Grassroots Fundraising:
Written Plan

This is to include:

• the amount you want to raise,
  
• how you will raise it (the activity),
  
• who will perform which tasks,
  
• an exact time or date for each task is to be completed by to ensure you meet your financial goal.

A plan will help you make sure all tasks are done in a proper order, on time and nothing will be missed. This is the best way to keep confusion and misunderstandings to a minimum. Make sure all who need it, have a copy or access to the plan. This written plan will help you decide how much lead time you need to have all tasks completed by without any rushing. All tasks will have the time allocated to them that will produce the best return for effort invested.

Before you finalize your plan, pass it around to gather as much feedback as deemed desirable. Having three or so drafts could prove very beneficial in the long run. Others may see things you have missed. This action could save you from an embarrassing loss or help increase your gain.

A written fundraising plan will assist those who will follow you when you leave or when your time in office expires. Especially if the main fund-raiser is an annual event. Wouldn't it have been nice if you had a written plan to follow when you started?

A written plan will help you recognize both opportunities and dangers. The hardest part of fundraising is gathering the volunteers. A written plan detailing all the tasks with the time and effort involved can assist the committee to raise such volunteers. Especially on a first-in, best dressed policy. Such a written plan will also give the organizers a better idea of the people power needed and plan accordingly to best use this precious resource. If you don't have the experience needed in any area your plan should bring this to your attention, giving you time and notice to find someone who has and talk to them. Chances are they will be happy to pass on their experiences.



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Doug Nash lives in Logan City in Queensland, Australia. He has graciously consented to share a fundraising idea with us every month. Although many of the ideas aren't new, each of them has a unique flair that comes from being developed and refined half a world away from ours.