Here’s a short note on a news article that caught my attention over the weekend. 

Later this year 46 mothers will converge on Union Station in Washington, DC.  During rush hour they’ll have their heads shaved while spreading the word about children’s cancer.

Why 46?  Because everyday 46 children die of cancer.

Why shave their heads? This is a fundraiser for St. Baldrick’s Foundation. 

From St. Baldrick's Foundation website (Anne Jones Photography)

After visiting their website I discovered that this is how the Foundation raises money for children’s cancer research: Men and women – usually parents of children with cancer – volunteer to have their heads shaved.

It certainly increases awareness!

Needless to say this is a worthy cause.  However I don’t share the information for the primary purpose of helping St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

I’m sharing this information because this charity has a created a dramatic way to raise funds that directly ties to the beneficiaries of their mission.  Cancer patients – depending on the treatment they receive – lose their hair. Donors and volunteers get pledges to give up their hair and to raise money for cancer research.  It’s a smart connection.

Also, their website it set up nicely for people from around the country to organize their own fundraising event.  Or if there’s an event planned in their area they can EASILY join in. 

It’s a good example of grassroots fundraising.  It’s a good example of a passionate and effective way for people to volunteer and know that they’re making a difference.  Oh, and barbers can also volunteer to shave heads!

The one question I didn’t see answered was this: What happens to all the hair? There may be legal limits on what they can do with it.  But the question came to mind because I know of at least one charity that uses human hair to make wigs for children with cancer.  It seems like a logical connection to me.

Anyway … look at their website.  It may give your charity some solid ideas on grassroots fundraising; how to use your website to help volunteers organize events; FAQs; tools to provide; and so on.

————-
Note about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation from their website:

What began as a challenge between three friends on March 17, 2000, has grown into the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising opportunity benefiting childhood cancer research.

The first St. Baldrick’s event took place at Jim Brady’s Bar and Restaurant in New York City. Over the past 10 years, more than $95 million has been raised to fund the most promising research to fund cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. The Foundation raised over $22 million in 2010 alone.

National Volunteer Week is less than one month away: April 10 – 16, 2011.  Are you ready? 

Established in 1974, the goal of National Volunteer Week is to inspire, recognize and encourage citizens to find ways to help their communities . . . to strengthen communities.

This is not only an opportunity for charities, but also for associations and companies.  Below are ideas and resources to help all three make the most of this special week.

Associations
If your association members are scattered across the country, give them resources on where they can go to volunteer.  Help them find charities.  And suggest causes that have some connection or relevance to your association if at all possible.  Go here for help in organizing your members for National Volunteer Week. 

Don’t stop there.  Make it easy for them to tell you what they’re doing (e.g., send an email or post a comment on a blog).  Encourage them (maybe even give them an incentive) to take photos and send them in to you.  Publicize what your members have done via a press release, email to members, and on your website.

Companies
Today companies of all sizes are seeking ways to expand their community service contributions.  As a charity, reach out to local businesses and invite them to participate.  And this link has resources to help companies get things rolling on their own. 

Charity Promotional Campaign Highlights
Your direct mail letter is probably about to drop if it hasn’t already been mailed.  Perhaps you’re even sending a postcard in a few weeks as a reminder in addition to email campaigns.

And naturally you have a dedicated area on your Facebook page about your activities, how people can sign-up, and how they can spread the word to their networks.  You are also busy publishing periodic updates and reminders on Facebook, Twitter, and any other social media site.

There’s also a spot on your website home page – ideally above the fold – with an eye-catching headline or graphic.  Visitors click and are redirected to a dedicated landing page with all the details of your 2011 volunteer week opportunities.

Already have a mobile list?  Then send out text messages to your list.  Promote your volunteer event and get them to sign up.  Include text message reminders just before the event kicks off.

Also give thought to advertising your volunteer event(s) on the web and the mobile web.  And at the events, grow your lists by making it easy for people to opt-in to your email and mobile lists.

Don’t forget to consider how you’ll engage people too far away to attend an event! 

For example: Your organization is a senior care facility and you have supporters half-way across the country.  Encourage them to record short stories and send them to you in an .mp3 file that residents of your facility can listen to.  Any donor who paints, draws, or is a skilled photographer can send a framed picture they created to hang on the wall of a senior’s room.  Give supporters several ideas that require “time” and not merely purchasing something to send.  Maintain the volunteer spirit.

Finally, do your best to get some publicity.

- Issue a press release in advance of National Volunteer Week with your plans and how people can learn more (link to unique landing page on your website). 

- Take video of people volunteering during the week.  Collect comments from volunteers AND from those directly benefiting from the work.  Then combine the two and publish a short video on your YouTube channel and your website after day 2 of National Volunteer Week.  Also publish another press release. Perhaps you’ll get more volunteers as a result of the additional publicity.  In any case it will help raise awareness of your cause.

- Create another video after the week is over.  Publish this “wrap up” video along with a story in your newsletter, article on your website and link to it in an email, and send out a final press release.  Include an invitation to volunteer again in 2012!

More Resources
Need ideas?  The National Service Resources organization has lots of ideas on their website. 

For example: Perhaps you’re a veteran and you want to help other vets in need.  Or you have a deep appreciation for the sacrifices veterans make and you want to give something back to them or their families . . . this page has many ways you can help veterans. 

Located in the USA?  The Points of Light Institute and the HandsOn Network are resources to tap as you plan and execute your volunteer activities.  The HandsOn Network is considered by many as the country’s leading volunteer organization.  They offer training, resources and networking opportunities to help your organization or company give volunteers meaningful service opportunities.

Nonprofits and government agencies: Explore this section of the HandsOn Network website.

Located in Canada?  The Volunteer Canada website is the resource for you.
 

Make the most of National Volunteer Week 2011.  It’s worth the effort because high percentages of volunteers convert to donors if you cultivate and nurture the relationship right.  Volunteer activities don’t have to be elaborate.  Just do something to engage volunteers.

I came across three articles from the news worth sharing.  They’re all interesting and sometimes fun sources of revenue for charities.

1 – Hewlett-Packard (HP) has changed its corporate giving policy.

HP’s new policy means they’ll not only give money to charity, but also “…the expertise of its employees to build solutions for nonprofits.”  No doubt about the fact that receiving their expertise has considerable value!

One example cited (article by VentureBeat.com) was for the NGO “mothers2mothers” in South Africa.  By collecting and sharing data via basic mobile phones, they can serve more patients.  Ultimately this means they reduce the HIV-transmission rates from pregnant women to their child.

HP focuses on education and health.

Takeaway:  Is your mission related to education or health?  Does HP know about you?

2 – Get a drink, help a charity

“Since early December, Eldon’s Restaurant in Sioux City, Iowa has taken on a guest bartender every Thursday night.  That bartender chooses a charity and Eldon’s donates 20% of bar profit, and sets out tip jars, with that money going to the charity.” (KTIV.com news article)

Apparently it is standing room only and folks enjoy helping while they socialize, and the bartenders don’t have to be pros (e.g., radio hosts scheduled to be guest bartenders).  Oh, and it’s mostly up to the bartender to spread the word and draw in the people.

Takeaway: Is there a restaurant in your area that’s willing to get publicity, help a cause, and draw in more customers? 

3 – Springtime Sweethearts Charity Zip Wire Challenge

This particular event takes place in the UK in February.  The special event is organized by The Stroke Association and the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund.  Two charities encourage companies and individuals to form teams that raise money for the charities. 

Sounds like this zip wire (zip line) is fairly high up.  Challengers tackle the 250m (that’s 820 feet or about 0.16 miles long) zip wire off the Imperial War Museum North.  The biggest zip-line I’ve dared to try is only about 30 yards long and a few feet off the ground.  I’d definitely be a spectator at this event in the UK.

Takeaway:  Could you team up with another nonprofit (charity or association) and organize a fun event for people?  If you don’t like the idea of a zip-wire/zip-line, how about a go-cart race?  Or if your charity has anything at all to do with aviation (and many do), have a toy airplane flying contest.  Make them out of paper, balsa wood, or whatever you choose.

Consider every opportunity to raise funds.  Perhaps suggest ideas to businesses (e.g., bartender fundraising, contests on just about anything … including zip-line challenges).  And be on the lookout for surprises like the three examples I cited here today.  Perhaps you can join in.

There are many diverse ways for charities to get help: money, gifts-in-kind, plus expertise and services.  And they come in a wide variety of ways as today’s post illustrates.

This is the holiday season so I’m only writing one blog post this week.  Today’s post is based on two news articles I read recently.  The headline “hints” at the subject of each article.

On to the news . . .

News Story #1: A New Decade for Women-Focused Philanthropy (Huffington Post)

Every heard of the giving circle “Dining For Women?”  It’s based on a giving method that’s hundreds of years old: mutual aid societies.  A 21st-century term — in addition to “giving circle” — might be “parties with a purpose” in the words of the news article.

How does it work? The concept is women helping women help themselves. (Hmm. Diagram that sentence!)  The founder and president, Marsh Wallace, launched the movement in 2003.  Basically women meet for dinner; hear a presentation about the needs of a charity serving women in a developing country; and then donate to the charity.

“Dining For Women” brings in an average of “… $25,000 per month for one of a dozen charities.”  There are 160 dining chapters in 39 states and 3 countries.

Why do I share this?  Could your charity benefit by a partnership with Dining For Women?  Or could you mirror their model to periodically raise funds for your local or regional charity?  Just host dinner sessions in your local area and not worry about starting a national movement.  It might work for those of you whose mission is local as opposed to helping women in developing countries.

News Story #2: Crowdsourced Philanthropy: If You Ain’t Cheatin’, You Ain’t Tryin’ (Huffington Post)

To quote the article, “Crowdsourced Philanthropy is the buzzword for an online voting competition that determines the distribution of grant money to good causes.”  Winning depends on getting enough votes.

The author of the article (who works for DoSomething.org), isn’t too keen on these competitions.

 - They tax a charity’s resources.  The charity must repeatedly rally its supporters to vote … often in lieu of other calls to action.

- The competition can be “gamed.”  It’s possible for less-than-honorable nonprofits to gain an edge unfairly.  Dishonesty is rewarded.  And when the prize is a sizable grant (in one case it was $500,000), the temptation to cheat (or at least bend the rules) is high.

The article shares — in considerable detail — four ways these online voting competitions can be gamed.  

Why do I share this?  Do your homework BEFORE you consider entering your charity into any crowdsourced philanthropy competition.  Make certain the competition is designed to prevent the four cheating methods described by the news article.

I hope these two articles are useful to you.  The first article as an idea to raise funds for a charity serving women.  The second article as a caution.  Don’t enter poorly designed competitions.  Don’t tax your organization when your honest efforts can be easily undermined by a less-than-honorable nonprofit.  And sadly, they do exist.

Have a safe and enjoyable New Years Eve celebration.  I’ll see you again in 2011. 

UPDATE: Dec 14, 2010 (Idea #7 at end of post)

During this past week I’ve come across six examples of creative fundraising.  Perhaps a few may even fit the category of guerilla fundraising.  In any event these are six ideas worth sharing.

Below you’ll find a link to each news story and a synopsis of the article.  Your challenge is to remain open-minded about how you might do something similar. 

1 – Trivia contest will aid food charity: Several businesses in town are participating as food drop-off centers for a local pantry – the Shepherd Center.  People must come to the stores/businesses to collect answers to trivia questions.  When they have all 12 answers they mail in their entry form to the newspaper for a drawing – either a trip or a gift card at a grocery store.

Takeaway: You don’t have time to organize this for the holiday season, but could your food bank / pantry do something like this for another holiday?  Valentines Day, Easter, or Mother’s Day? 

Or could a museum team with the historical society to raise funds for a project?  Get businesses to fund the prize; people pay an entry fee; solve the puzzle and are eligible for the prize drawing.  Get creative!

2 – Morgan Stanley Smith Barney “Perspectives in Philanthropy Gift Catalog” :  “Many of our clients are looking for advice on how to make their giving more impactful and they are turning to us for advice,” said Melanie Schnoll-Begun, Managing Director of Philanthropic Services, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.  This company uses a gift catalog to showcase meaningful gifts and funding opportunities.  In includes a wide spectrum of 20 nonprofit organizations. 

Takeaway: Can your nonprofit get listed in next year’s catalog?  Or if you’re a small local or regional nonprofit, can you team with a financial planner locally to suggest your nonprofit as an investment option? There are several companies besides the one featured in this article. And don’t forget insurance agents because many of these companies also offer investment services.

3 – Concertgoers getting ticket to philanthropy: Musician Dave Matthews is testing an idea in Seattle in partnership with the website JustGive.  Matthews hopes it will inspire more charitable giving. 

“Matthews is letting fans direct the proceeds of two upcoming Seattle shows to the charities of their choice. Every ticket is matched with an equal donation to philanthropy.  For each ticket sold, the buyer will receive a credit back for the full $150 ticket and handling price to apply to any of the 1.5 million charities in JustGive’s database.”

Takeaway:  If not already, then become a member of JustGive.  And if you are a member, are you encouraging your donors in this geographic area to attend the concert?  Or encouraging donors to give someone else the gift of a concert ticket and a donation in their name to your charity?

4 – Philanthropy gives books to Africa’s students:  A fraternity at Iowa State University is giving students another way to get rid of old textbooks – about 80-90% of which end up sitting on a shelf or packed away somewhere.  Pages of Promise, a philanthropy of ACACIA fraternity partners with Books for Africa in St. Paul, Minn., to ship and distribute the books among the libraries and universities in Africa. 

It’s an alternative option for students to give their books to underfunded schools, universities and libraries in Africa to improve literacy.

Takeaway: Can your college, university, fraternity or sorority also partner with “Books for Africa?”  Or if your nonprofit works with the very poor overseas (including any form of education or literacy), could you team with a college or university somewhere to get more quality books for the people you help?  What do other schools in your area – elementary, middle and high school – do with their old textbooks?

5 – Intentional Chocolate™ Provides Sweet Relief to nonprofit, USA Cares:  This chocolate maker “… has partnered with USA Cares pledging a 20% donation of net profits to the military charitable organization serving post-9/11 service members, veterans and their families.”  Intentional Chocolate will donate 20% of net profits up to one million dollars. 

USA Cares helps veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) by relieving them of the financial burden of maintaining their households while they seek in-patient treatment.   One reason this partnership is so strong is that Jim Walsh, CEO of Intentional Chocolate knows how difficult TBI can be. At the age of 32, he suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Takeaway: What partnering opportunities can you find?  What CEO or business owner can you connect with by effectively sharing your story through speaking engagements, press releases, social media, grassroots supporters, and so on? 

Depending on your mission, it might make a lot of sense to ask people who have experiences similar to those you help to contact you. There may be some very unique ways they can help you – spokesperson or even matching gifts such as International Chocolate is doing.  Opportunities exist on local, regional, national and international levels for nonprofits of all sizes.

6 – Red Sox baseball and philanthropy: The Red Sox Foundation selects 25 economically disadvantaged fifth graders from public school each year. The students receive tutoring, mentoring, after school enrichment and summer camp assistance through the 12th grade, culminating with a $10,000 college scholarship.

Takeaway: Are you located anywhere near a professional sports team?  Do you know what charities they support?  As shown by this article they don’t all focus on national programs, but also look to their local community.  This is because their fans that buy tickets to live events are from the local area.   Consider assembling a press kit / marketing kit to share with them.  Yes it needs to be well written, but I doubt they’ll expect glossy 4-color brochures from a small local nonprofit.  Take the approach of helping their fan base.

For example:  Do you help underprivileged kids in any way?  Maybe you can get a batch of tickets donated so the youth can attend a game.  Great PR opportunity for you and the sports team.

That’s all for now!  Creative fundraising opportunities abound.  Just be open-minded and don’t hesitate to ASK.  And remember, you’re not always asking for a direct donation.  Nonetheless, the right partnership can lead to more donors and fundraising as you work together to spread the word.

UPDATE Dec 14, 2010 – Idea #7:  Today I found another possible source of funding for nonprofits.  I came across this resource on Twitter and haven’t heard anything about it one way or the other.  But it seems worth checking out.  “Credit Cares” is the name of the company founded by Heidi Anderson.  And Credit Cares is a Division of Electronic Commerce International (a registered ISO/MSP of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Walnut Creek, CA).

To quote what’s on the website: “Through her numerous volunteer experiences with many non-profit organizations Heidi developed a strong desire to make it easier for non-profits to raise money in a way that benefits everyone without costing anyone.  Heidi created Credit Cares so businesses could contribute to their favorite cause directly from the monthly processing fees they already pay without paying any additional fees and possibly even saving money.”

Think selling ice cream is only for small-time fundraising events?  I found an example of creative fundraising that will “treat” the charity to a tasty amount of revenue.

Photo from Terence Ong via Wikimedia Commons

A Florida restaurant is hosting “Scoops for Success” to raise funds for the charity, Dress for Success.  The chef has two ice cream creations for the event, and all proceeds from these desserts will go to the charity.

This event ties in with National Ice Cream Month.  It’s fun, creative, and certainly seasonal.

Consumers and donors beat the heat with ice cream.  And at the same time help women in the neighborhood beat the odds by giving them resources to become employed.  Such a cooperative cause marketing effort also raises awareness for Dress for Success in addition to raising funds.

Last week I wrote a blog post on this very topic.  I pointed out that “… There are hundreds if not thousands of special observances [such as Nat'l Ice Cream Month] throughout the year that can provide ideas for you.  Get creative.  Have fun.”

I also emphasized how these observances can help you build stronger donor relationships.  Donor cultivation is important anytime of year.  Yet during the summer when you MAY not be as active with your fundraising, it’s an ideal way to keep your donors engaged. 

Click here for many more ideas on using special observances to further your cause.

This model helps three different audiences: 1) locally-owned businesses; 2) professional women; and 3) local nonprofits.

Carol Arnott of Greenville, Delaware, does a great job of helping all three groups grow and succeed.  She founded NEWS4Women with a focus on networking events that build relationships (as opposed to exchanging business cards with the same speed and randomness as dealing a deck of cards).

NEWS4Women was founded in September 2008, and Arnott now has 1,400 people on her distribution list.  That’s certainly an example of good growth.

How does it help nonprofits?

Once a month her signature event – Wine4Women – is held at a different locally owned business that raises money for a local nonprofit.  It’s a networking mixer.

“It’s a great opportunity for women to learn from one another, to support one another and to support the community at the same time,” says Arnott.

The fundraising for the local charity is an example of grassroots fundraising (or peer-to-peer fundraising).  They try to support lesser-known charities that could use a boost of support.  The charity gets exposed to a new group of prospects – including some locally influential people – and as I understand it a portion of the ticket price goes to the charity.

Arnott added that “…my vision is that someday this will be a national organization.”

Perhaps your nonprofit can get in on this fundraising and donor acquisition opportunity.  Arnott is already looking to expand into Pennsylvania.  And her website is ready to add other chapters.

Everyday people are also great celebrity fundraisers.  Lauren Leffler isn’t a movie star, a famous pro athlete, a popular politician or anything of the kind.  She’s quite simply a person dedicated to helping a good cause in her own unique way.

Her story is an example of a special fundraising event with the potential to receive a tremendous amount of press coverage without the benefit of a famous celebrity.  Oh, and later in this post I also share how this event could be even better.  But first . . .

What is Leffler doing?

She’s riding her bicycle across America this April.  In fact, she started her 4020 mile journey last Saturday, March 27 in San Francisco.

In a telephone interview with The Daytona Beach News-Journal Leffler said, “If I’m going to bike across America, I might as well do it for a good cause.”  Leffler is a 4th-year medical student at the University of South Florida.  

How did she choose the Shriners Hospitals for Children as the beneficiary of her trek?  They inspired her decision to focus on pediatric orthopedics as her life’s work.

“Having rotated through many hospitals and institutions throughout my schooling, I have yet to come across another that is quite like Shriners. This organization is amazing! From caring for burns to correcting club feet, the good they accomplish for children is unparalleled, all for free,” says Leffler.

Look at an example of a pretty good grassroots special event fundraising page on the Shriners Hospitals website.   You’ll find ways to donate, a fundraising graphic on the campaign’s progress, and also a letter from Leffler sharing her story where she issues all of us a catchy challenge: 

“I will be ecstatic with any donation you are willing to give, but I would like to propose a challenge. The route I have planned in this adventure across America is projected to be 4020 miles long. My challenge to you would be to join the “Penny-a-Mile” club; that is, to donate a penny for every mile that I ride. Of course, if you would like to create your own “nickel-a-mile,” or dime or dollar club, that would be all the better!”

Also note that her goal is to raise $40,200 which ties neatly to her 4020 mile long journey.

This is an event that can easily catch fire and go viral: Leffler is doing all this on her own initiative.  She has a connection to the charity.  It’s a unique story more of the media is very likely to pick up.  I’m sure Shriners is working on publicity.  And all of us can help by using our own social media networks and communities. 

How could this fundraiser get better?  How can its chance for success be improved?

• Set up a blog to monitor Leffler’s progress across America
• Have a map showing her route and where she is at the end of each day
• Leffler could use a smart phone to connect to the web (e.g., email, Facebook, Twitter) and send daily anedotes of her trip.  Even stories of racing to get away from dogs nipping at her heels.  Getting soaked in a rain storm.  Chats with people along the way cheering her on. 
• Leffler can use the phone to take photos and videos for uploading to her own page on FlickR and YouTube
• Shriners could also use mobile marketing to text updates to their donors, have mobile ads, use text to give, and more!

Simple things like this – easily supported by Shriners – would go a long way to keep supporters engaged, add fun, and increase the odds of it going viral.  And that means more money raised!

What grassroots fundraising efforts are you inspiring?  Where can you find your everyday celebrities?  How can you make it easy for your supporters to help you?

And if you want to answer Leffler’s challenge, click here to donate and pledge.

Have you ever tried to create an online appeal (e.g., email or video) so it goes viral?  If yes, the odds are that it didn’t happen.

Rarely can we force or manipulate an appeal to become viral.  It’s just something that happens naturally within the market.  It’s the right message . . . right time . . . right place . . . and the right tools to help it spread.

In this case the right message was a child’s sincerity.  Charlie Simpson lives in London.  He used the JustGiving website to announce his fundraising event for UNICEF and the Haiti earthquake victims.

What was his event?  Riding his bicycle around and around the park.

I’d say Charlie is also an example of a Super Volunteer, even though he and his parents never dreamed so much money would be raised.  He’s an “accidental” but welcome super volunteer.

Here’s Charlie’s original message on JustGiving:

A note from Charlie:

My name is Charlie Simpson, I want to do a Sponsored Bike Ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives.  I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti.

I am going to cycle around South Park as many times as possible…. (at least 10 laps, I hope!). Please can you sponsor me and all your money will go to UNICEF who are collecting for Haiti.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH!

Charlie.

It’s a neat story and I encourage you to read more.

It began by UNICEF successfully sharing its message to the community; how they were helping but needed donations to continue; specific information on what was being done and how donors’ money would be used.

Write compelling copy with information donors want.  Do this and you may enjoy the help of a super volunteer – your own Charlie Simpson – and an exciting viral grassroots fundraising campaign for your wonderful charity.

Super Volunteer

A research study by Blackbaud has revealed a relatively new group of fundraisers known as “Super Volunteers.” 

This is grassroots fundraising that costs the nonprofit organization next to nothing!  It engages donors in a way that’s exciting and rewarding for them so you also generate more donor loyalty. 

Talk about a win-win scenario.  Donors win because they’re helping in a very tangible and personal way.  And nonprofits win because you receive more revenue, acquire new donors you may not have ever found, and the cost of fundraising for these events was super low – between $0.10 and $0.15 per dollar raised. 

How is all this being done?  Passionate supporters organize and run Independent Fundraising Events (IFE) on behalf of a charity they love.  Your Super Volunteers do what you may not be able to do: Hold a fundraising event that reaches into countless communities across the country.

Results are impressive and include… 

• An estimated $300 million was raised in 2008 in the United States from IFEs
• The recorded cost of fundraising for these events was between $0.10 and $0.15 per dollar raised.  That’s likely to be lower than any other traditional fundraising tactic you’re using. 
• For the Lance Armstrong Foundation, grassroots fundraisers raised over $3.8 million with almost no cost to the organization.  And the average independent fundraiser raised more than $3,200 compared to the average $500 raised by participants in the organization’s signature event.
• An IFE program offers a deeper level of engagement with your strongest supporters.
• “64 percent of the IFE participants surveyed reported that they were first-time fundraisers for the organization. Most are directly impacted by the cause they support and are looking to take action in a more personal way than is available through the organization’s traditional event offerings.”

Engage your own “Super Volunteers”

Conclusions and recommendations Blackbaud shares in its report include:

• IFEs represent a growing revenue source
• Nonprofits should “find better ways to cultivate these fundraisers and provide the solutions Super Volunteers need to succeed.”
• The results and trends of the research “support the need for a strong online user experience and justify the investment in sophisticated online tools, communications, and reporting.”
• By offering an IFE program, a nonprofit “can build stronger, more loyal supporters, acknowledge their personal struggle, and honor supporters’ desire to act in impactful ways that match their passion with a nonprofit’s mission.”
• “Traditional event organizers need to view independent fundraising as supplementary, not competitive, to their existing development portfolio.”
• Super Volunteers (i.e., independent fundraisers) use their personal social networks to reach donors the nonprofit can’t reach.  And they also spread awareness beyond the reach of the charity.
• You’ll enjoy a more dependable revenue source even in tough economic times because it’s a very personal “ask” from your Super Volunteers. 
• Through your IFE program, donors experience a very personal form of involvement at an emotional level.  And as you probably know, emotion and passion hold the secret to great fundraising.

Blackbaud’s research team analyzed data from 30,000 donors and 4,000 individual fundraisers (Super Volunteers).  Download the study and if you wish, also register for their February 3 webinar, “Raising More Money Online from Independent Fundraising Events.”