‘What’s the best and the most painful part of your job?’, a volunteer happened to ask me a couple of years ago. And ever since, my answer remains the same. There are a lot of things I admire about being associated with a non-profit. But there is something that I dread too. At least until I learned the art of it – fundraising.
Whether you are a part of some organisation that is raising charity amounts for elephants or an individual who wants to kickstart a campaign for an evening school for underprivileged kids – you need to learn the art of fundraising.
So I thought, why not try and have tips from the organisation that is a living example of raising funds for the greater good. While AWAG has always believed in empowering women and teaching them skills for self-dependency; it has also partnered with established funding agencies over the years and made a difference in the lives of many. And thus a few tips from the horse’s mouth!
Chalk out your goal
The best way to start this is by writing down your goal – how much money you want to raise. It is alright to have a smaller intent, as far as it is realistic, it is acceptable. Once you go on and about with it and realise that you are doing well, you can always go back and change the figure. But having a clear idea will enable you to figure out as to what you need to do and what is your time frame.
Start with the inner circle, then expand!
If you are a social butterfly then it is easier for you to raise funds. That way, you might know more people than others. It’s a good idea to make a list of friends and family members whom you think can connect with your passion. Then you can think of others such as your neighbours, family doctor and influencing people in the society. The bigger your list, the more chances of raising more funds!
Personalise your passion
It takes a couple of minutes to punch in an email. But does it connect? I am afraid, not! But how about you write a personalized note to someone and explain your passion and interest?
At AWAG, we always send out personalized letters to people explaining the cause and we make it a point to follow up! In 2016 when we hosted a charity dinner for Valentine’s, we made it a point to give a personalized touch to everything. Right from invitations to dinner prep, everything was prepared in-house and voila! Our donors still bring it up that fundraising event after all these years.
Go online
With everybody on their cell phones most of the time, it’s best to connect with them through the internet. That’s why we put so much emphasis on using online tools and websites that help us showcase our work to the world. We have been with Global Giving for almost five years now and the response we have got is fab!
Pro tip: Try looking for fundraising websites / create a Facebook page or simply a blog that helps you share videos, photos, and stories of your work. The point is if it’s something good, let the whole world know!
Want to donate? Check out our Global Giving Page here!https://www.globalgiving.org/donate/30766/ahmedabad-womens-action-group/
Hatch new ideas
A couple of years ago, I met a guy on the train who was raising money for HIV patients. He just made me a request. “How about lending your drink to HIV patients?” I gave him a quizzical look and so he explained. “You skip your favourite drink today and donate the money for this noble cause”. I liked the idea! And I remember skipping coffee that day.
At AWAG, we created pop-up shops in society parks, outside malls to display products and raise instant funds. The idea is to not give it a deep thought; at times it is that simple.
So if you think that fundraising is the elephant in the room – it isn’t. And if you think that’s not something you can do, then give it a second thought. Surely it takes a little practice to show people your passion and help them relate with it. But it is not that difficult, after all! Because most noble people always understand that, “no one has ever become poor by giving”!