Reflect: The fundraising aspect of non-profits is extremely important because without donations from the government and private donors the organizations would not be able to operate. There are two general approaches to getting donations that we discussed in class. The route travelled is based on the donor and whether or not they allow agencies to approach them or if they would rather reach out to agencies. The approaches are: 1) follow an application process described on a donor's website and 2) know someone that can get a donor to ask your agency to create a proposal. I was surprised to hear that some foundations and other donors do not let organizations approach them for donations, but in viewing it from their perspective it makes sense. They want to limit the number of proposals that they are presented with for multiple reasons, one of which being that they only want to hear from organizations that have the same goals as they do. For instance if their goal is to improve the health of children they don't want to be asked to donate to an organization that primarily assists the elderly.
In regards to the actual proposal donors and non-profits often hold different views on what the most important topics of discussion should be. Agencies go in wanting to talk all about the people that they are working to assist while donors are of course are far more considered with the financial aspects. Those giving the money are likely to ask where exactly the money is going, what the intent of the project is, what the sustainability of the project is, and who else is providing funding. Those asking for the money are likely to emphasize how many people they are currently helping and how man more they could help with extra funds along with their ideas of how a particular population can be better served. Since the agency is the one in need of funds it is up to them to be able to alter their thinking in order to provide those giving the funds with the information that will cause them to feel comfortable making a donation.
I love your title for this post. Very funny. Good reflection about what we went over in class. I think sometimes it's hard for people (like me) to even wrap their head around money and how everything works and how we pay for things. It is just such a huge and complex system, and I really admire those who deal with it!
ReplyDeleteIt is scary to think that donors have so much control over the funding of a program. I cannot imagine how stressful it is to work for a non-profit and hope that you will be given enough to do all you want.
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