FRIENDRAISING : The Key to FUNDRAISING

(What do you think?? Let me know)

Here’s my concept proposal to you:

I’d rather have Friends to my organization than Donors.

Yes, I’d rather have passionate, die-hard Friends to my cause than donors.

I know, I know – “Friends” are not going to keep your organization afloat.

You need more than friendship – you desperately need money! Now more than ever.

Here’s my question back to you:

If you had a bunch of passionate Friends for your organization – what would they do for your cause?

- They’d stick with you.

- They’d be loyal no matter what.

- They’d bring in other friends.

- They’d spread the word.

And when the going gets tough, where will your Friends be? When the going gets tough, your Friends will stick with you!

Right there with you, doing whatever they can do to keep your cause afloat.

Will your Friends give you money? Of course they’ll give money if they can.

So why don’t we focus on creating passionate Friends for our organization than just donors?

The #1 goal of fundraising is to make your donors as PASSIONATE about your cause as you are.

And Friendmaking is what creates passionate supporters.

I propose to you that friendmaking is a kinder, gentler, more fun and MUCH more effective approach than fundraising.

Friendmaking is a more SUSTAINABLE way to raise money, because it puts the emphasis where it needs to be – on the relationship with the individual person.

Most importantly – it seeks more out of the person than just money.

Friendmaking is a winning strategy because it treats donors like real PEOPLE and not like WALLETS.

Friendmaking is good manners because it asks for MORE than just money.

You are asking for the person’s help, their participation, their involvement, their good ideas. And then the money will come.

Try turning your current DONORS into your Friends.

Why don’t you focus on your current donors and make Friends out of them – so they’ll stick with you and renew their gifts.

Why don’t you approach your donors like family – like long-lost friends.

And over-communicate with them. Invite them to organisation events.

Give them behind the scenes tours of the organisation projects.

Give them special donor/briefings about what you are doing and the challenges your organization faces. Ask them to volunteer and help you out.

If you treat your donors like friends, they’ll give more and stick with you longer.

Friendmaking is simply a more successful way to do fundraising.

Fundraising is NOT just about asking for money – it’s about changing the world. When we make it all about money – we lessen our impact. We lower ourselves.

Changing the world has you standing high up on the hill, shining with purpose and light. You attract people and energy to you.

Seeking money puts you down in the swamp where fundraising is transactional – like buying and selling. It’s easy to repel people.

And good fundraising is emphatically never about money.

We are never just asking for money – we are asking someone to join us to make our community better – to solve a problem – to change or save lives.

Friendraising Creates Energy and Enthusiasm for the Cause

The BIG Q - All your talk about "friendraising" is great, but show me the money! My organization needs funding right now!

You're exactly right to focus on getting the funds that you need.

I don't know about you, but I don't like to be solicited without some introduction to the organization asking me. I like to be "friend-shipped" a bit.

It's sorta like asking someone out on a date; you can't just ask out of the blue.

I like to "friendship" my prospective donors before I ask them—and there are lots of ways to do this, to introduce them to the cause and see if they want to participate.

The more contacts you have with a prospective donor before the solicitation, the higher the gift from that donor.

The ultimate key to successful fundraising is this: Getting your donors as passionate about the cause as you are. If you can do that, then fundraising is a piece of cake.

Bottom line – stick with the old Fundraising adage: Involvement Leads to Investment.