When Volunteers Aren't Enough: Hiring Fundraising Help

Organizations large and small often find themselves at a point where hiring a professional fundraising consultant seems like the best avenue for their campaign. If your organization is at such a cross-road, there are several things you'll want to consider before contracting with a professional fundraiser.

What Is A Professional Fundraiser?

A professional fundraiser is an outside company or individual whom your organization can contract with to run the fundraising campaign for you; The exception to this would be if your organization is investing a salary into a full- or part-time employee whose position is created expressly for fundraising and grant development (but only if your organization is large enough to have such a need). A fundraising consultant can analyze your organization's needs, suggest appropriate fundraisers, and/or conduct the entire campaign, including marketing. Consultants do not do the actual fundraising door-to-door; they simply direct the volunteers who carry out the sales efforts. Fundraising consultants are paid a fee for their work. Often the fee paid is a percentage of the campaign's profits.

What Are The Advantages Of Hiring A Fundraising Consultant?

Fundraising consultants are experts at raising funds; that is the number one advantage they have over lay-volunteers. In addition, your organization will benefit from:

Having an unbiased, professional assessment
Being able to clearly set realistic goals
Vast knowledge of fundraising options
An experienced model who can help volunteers to make effective phone calls, draft letters, and more
Streamlined volunteer assignments which promote efficiency
Fewer mistakes which may translate into higher profits
Well-designed campaign materials
Targeted marketing techniques
Skilled negotiations with product or service suppliers
Education and direction that can be passed on after the consultancy has ended

What To Consider When Hiring A Fundraising Consultant

Fundraising consultants are quite visible to donors, group members, and companies involved in the fundraising campaign; your consultant will be a face for your organization, so you'll need to be sure the face that is forward is positive. When choosing the right consultant for your group, take several factors into consideration:

What size, type, and scope of fundraiser can the consultant handle?
Does the consultant have a good reputation (talk to references and other groups)?
What ideas do they have for your group?
Can they back up their claims with financial data from past campaigns?
Is the consultant insured or bonded?
Does the consultant check out with state, federal, or better business agencies?
What is the company's bid on the job?

Of course, your first concern is whether a consultant is really needed or financially feasible. On the one hand, a consultant will cost you a portion of your proceeds, but on the other, a failed fundraising campaign will not earn you anything at all. You'll want to decide first if your organization can handle the task ahead of you. If the situation indicates you can make money by spending money, it's time to place those consultant calls.

This is an article created by the FundraisingIP.com Editorial Team. For more fundraising ideas and fundraiser help, go to our article directory at FundraisingIP.com/articles.

fundraisingarticle

More Articles From - Home | Fundraising: A B Cs Of Fundraising | Hiring Help For Fundraisers

Fundraisers
Fundraising Ideas
About Us
Add Your Company
Contact Us

E-mail Article

Popular Fundraisers:

Lollipops - suckers
FastTrackFundraising - variety
MagFundraising - magazines
Funding Factory - ink cartridges