Be prepared – Planning is key to successful fundraising.

The higher the amount you need to raise and the more ambitious your plans are, the more important it is to have a strategic plan.   The starting point for any fundraising strategy is to establish the needs of your organisation and to review your strengths and weaknesses.

“All of the reading of fundraising literature, planning, strategising, writing case statements and attending fundraising training cannot and will not raise money. Only implementing your plan – taking action – will raise money. So make this your motto: Today someone has to ask someone for money”
[Kim Klein, Fundraising for Social Change]

New sources of income and developing methods to meet your fundraising targets

Sustainable organisations have a diverse range of funding sources that can come from any or all of seven categories of funding:

• Central Government
• Corporate Support (Company giving & Sponsorship)
• European Funding
• Individual Giving
• Local Government
• Lottery Funding
• Trusts and Foundations

Making a Case for Support

A Case for Support sets out why donors should give to an organisation and how they can contribute to its activities.
A general case for support statement sets out all of the key information that needs to be communicated to a range of donors.
An effective case statement needs to be concise, coherent, urgent and motivating and will communicate:
• All about the organisation and its activities.
• The level of the need and why it is important and urgent.

Good practice tips for making a Case for Support

• Focus on benefits, describing what the organisation does and include examples to illustrate.
• Use clear and simple language.
• Check any facts used are correct.
• Include information so donors understand what they need to do to make a difference.
• Share the Case for Support with the whole organisation and seek opinions.
• Make sure that the Case for Support is regularly reviewed and updated.