programs and your organization Before We Fundraise.. Before you ask for money reach into people s --- Minds Hearts then Wallets
Public Relations Inform People Stakeholder meetings General district or community Specific (Focus Groups) merchants, businesses, property owners, employees Key Partners (city, county, corporations) Community groups Civic / social / faith-based Neighborhood associations Use of Social Media FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc. Media relations TV, radio, newspapers, etc. Events Exposure at all downtown events Start by Promoting Your Purpose/Mission Is it clear to everyone what you do? Are your goals clearly articulated? Is it obvious what difference you make? Will they make a contribution or become a friend? Will someone attend your fundraisers because they believe in the work you are doing? How much do you need - for what? BUDGET Organization Design Econ/Restructuring Promotion Operations Communication Initiatives, tools Physical rehabilitation and Improvements Education and assistance Downtown Master Plan implementation Education and assistance to existing businesses and property owners Entrepreneurship development Events Image & branding campaigns Use work plans to define your budget and funding needs Let me know where Main Street intends to invest my money
Who Should Financially Support Downtown? 1. Property Owners 2. Local Residents & Consumers 3. Retail Business Owners 4. Service Business Owners 5. Financial Institutions 6. Utilities & Local Corporations 7. Municipal Government 8. County Government 9. Preservationists 10. Others Those who benefit from a revitalized downtown, should be proactively supporting revitalization efforts. Typical Funding Sources for Main Street City/Town (County) 25-50% BID, EID, DDA, etc. 30-50% Downtown business & building owners 15-20% Industries & financial institutions/utilities 25-40% Resident / private citizens 5-10% Fundraising Events (festivals/merchandise) 10-20% Develop Your Materials Let potential funders know how much of a difference their support will make Ask for their support Before, during or after an event Let them know ongoing support is needed too.
The Fundraising Plan Components of the Plan - Municipal contribution - Annual Pledge Drive - Friends of Main Street/Residents - Grants - Merchandise Sales - Sponsorships - Special Event and Special Project income - BID, DDA, TIF, EID (other assessment districts With Nonprofits every board member should make a contribution. Professionally and personally. How can you ask others for money if the board hasn t given? Funding Responsibilities Main Street Board of Directors Organization Committee Other Committees Fiscal responsibility for program s financial management Establishes PRIORITIES driven by vision and mission and ensures alignment between work plan and budget Leads &/or supports fund development (personal commitment, access to wealth) Develops and implements specific initiatives, events, and materials that foster funding for the Program. Partnership / Membership Campaigns Fundraising Events Develops and implements initiatives that foster funding for specific committee s efforts Supporting fundraising activities of the organization Main Street Staff Provides essential leadership support to board and committees with regards to developing and managing resources Main Street Staff Board Commitment to Raising Funds It s not all about making cold calls, nor staff doing it all Identifying contacts (businesses and individuals) Going on calls with others Developing materials Developing ideas and working at fundraising events Giving Nurturing funders (invite to annual meeting, ask for opinions)
Funding Message Is it clear to everyone that you need their support/investment? Use your communication tools to share your fundraising message goals, progress, achievements City/Town Funding Why should the City/Town fund Main Street? Economic Impact (business and job growth) Tax rate improvements Reduced municipal costs Main Street does work that the town otherwise would have to do or pay for Helping businesses to stay open/recruiting new ones Revitalization takes time Leverage public dollars with private money Increased volunteer base for the community Positive perception of the entire community Better goals toward a healthy economy
Assuring City/Town Funding Communications Educate (especially newly elected officials and key city staff) Promise and Performance (service agreements) Value added collaborations In-kind support from local govt. (do you track this?) The value of volunteer hours Present the expectation that they will continue to invest in the downtown with $$$ Starting the Annual Campaign Assign a Campaign Chair - Organization Chair - Board Chair (early organizer) - Local Celebrity/Wealth Ask every board member to make their personal contribution Set a Fundraising Goal Identify potential supporters, investors, members, etc. Split goal among categories Establish the timeline ideally 4-6 weeks Annual Campaign Steps Continued Prepare materials/campaign Assign Askers and Train Get two or three (board members or investors) to pledge significant gifts/challenge others Publicity and Kickoff Contact and Ask Thank and Celebrate Record, remind, renew Maintain database A systemic problem that stops organizations from successful fundraising is they are unable to state the obvious What difference do we make?
Friends of Main Street Benefits of a Healthy Commercial District for: Local Residents and Consumers Enhanced marketplace (better shopping and the benefits of shopping locally) ll Sense of pride in Downtown Social/cultural activities Opportunities to keep kids in town Sense of hometown community Opportunity to participate/volunteer Better communication Political advocate Home values increase Fundraising Letters Main Street Weekly & Samples in the Solution Center Fundraising Letters 10 Year Anniversary of their Main Street Program Combed records for anyone who ever supported their program
Personalize It Board Members should add handwritten notes Acknowledge past giving Challenge a peer Comment on their involvement downtown Write appropriate letters renewing/new supporters Create a Giving Event on Holidays Give today to the Heart of Biddeford Happy Thanksgiving from Heart of Biddeford Dear Kathy, We here at HoB are hoping that you and your family have a lovely Thanksgiving! We're also hoping that you are thankful for how much progress we have made downtown over the past 4 years! We are starting our annual fund raising drive and are hoping that you will support the Heart of Biddeford through the next year so that we can help bring: -MORE new businesses to Main Street -do MORE events downtown -do MORE projects to beautify the downtown area -do MORE to put Biddeford on the map -and, do MORE to make Biddeford an even better place to live, work, and shop! Please help us get off to a good start by donating online. CLICK HERE! *A donation of ANY size is greatly appreciated! Reward Levels of Giving
Solicit Businesses doing business in the District Ask businesses in the district to make a list of businesses they use and community organizations (trash haulers, uniform and carpet supplies, restaurant and beverage suppliers, contractors, planners, etc.) Have those businesses hand letters to those vendors, or mail with invoice payment.or go higher up. Explain the benefits for them to support your downtown organization Follow up with a reminder Sample Letter in Solution Center Letter for business Owners to send to their vendors Sample is available in the Solution Center on the NMSC web Page. Biggest Complaint from Investors/Supporters No Communication with Them! Be sure to: Invite them to annual meeting Send them an annual report Invite them to a special event Send thank you notes Send thank you notes Acknowledge supporters at event verbally and with banners Get your board to be intentional with them Invite them to a special donors reception and/or tour of the downtown
How Much Do Your Events Cost? In staff time? In volunteer time? In city time? In real dollars? In reputation? How can you earn income? Special Events and New Funding Break even or not? Sources of Event Funding: admissions activity fees booth fees retail package merchandise sales raffles sponsorships donations tying into others events Charging Admission $5 donation to Hampton Beach Seafood Fest 100,000 attend Easy entry for those who opt out of donating Partnering with Rotary Club
Components of income from a typical Fall Festival Main Street selling food and beverages (cider, apple pie, apple crisp) + vendors Scarecrow making Pumpkin sales Pumpkin carving and painting Raffles Pumpkin Boutique Talent show (Town Hall) Haunted forest Quilt show Food Vendors (rates increase as attendance increases) Fees to Nonprofits A Diamond Dig Can You Dig It? Local Jewelry Store Sponsor $10 for three scoops of sand, with a small spoon $25 for three scoops of sand with a small scoop Other gems are hidden too Participants must take their gems to the jewelry store to appraise it
Promotion Committee Fundraising Responsibilities Create revenue generating events Find sponsors for events Have events in the black before they happen Include administrative costs in budgets for all projects, including advertising Attempting to cover (some) staff costs for events Sponsorships Sponsorship monies come from marketing budgets Donations to support your Main Street Program typically come from Charitable Contribution Funds Sponsorships Find a way to meet the potential sponsor s needs Exposure to targeted audiences General visibility (presence at events, awards, MC, etc.) Affiliation with your group Mending fences
Sponsorships What you will need Quantification of impressions Offerings Good negotiating skills Detailed and early information one year in advance is not too soon Supporting Events on a Small Scale
Friends of the Festival $100 = 2 tickets, 2 T- shirt, 2 Pink Glasses, listing in program. This festival also allows people to attend for free if they volunteer for at least 4 hours. $15 admission or $20 day of the event. Added value to support in advance of the event. Merchandise Sales Serves more than one purpose: Fundraising Public Relations Promotion/Marketing Fundraising Events: Food Related Events with Fundraising Objectives
Offer Unique Items Timeshares Sports tickets Framed old post cards Billboard space Sports memorabilia at www.steinersports.com In-home chefs Historical Research Pampered day Free Professional services (will, tax prep, etc.) Beaufort Beauties Beaufort, SC $30 tickets Beauty Pageant Raised $18,000 Main Street partners with other three other non-profits to recruit beauties and provide volunteers. Main Street keeps 1/2 Special Projects Fundraising Identify projects that could raise new funds
Three Essential Ingredients for Successful Fundraising Events: 1. Clear purpose a. Fit with the mission of the organization b. Promote the organization s ongoing efforts and foster involvement c. Raise funds for more than the production of the event (program, projects) Three Essential Ingredients for Successful Fundraising Events: 2. Organizational Capacity because special events are some of the most common and perhaps most consistent funding sources for small nonprofits, they require (and sometimes drain or redirect away from other important efforts) a. Time: for planning, execution, and assessment Consider your calendar, the community s, other organizations b. People: Staff / volunteers to coordinate tasks for each event Current programs overall work load for staff and/or volunteers Avoid adding more responsibilities to your current volunteers, events should be used to recruit new volunteers (first for the event, then for other projects or committees, then for board) c. Partners in place or needing to build Media (promotion), municipality (services), businesses, organizations, etc. Three Essential Ingredients for Successful Fundraising Events: 3. Financial Capacity you either have to first recruit the money in order to make the event happen or have money to produce it and expect to raise additional funds. a. Capacity to produce the event pay for preparatory activities (deposits for entertainment, production of promotional materials, etc. As well as paying for the time from your staff to dedicate to the event planning and execution. b. Capacity to produce in addition to the event in addition to covering the costs for event production, the event must have fundraising potential for outlined projects or for operations.
Earned Income and Grants Investing idle money Endowments long term strategy Commitment to setting aside a percentage of all event income. Grants project specific BIDs (Business Improvement Districts DDAs (Downtown Development Authority) TIF (Tax Increment Financing EID (Economic Improvement Districts) URA s (Urban Renewal Authorities) A&E (Arts and Entertainment) Special Districts Q & A Please type questions in the chat box See you in Milwaukee! May 22 25, 2016 Senior Program Officer & Director of Coordinating Program Services National Main Street Center 53 West Jackson Blvd. Suite 350 Chicago, IL 60604 202 297 2893 KLaPlante@savingplaces.org www.mainstreet.org