Why do your volunteers work for you?

It helps to find out what motivates volunteers to work for your group in the first place. Do they strongly believe in your cause? Do they appreciate their work environment? Even if you have student volunteers who are ‘only’ collecting volunteer hours for their college application, they probably chose your group for reasons other than just convenience or opportunity.

Who are your volunteers?

Also, do you know who your volunteers are? What are their interest and priorities and what other obligations do they have? Your volunteers may be working for more than one group, have family to take care off, have a paying job, go to college etc. In other words, they have plenty of other tasks besides their volunteer work and it’s your job to take that into consideration:

- Non-profit supermoms and dads: may be volunteering not just for your group, but other groups as well and are always on the lookout to help. Have super high energy and may be well versed in social media practices and may direct people to other causes they like. If you have a volunteer like this, resist trying to limit them! Even if you can’t have them all to yourself, make it clear that you appreciate their work and support them. (Note: If a volunteer is involved in more than one charity, there might be a conflict of interest.)

- Friends and family members of the founder of a non-profit will usually work because they truly believe in the cause, but they may also feel obligated. It’s important to keep in mind, that a volunteer who is very motivated to help, may burn out faster, even if he or she has a personal connection to the charity. And people who feel like they’re obligated to help may not perform very well, unless they have work they really like and feel comfortable with.

- If you have professionals (accountant, bookkeeper) donating their services, be sure to deal with them in a professional manner and keep track of their services for future reference and also to possibly put a dollar value on it for any accounting purposes. Check in with them periodically to see if they need any kind of information, so they don’t have to spend time chasing after your last year’s tax return for example. They may be motivated to help out because they really believe in your work, or they help out a different group every year, and they will appreciate any perks you offer, such as free advertising in your newsletter perhaps.

- Retiree volunteers are often volunteering not just to give back to the community, but to get out of the house and be with others. The social aspect of their volunteer job is very important and should be taken seriously. Some retirees may have had to take early retirement, but aren’t really ready for a life of leisure. They like to be able to apply their skills and prefer a mental challenge to casual work. In any case, often retirees are looking for that balance in their lives through volunteer work and if a group is able to provide that, will not only attract highly skilled workers, but also retain them for years to come.

- Volunteers who don’t seem to be very committed: It may be as simple as switching their jobs, or having a little chat with them about how you can make it more attractive for them to volunteer. Maybe you need to backtrack by finding out what brought them to your group to begin with. Or maybe a volunteer is overworked and needs a break or do a different job.

- Student volunteers and out-of-work volunteers: If you have volunteers who are out of work or in school, consider starting a program that details and advertises specific skills a volunteer will learn within a given time frame. This may allow you to attract and hold more volunteers for a specific time frame. Learning goals will depend on what you can easily offer to others without much extra effort. Examples could be marketing, social media, email campaigns, bookkeeping etc. Put the skills that a volunteer will learn in writing and use this list or description as a tool to attract and recruit volunteers.

Start with a small, simple program that includes maybe just one goal that you can easily fulfill and then build on that. A program like this gives volunteers the opportunity to add real skills to their resume while they’re looking or preparing for a paying job. A nice side benefit of such a program will be that your group will become even more organized!

- Volunteers by default, e.g. parents: if you have volunteer parents for a sports team for example, you may have to deal with many different and sometimes clashing opinions on a regular basis. Emotions run high, especially when an important win is at stake. You may actually receive more help than you need or want at times, but in order to keep things running smoothly, firm ground rules need to be set at the beginning of each season that detail the responsibilities of each person, who is in charge, and possibly rules for voting on certain issues.

Handing everyone a written ‘contract’ at the beginning of each season will keep your group running more smoothly and with less friction. Also, work out a plan with your volunteers on how to deal with the aftermath of team losses when people tend to blame each other, and never miss out on celebrating a win!

- If volunteers are beneficiaries of your services: volunteer job descriptions are always a good idea, but especially when you have beneficiaries as volunteers, so everyone knows exactly what’s expected of them. Some beneficiaries may believe it’s never enough what they give back to your group, some may feel they are overworked. A well written and concise volunteer job description will ease tensions about expectations.

Unpaid but definitely not unappreciated

Even though volunteers aren’t paid, they need to be appreciated in other ways. Every group can afford a simple thank you in person, in the form of a note, or in public at an appreciation event. Thank you letters aren’t just for donors! Express your gratitude to your volunteers as well. Not only do they save you money by performing the many tasks they do for you for free, but they also root for your group and take pride in their work. In any case, take the time to communicate with each of your volunteers to ensure that they feel appreciated. Even if you think a volunteer isn’t doing that great a job, a sincere thanks is in order. They didn’t have to come volunteer for you but chose to give their precious time for your cause.

Give credit to your volunteers

When giving credit to your volunteers, check twice to be sure that you’re giving the right credit and the appropriate amount of credit to the correct person. Check with a group leader and the volunteer to make sure everything is accurate before publication. If the volunteer is a minor be sure to receive permission from the parents before publishing any information.

Priceless

You can’t put a price on the time and passion volunteers put into your project. Especially when economic times are tough it may be a challenge to hold on to your volunteer force, because some volunteer may have to get regular paying jobs, or spend their time helping out family. But if you can provide an environment that’s not only task oriented, but also provides real community and room for growth, you’re more likely to hold on to your volunteers through good times and bad.

(Image: iStockphoto/asiseeit)

Related posts:

• Wanted – Volunteers: Recruiting Volunteers For Your Fundraiser
• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Show What You’re About
• Recognizing Fundraising Volunteers
• Drafting Volunteer Job Descriptions
• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Get The Word Out And Increase Profits

It’s important to look for the warning signs that might tell you that it’s time for a change. Fundraising leaders (and members) should remain on the lookout for these red flags that might be signaling a problem with a fundraiser or organization.

Volunteer Interest Is Waning

This could be your number-one indicator that your fundraising profits will suffer, because without your volunteers and sellers, you won’t have a means of reaching buyers. Your volunteers might be losing interest in your fundraiser if

• Few participants in selling or running events
• Committees can’t be filled
• Negative attitudes abound (‘this is boring’ ‘not again’)
• Meetings and fundraising events are poorly attended

Fundraising Goals Can’t Be Met

If you can’t reach the financial fundraising goals you’ve set, take it as a red flag that a change needs to be made, and look for a reason why. Some common reasons for not meeting fundraising goals include

• Decline in sales: which can exist for a variety of reasons from lack of interest in product to lack of outreach to buyers
• Vendor participation is declining: as in craft sales and hosted events; if you can’t get sellers to come in, they probably think your event isn’t profitable
• Public participation is non-existent: consumers find your event boring or just don’t need what you are selling
• Goals are unrealistic: did you set too lofty a monetary goal?
• No one feels there is anything in it for them: either buyers or sellers – everyone needs a good reason to participate!

Consumers Are Supportive, But Still No Cash Flow

This happens more often than you might think; the public is willing to give, and may actually be giving, but still you aren’t turning a profit; this points to an organizational defect. It might be time for an internal change, rather than a change in fundraising tactics. If you are noticing any of the following, consider reassigning responsibility, or restructuring your group:

• Disorganization: there is no plan for who is doing what
• Wastefulness: unnecessary expenses, because of a lack of leadership and oversight
• Poor bookkeeping: no exact records for expenses and profits are available

The reasons that fundraisers fail are varied and highly individualized to each organization. The only way to correct a problem, or better yet, prevent one, is to recognize the signals that are pointing towards fundraising failure, and correct the problems at the heart of the matter.

Related posts:

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• Dealing With Problems: This Fundraiser Is Just Too Stressful!
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The good news is that small and volunteer-poor organizations have a larger well of volunteers available to them than they might think. A given organization is not limited strictly to group members; there are family and friends that might be willing to lend a hand, and community resources to be tapped as well.

So where can a group in need of volunteers look for help?

First off, look for groups who require their members to complete community service as part of their membership or a class requirement. The local high school or college is an excellent place to start! Places to turn to for potential volunteers:

• High school, middle school, and local college student groups. Honor societies, student councils, and student governments regularly include community service as a requirement for membership.
• School Civics classes. Many schools include community service and volunteer work as an assignment for class completion for Civics and other classes; some schools have even made community service a requirement for graduation.
• Youth groups, church groups, and municipal youth/recreation centers. Again, these groups often trade their free membership for community activity; those that do not make it a requirement may still support community service and be happy to help you find volunteers among their members.
• Social Service Agencies. Sometimes social service agencies require children in their care to complete community service, especially if the youngster has landed themselves in trouble. The children in these types of programs are generally not serious offenders, and they might be a great resource for helping run event-related activities such as a fair or carnival.
• Local businesses. Not all businesses have cash resources available to donate to worthy causes, but in return for some good PR, local businesses may be willing to donate their services.
• Town Government. Just like local businesses, government officials have a vested interest in positive PR and the betterment of their community.
• Partnering charities. If your group is deemed worthwhile, other philanthropic charities may be willing to partner and help you out; they may be willing to do so in exchange for future help with their projects.

If you’ve tried all of these angles and still find yourself without an adequate response, appeal to your community through flyers, media, and word-of-mouth. Willing volunteers are out there, you just have to find them! If you tap your community for help and get the word out to those who are able, your community will surely respond.

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How To Begin Your Fundraising Meeting

Begin your meeting on time. If you want others to take your meeting seriously then you have to set the tone. A sense of decorum should be maintained throughout the meeting. While you may wish to have a meeting that is friendly and informal you still have to maintain order, otherwise the meeting could easily turn into unproductive chatter.

Start off with a recap of what happened in the previous meeting as well as any other relevant past information. Welcome everyone to the meeting and give a quick overview of the meeting topics. This should be brief.

Know the course that the meeting will take. People will not believe that you can handle running a fundraiser if you cannot handle running a meeting. Use your fundraiser meeting as a forum for demonstrating your leadership skills.

Keeping Your Meeting Focused

Keeping your meeting focused is one of the most important parts of running a successful meeting. You want to know exactly what you are going to talk about and how much time is allowed for the discussion of each topic. Everyone has been to a meeting that seems to go on forever. Set the pace and you’ll be able to accomplish your goals and keep those in attendance interested. Keeping your meetings focused will make the attendees feel like they’re a part of a productive cause and they’ll be more likely to attend future meetings.

Be prepared for the meeting. The quality and efficiency of the meeting will be a direct result of your preparedness or lack thereof. Create a simple, focused agenda that is no longer than one page.

The more topics you cover in the course of a single meeting, the less focused you can be on any of those individual topics. This is why you want to narrow your focus to a few pressing topics. Other more minor concerns can be handled at another meeting or outside of the meeting setting.

Remember Your Audience

Many – if not all – of those in attendance at your fundraiser meeting will be volunteers. They have the option of coming to each fundraiser meeting and supporting the cause or not doing so. Meetings that are run well help to instill within volunteers a sense of purpose. If they do not feel like anything is being accomplished, then why would they continue to come back for subsequent meetings?

Planning your next fundraiser meeting is imperative to its success and the success of the fundraiser. Give your meeting form and purpose so that everyone will be able to follow it up with decisive actions. These meetings are where your fundraiser will take shape. Take them as seriously as you do the actual fundraiser.

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What Is A Fundraising Consultant?

A fundraising consultant is an individual (or company) 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 (possibly incl. grant development), should your organization have such a need. A fundraising consultant can analyze your organization’s needs, suggest appropriate fundraisers, and/or conduct the entire campaign, including marketing your fundraiser. Consultants do not help with the actual fundraising; they simply direct the volunteers who carry out the fundraising efforts. Typically fundraising consultants are paid a fee for their work. (The fee paid can be a percentage of the campaign’s profits, but this may raise ethical questions.)

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 professional who can help volunteers 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

Be aware that your fundraising consultant will be quite visible to donors, group members, and companies involved in the fundraising campaign. Your consultant will be a face for your organization – hire accordingly.

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? Do they have suggestions for your specific situation? (For ex., what if your main supporters aren’t giving at the rate you have counted on?)
* 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 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 may not earn you anything at all. Decide if your group can handle the task ahead. If your situation indicates that you can make money by spending money, hiring a fundraising professional may be just right for your group!

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• Fundraising And Affordabilty
• Common Fundraising Mistakes
• Accounting For Fundraising Efforts: Keeping Good Fundraising Records
• Structure And Motivation – Fundraising Rewards Programs

Why Good Help Is So Hard To Find

To find and recruit good volunteers, it helps first to understand some of the reasons people do not step up to the plate, even though they may want to. Some of the more common reasons people don’t offer themselves as volunteers include:

- They weren’t asked, personally.
- They are busy with other obligations, paid work, and life in general.
- They have been used and abused by fundraisers before, or have too much already on their volunteer plate.
- They are overwhelmed and don’t know what to expect, or are unsure if they have the required skills for the job.
- They may be interested in a volunteer position, but can’t find anyone available to explain the details. A lack of organization may be a turn-off.

Busting Up Road Blocks

If you can help your pool of potential volunteers overcome some of these hurdles and misgivings, they will be happy to contribute to the success of your fundraiser and, subsequently, your organization. There are a number of steps you can take to remove the road blocks prohibiting volunteers.

Define roles and responsibilities – Prepare (and KEEP) written descriptions of each position and what is expected of the volunteer fulfilling that role. Be sure to include any specialized skills the job might require, and if other support people will be available to help.

Outline time requirements – Estimate the time each position will take; that way, everyone can take a job they can foresee having time for.

Delegate – Structure your volunteer base so that other people have volunteers ready to be delegated to.

Allow for position-sharing – People are more likely to volunteer if they know they are not going it alone, and that they have backup in the event of a conflict, emergency, or question.

Mount an informational campaign – Prepare flyers and letters to let people know that a recruitment campaign is ongoing, and/or that a new fundraiser is in the works and needs their help. Consider leaving flyers in places previously not considered, for example the local community college, blackboard in community park etc. Present the planned fundraiser or volunteer committee during an event or meeting, or host a dedicated night. Always provide printed literature with plenty of contact information and some expectations of need. (A good time to do this is at the beginning of the year or school year, before schedules are filled and when spirit is at its best).

Specifically ask people, in person, if they will volunteer – This can be done in a variety of ways, including setting up a table at a well-attended event (or in a busy hallway), calling people individually (and following up), and passing the call via word-of-mouth at every available opportunity.

Post sign-up sheets in obvious places to encourage and offer people an easy way to get involved.

Have a designated contact person, address and/or phone number – When volunteers want to sign up, or have questions about the position or your group, where can they go to for information? This is often a weak point where potential volunteers are lost. Make sure your contact info is easy to find (on flyers, websites, newsletters etc.) and that there is actually someone available to answer questions. Any queries should be answered within a business day.

Good planning is the key to getting volunteers to commit to your fundraising project. With a well-thought out fundraising campaign, and an organized, informational volunteer recruitment program, you will find plenty of people who can and will do their part to reach your fundraising goals.

Related posts:

• Recognizing Fundraising Volunteers
• Volunteers: Unpaid but Priceless
• Drafting Volunteer Job Descriptions
• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Show What You’re About
• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Get The Word Out And Increase Profits

Coming Up With Fundraising Incentives

Finding motivating fundraising incentives is a bit of a task, but it may not be as hard as you think it will be. There are two simple places to look for proven fundraising incentives.

First off, ask past fundraising volunteers what incentives have been used in the past and what worked to motivate them. Look back through available fundraising records to determine ways your group has successfully motivated volunteers and sellers in the past.

Your other resource is your fundraising company. Suppliers and fundraising companies have been in the business of marketing and promoting the sale of their products for years. They have a lot of information to share. Tap that resource. Fundraising companies are happy to share their incentive ideas because they want your fundraiser to be a success. In many cases, you’ll find that the incentive program has already been built into your fundraising program in the form of small prizes. There might be little or nothing for you to do at all.

Other ways to motivate your volunteers:

* Develop a statement of the benefits the group will enjoy from a successful fundraiser:
Give them something to sell for that will affect each seller or a loved one personally. Communicate those benefits to supporters as well; give the statement to sellers as a selling aid.

* Increase the perceived value of what is purchased or enjoyed:
For example, funds raised for sporting equipment keep kids engaged in healthy activity and keep them off the streets and out of trouble.

Fun Fundraising Incentives

Truly, fundraising should be fun. There are lots of ways to put fun into your fundraiser while providing an incentive.

* Hold raffles amongst sellers who have reached incremental sales.

* Give gift certificates to early sellers who reach a designated goal.

Focusing on the fun of fundraising keeps the campaign fresh and invigorating; rewarding great volunteers shows they are appreciated. Showing that appreciation in the form of an incentive, party, recognition, or prize will ensure volunteers work to the best of their fundraising ability for you.

Related posts:

• Structure And Motivation – Fundraising Rewards Programs
• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Show What You’re About
• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Get The Word Out And Increase Profits
• College Fundraising
• Church Fundraising Ideas

What happened? More often than not, a lack of communication is to blame. If you take an objective look at your fundraising effort and your volunteers, you’ll see that your group can move beyond the difficulties – and that there is still hope for a great and successful fundraising campaign!

Communicate – Communicate – Communicate!

Putting extra effort into thoroughly communicating your groups goals, anticipated problems, expectations of volunteers and more at the beginning and during a fundraising campaign will help a great deal in avoiding problems in the first place. Should problems arise,

• Talk to other committee members for a consensus of the issues
• Address the group as a whole, through a letter, a meeting, or both
• Be positive – a few kind motivational words can go a long way!
• Ask each volunteer for a commitment to a specific task
• Explain to everyone the importance of doing their share
• Regularly talk to individual volunteers to get updates. Maybe there is too high a workload, personality conflicts or poor organization. Ask how you can help.
• Follow up with phone calls
• Talk to individuals who are causing problems, and offer some solutions; if you really have to, thank the person politely and let him or her go.
• Prepare a plan B

In many cases, problems with volunteers can be diffused by building a sense of camaraderie. Try making meetings and work sessions more enjoyable by enjoying refreshments, setting aside a half an hour for coffee and talk, or going out together for dinner or drinks. If you are running a large group, consider whether a motivational speaker might be helpful.

Above all, bring a spirit of progress and cooperation to every dealing with fundraising volunteers, and refrain from negative thoughts and gossiping. Keep the focus on the goals of the group and the fundraiser. Remind everyone that you are working together for a larger cause; your good attitude in itself is sure to go a long way towards creating a productive, cohesive, successful fundraising group.

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Often, budgets get cut, or less than ideal family situations mean that children have to go without things or activities that their classmates receive, and later life opportunities may be diminished because of it. There are, unfortunately, needs of great variety all around us, and fundraising will most likely be an aspect of our lives for generations to come. But raising funds for a cause has a lot more benefits than taking care of an obvious monetary need.

Unexpected benefits

Fundraising is important for a variety of other reasons as well. For example, it allows the children or other recipients of the funds (or what they purchase) to feel some pride of ownership. In many cases, the beneficiaries of funds that are raised are able to feel not as if they have received ‘charity,’ but as if they have actually earned the item or experience that the funds have provided. What better way to help a person to feel empowered than to allow them to help raise the funds needed for a cause that will benefit them?

Fundraising can make a huge impact

In the growing pressure from government to “do more with less,” it is unfortunately true that the way that many schools and communities are doing this is to cut out the programs that they deem as not being essential. This often means that many childhood experiences will be lost as well. Field trips to see the capital, to perhaps stand for the first time inside a museum, or to attend their first play or concert, would be lost without many fundraising programs. On top of that art programs at the schools themselves, like music, theater and visual arts, are often the first area where cuts are made.

This has a much greater impact on society than one might realize at the time. For example, it’s been tested and proven many times, that children who receive music instruction score higher in math classes. This means that art clearly supports other areas of learning. And what about the sense of accomplishment and raised self esteem that being creative can bring?

Learn to help others

Fundraising is one aspect of engaging children in civic minded activities from a young age. It creates awareness in a young person that they are part of a community, and that this position entails a certain amount of responsibility and also self empowerment. When they are raising funds for other segments of society, it teaches them to appreciate what they have and to understand that they have the ability, even from a young age, to help others.

It is a fact that children who participate in civic or public service from a young age are more likely to carry on with that type of work into adulthood. On the other hand, if young people are being helped by others who are doing fundraising for a cause that affects them, they understand that there are people who care about them outside of their immediate circle. This can help them to have a greater sense of self-esteem and self-worth, which can lead to better life choices overall.

As hard and frustrating as raising funds can be at times, let’s not forget the huge impact it can make for generations to come!

On that note, we wish you great success and good luck with your next fundraising campaign!

To help you plan for your next fundraiser, start by setting clear goals, and read about tips for choosing the right fundraiser.

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So what exactly is Idealist.org?

In their own words:

“Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 with offices in the United States and Argentina. Idealist is an interactive site where people and organizations can exchange resources and ideas, locate opportunities and supporters, and take steps toward building a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives.”

To get started on Idealist.org, simply create a free account.

You can then go straight to our ‘Fundraising Ideas’ group, where you can introduce yourself, and ‘talk’ to others who have joined the group.

To explore the site, simply use their search function. Just type in a search term (fundraising ideas, your city name, specific fundraising campaigns, charities, names of non-profits etc.) and you will get a selection of groups, charities, volunteers etc. related to your search.

Another way to get around Idealist.org is to simply browse and search by topics (left sidebar) like ‘people’ ‘groups’ ‘programs’ ‘volunteers’ ‘speakers’ ‘events’ and more.

Idealist.org is a great way to connect with others, post your own volunteer opportunities and even advertise for your non-profit. Sign up here – it’s free.

Our Twitter updates contain volunteer opportunities posted on Idealist.org!

Are you already a member on Idealist.org? Feel free to leave your username and group names in the comment area!

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But even though volunteer job descriptions come highly recommended, few organizations actually take the time to draft them. The reason for this is two-fold: drafting each description takes time, and many fundraising leaders don’t know how to write them.

Not knowing how to write a fundraising volunteer job description shouldn’t deter you from drafting one – any attempt is better than not having one at all. The following guide will aid in drafting the needed components in a description for the benefit of and as a resource for all involved.

- First, name the job; something simple and defining of the responsibility

- Next, offer a concise but detailed description of the job, including responsibilities and required skills; ask former job holders for details (or even ask them to write the description); when available, ask former job holders to proof the final version for accuracy

- List an estimate of the amount of time the job will take to complete; where applicable, break time requirements down by task. This helps volunteers decide if they have the time to fulfill an obligation at a glance

- Estimate the length of the job commitment (a day, a week, a month or more…); this also helps volunteers match jobs to their busy schedules

- State the deadline the job must be done by; some jobs will require early deadlines if they involve planning and organizing, and others will be far off in the future if for selling, event participation, follow-up, or donor recognition

- List who will help with the job

- Tell the volunteer where they can go for more help and advice if they should get stuck on a task (the name and number of a past volunteer is ideal if they are willing)

- Include contact information for committee leaders in case an emergency arises or a volunteer is otherwise unable to complete their assigned task

Admittedly, drafting job descriptions for every volunteer position within a fundraising campaign is time consuming. Keep in mind, however, that the hardest work is in the initial drafting. After that, descriptions can be revised and updated from year to year. One way to lessen the burden of the task is to ask each current job volunteer to draft the description at the completion of their service, then simply format them and proof for errors. This also ensures that the description is accurate and inclusive of all requirements.

Volunteer job descriptions allow participants to plan their time and skills accurately and avert difficulties later on. In time, the description will come to serve as a resource, a manual of sorts, for individual volunteer positions. Volunteer job descriptions quickly prove their worth.

Read more about recruiting, motivating and recognizing volunteers.

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Even if you are the leader of a fundraising project, you have to defer to the opinions of others.  In many cases, reaching a consensus on any matter is very difficult; often, a plethora of ideas – even really great ideas – just leads to disagreements and arguing.  People become fixated on getting their way, and lose sight of the bigger picture.

Having a room full of disagreeing fundraising volunteers can make it seem impossible to pull off a successful fundraiser, but if you hone your leadership skills, you can pull your group back together and still have a very successful fundraiser.

Don’t Take It Personal

Most fundraising volunteers have a personal stake in the group they are fundraising for.  So it’s natural that they might get emotionally invested, and possibly slip into disagreement.  Usually, the problem is that too many people are taking things personally, fighting more for their own ideas than for the best ideas.  If you can make your fellow fundraising volunteers see that that is what’s happening, you might strike a chord and get things back on track.

When making your point, though, be careful not to be too judgmental or accusational.  Speak in general terms to all, offer a few motivational words to remind people why you are all in this, and ask people to keep an open mind about the ideas of others.

Also, don’t let yourself take things too personally.  Accept that disagreement is part of the process, not always a reflection of poor leadership, and take confidence in the fact that your fundraiser should come off better for taking the time needed to make good decisions.

Take a break and re-focus.

Some Tips To Ease Fundraising Disagreements

The big task is to bring everybody back to a common ground.  Show them the problems that are facing your organization, as well as the problems the disagreements are creating within the group.  Hold a meeting or send out a letter and appeal to everyone’s good nature.  Then, open up the conversation and follow the majority rule.

•    Poll the group to put all the ideas on the table
•    Open up the conversation, but insist in civil discussion.  No personal attacks are to be allowed.
•    If someone really can’t participate in a civil manner, ask them to leave the group; you do not need that kind of ‘help’.
•    Take a vote to make major decisions, and go with the majority vote (not necessarily a majority of voters, but a majority of votes)
•    If all else fails, pull a hat trick and randomly choose your fundraiser.

For a really divisive group, consider enlisting the help of a neutral third party.

•    Ask a respected community or organization member to come in, listen to the group, and make a decision in the best interest of the group.  Explain to the group who is coming in and why, and explain that the decision of the mediator is final.
•    Consider hiring a professional fundraising consultant
•    Defer to the opinion of your fundraising company.  Explain the many options, details about your group size, membership, volunteer base, and your financial goal, and ask what the fundraising company recommends.

Dealing with a much divided group of fundraising volunteers is not easy, but with good management of the situation, you can save your fundraising program.  The key is to always aim to keep the focus of the group on the needs of the group, and not on the egos of individuals.

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• Your Work At Home Experience Can Boost Your Child’s Fundraiser

What’s In It For Me?

It’s a refrain that’s repeated endlessly in marketing: answer the question, “What’s in it for me?” When you can give volunteers different reasons to participate, you motivate them with more than just the campaign outcome.

Structuring The Fundraising Rewards Program

Before you begin, first set a structure for your fundraising rewards program. Set rewards at different levels for different donation or sales levels. Be careful to make sure that levels are evenly structured so that the low-end is not overly-rewarded and the high-end is not unfairly under-’compensated’.

The most productive structure is one that has several tiers to the fundraising rewards program. Setting a reward for a low level of sales – with a corresponding, yet attractive reward – lets every volunteer feel like they can reach one or more goals, and come out with something nice and useful for their effort.

Set progressive levels with correspondingly rewarding and attractive rewards. The lowest level is designed to get each volunteer’s “foot in the door” so that they can feel success and shoot for an even higher goal and better reward.

Finding The Funds For Fundraiser Rewards

There are a number of ways to fund a fundraiser rewards program, but the best and most lucrative fundraiser rewards programs will not really be funded at all. Instead, they will rely on donations, community support, and company incentives. Here are a few options for funding fundraiser rewards programs:

• Local donors
In kind donations of goods are an excellent way to secure attractive items that can be used as prizes and rewards for fundraiser rewards programs. Approach several area businesses for in-kind reward donations.

• Fundraising companies
Many fundraising companies already have incentive reward programs built into their fundraisers. See what your company is offering, and take advantage of all the company will be giving. You can choose to use the incentives alone or add to them if you can secure more donations.

• Area business partnerships
You can make your fundraiser rewards program a winner all around by partnering with local businesses for coupons for goods and services the sellers might use. You win because you get the reward prizes you need, the business wins because you are drawing in customers, and the volunteer wins because they get a great prize! Choose your target business partnerships carefully so that the prizes secured will really be valued.

• Fundraiser profits
Since rewards are incrementally based on sales, your fundraiser profits can also be used to fund a fundraiser rewards program. Set the distribution date and the prize accordingly so that the funds can either be taken from savings and offset or taken and used after profits are recouped.

Fundraiser Rewards All Around

Fundraiser rewards programs do not have to be limited to the volunteer selling force. You can also use a reward program as an incentive for other volunteers and also supporters. Here, a simple donor recognition dinner or coffee hour can go a long way, as can valuable coupons from those partnering area businesses.

Fundraiser rewards programs can really breathe a lot of life into a fundraising campaign. For a small investment of time or money, you can boost your fundraising efforts to the next level, and provide some much needed enjoyment and confidence, too!

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• A Reason To Sell – Incentive Ideas For Fundraising Projects
• Creating Gift Programs
• How To Write A Donation Request Letter For Youth Arts And Sports Programs
• Plan For Big Profits: Planning Tips For Fundraisers
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How Can You Help Your Child’s Fundraiser?

There’s no telling how you can help your child’s fundraiser to bigger and better success. Quite likely, the things that you do everyday in your work at home job or work at home business – without even realizing that you do them – are skills that your child’s fundraising leaders are desperate for. What you take for granted as routine is a highly valuable skill that is in high-demand for volunteer-poor fundraising campaigns.

To give you a taste of how your skills and expertise as a work at home parent might help, look at just a sampling of the work entailed in running a successful and profitable fundraiser:

• Bookkeeping
• Computer work (ranging from brochure and document design to marketing materials to programming and website design and much more)
• Accounting
• Communications (phone calls, emails, public speaking)
• Public relations
• Recruitment
• Physical labor, both light and heavy work
• Child care, overseeing and leading children’s groups
• Sales
• Marketing
• Arts & Crafts
• Community outreach
• Vendor and service management and organization
• Organizational leadership and service (so many positions need to be filled)
• Writing (letter writing, copywriting, marketing…)
• Networking
• Legal filings
• Permitting and zoning
• Catering, cooking, serving, wait staff
• Grant writing

Your skills can help your child's fundraiser!

Depending on the fundraiser, all of these services and many more could be required. Even the most basic fundraiser will require people to manage organizational jobs and basic accounting and marketing. You truly cannot tell from the outside looking in what assistance your child’s fundraising group might need that you could easily offer. Moreover, there’s no telling what promising fundraisers your child’s group might be yearning to try if only they could access skills and expertise like those you posses.

How Will They Know You Can Help?

There is probably only one way that your child’s fundraising group will know how you can help – if you offer your time and services. Talk to the group, a representative, or attend a fundraising meeting and offer what you can. Keep in mind that these groups are not always looking for a professional per se, and that the skills you’ve gained in any of these areas will more than suffice; so even though you may not be a professional bookkeeper, your familiarity with bookkeeping as a WAHM or WAHD is sure to be useful. Rest assured your child’s fundraising group will be more than happy to utilize whatever skills you can offer and will be appreciative of your willingness to volunteer. Put yourself out there and see what you can do today to boost your child’s fundraiser with the skills use everyday in your work from home.

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• The Advantages Of Being A Fundraising Volunteer When You Work From Home
• Wanted – Volunteers: Recruiting Volunteers For Your Fundraiser
• Help! Everyone In This Fundraiser Disagrees!
• Dealing With Problems: This Fundraiser Is Just Too Stressful!

Working From Home Is Harder Than It Looks!

Working from home is a great thing; there are many benefits that come along with managing your own schedule and being readily available to your kids. No doubt you’re familiar with these and those benefits play a very large role in why you work from home or run your business from home. Just as you know the many advantages of working from home, you are also probably familiar with the downsides as well. Working from home can be tough; it means

• You might not interact with a lot of other people outside the home on a regular basis
• You risk not being visible and your business suffering
• You lack the support and camaraderie of friends and coworkers
• Your exposure to the outside world gets narrower and narrower unless you do something to expand it
• Your personal outlet for enjoyment and creativity can be stifled
• You are on your own when work and personal life conflict

All of these factors can seriously detract from your work and productivity if not addressed in some way. It all goes back to taking care of business by taking care of you first. You might be surprised to find out that fundraising is a great way to do just that.

So How Will Being A Fundraising Volunteer Benefit Me?

If you really think about it you’ll see that volunteering to help with your child’s next fundraiser can easily solve many of the troubles that plague you as a work at home parent. As a fundraising volunteer you can alleviate some of the loneliness and alienation while supporting a needy and worthwhile cause. Being a fundraising volunteer can help you as a work at home parent by

• Acting as a social outlet
• Getting you out of the house
• Meeting new people
• Increasing your support network (finding other WAHM’s and WAHD’s who can help you in a pinch)
• Increasing networking opportunities
• Providing an outlet for interest and creativity
• Exposing you to the larger world around you, refreshing your perspective
• Gaining a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment
• Relieving the guilt that comes when you feel you’ve neglected your kids’ interests

Sure it takes time to serve as a fundraising volunteer, but to be the best you you need to make that time and see to your own needs. As a fundraising volunteer, everyone stands to gain – yours and others’ children gain by getting what they need, your community gains, your work gains through outreach and networking and increased productivity, and most importantly you gain personally so that you have the inspiration and energy to support all the people and projects that rely on you.

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• Your Work At Home Experience Can Boost Your Child’s Fundraiser
• Tips For Dealing With Problems Within Your Volunteer Fundraising Group
• Drafting Volunteer Job Descriptions
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Get The Word Out

Many excellent fundraisers fail for one simple reason—nobody knows they are happening. To make the most fundraising profits, you have to let your supporters, including both donors and volunteers know that you have a need and a plan to fill it.

• Include fundraising plans and efforts in organizations newsletters. Also, ask other area newsletter publishers (such as schools or church and community groups) to include your fundraiser in their newsletter.
• Send out a letter discussing both your need and your plan; you may include a donation request portion for interested supporters
• Post flyers and posters to publicize your fundraiser
• Submit a press release to local media
• Send emails to those on your address list
• Post fundraisers and updates on your group’s website (and others websites if possible)
• Set up fundraising tables and/or informational tables at community and group events

In all of this, you have to show people what is in it for them to motivate them to support you. Explain to them how helping your group is beneficial to them; there is always some benefit no matter who you are speaking to—if nothing else, you can at least tell them they’ll feel better for their generosity. If your group is a non-profit, remember to mention that support is tax-deductible.

Visualize

Keep your fundraiser visible in some way; this way, people will remember your ongoing efforts and remember to continually support them. It doesn’t have to take a lot, you can do something simple like send reminder letters or construct a ‘thermometer’ to gauge your success and remaining need.

Update

New, fresh information will remind supporters that you haven’t quit trying to raise funds. Update posters, mailings, emails, and thermometers periodically so that people are aware an active fundraiser is still in progress. Don’t be shy about reminding people you are still selling and/or collecting donations.

Friendly Competition

Creating a little friendly competition through incentive programs is a good way to keep volunteers interested. Ask each to set their personal goal and tell them to share that with their supporters; this is an extension of ‘what’s in it for me’—grandpa and grandma may care more if they know their expenditure directly benefits little grandson Johnny.

Your fundraiser is not a place to hold back if you want to succeed. To make your fundraiser as profitable as it can possibly be, you need to vocalize every aspect of it; show your group’s members that you need them, teach them why the fundraiser is important, and give them the means to get that point across to donors—and watch your bottom line fundraising profits grow and grow.

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• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Show What You’re About
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• Let It Be Known… Recognizing Charitable Donors
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• What Donors Want to Know Before They Give

A Deserving Organization

Supporters are never at a loss for fundraising groups asking for their money; and chances are your volunteers are at no loss for fundraising volunteer opportunities, either. Both donors and volunteers are faced with an excess of both and many times they are forced to choose who they will support, and/or limit their expenditures and donations of time and money.

You can help their decisions along or motivate non-participating supporters by proving to them that their expenditure of time and/or money will not be lost on your organization.

• Present a well organized, well thought-out plan for fundraising. This may be in the form of a presentation for volunteers, or it might be in the form of an appeal letter for donors. In your presentations and materials, show that you have targeted where the need is and what it will take to overcome it.
• Be specific about your need. Tell donors and volunteers exactly why you need to raise funds. Give history detailing your lack and need. Discuss what will happen if you can’t raise the money.
• Show a plan for the money. If you are raising funds, you should know what you will do with them. Volunteers will see how they will benefit, and donors will see that this money isn’t just up for grabs to the greediest of the group.
  Brag about your past success and show that you don’t have a history for ‘dropping the ball’.

Benefits For All

Make everything you put out to volunteers and donors personal. Of course your biggest focus will be on achieving the goals of your group, but if you can find a way to add a little ‘here’s what’s in it for you’, you’ll do even better. At heart, all people are at least a little selfish. If you can show them that your fundraiser will somehow benefit them, too, then you’ll be the group they spend their time and money on.

Think both small and large to identify personal incentives; there is something that benefits every participant in some small way. It may be as simple as making that person feel good about themselves, or it may be a tax deductible donation. Extend your incentives to the larger picture too—maybe your after school teen’s group will keep kids off the streets and out of trouble, or maybe raising funds for school supplies will minimize local taxes.

When you are able to show that you will run a successful fundraiser and that volunteers and donors will not be wasting their money or time, and that the funds you raise will benefit all, your donors and volunteers will make you their organization of choice, and continue their support over time.

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• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Get The Word Out And Increase Profits
• Let It Be Known… Recognizing Charitable Donors
• Recognizing Fundraising Volunteers
• Wanted – Volunteers: Recruiting Volunteers For Your Fundraiser
• What Donors Want to Know Before They Give

No one does. Unfortunately, some small amount of stress may be part and parcel to running a fundraising campaign, or even to just participating in one. But no fundraiser should be so stressful that it overtakes the life of you and your volunteers. When that starts to happen, you have to cut yourself some slack and find a way to reduce fundraising stress.

Tips For Dealing With Stressful Fundraising Problems

There could be any number of reasons that you and/or your volunteers are finding your fundraiser to be too stressful. You might be involved in a fundraiser that your group doesn’t have the skills and resources to manage; you might not have the time to do what needs to be done; you might not have enough help (an all too common occurrence in fundraising!); or you might just no tlike the fundraiser.

These are all very real, very reasonable reasons why you might feel overwhelmingly stressed by your fundraiser. But these are manageable situations, too. Together with your group, identify the sources of fundraising stress, and then find ways to correct the problem or problems. The following tips and suggestions can help.

• Relax
Your effort in itself is a good and selfless thing. Take pride in yourself that you are selflessly giving of your time and energy, take a deep breath, and allow yourself a moment to relax.

• Recruit more help
A lack of hands is often the only reason fundraisers become stressful. Put effort into recruiting more volunteers rather than trying to spin your wheels doing everything yourself. That’s time really worth the investment!

• Delegate
Once you’ve built your working staff, decrease your workload and that of the others in your group by delegating and sharing the work. Free up your time and find enjoyment in your fundraiser!

• Simplify
If your fundraiser is just too complex and unmanageable, find ways to simplify it. Don’t try to do so much with one event or sale. Find ways to cut the workload down, even if it means downsizing the fundraiser. Hold a few fundraisers rather than one large, unwieldy campaign.

• Scrap it!
If the fundraiser is really not worth the effort and stress, scrap it and put your energy into something worthwhile!

• Meet
Meet with your group and brainstorm how this fundraiser can be made less stressful; plan ahead to make the next year easier.

• Hire some help
The best route for you to take may be to spend a little money on some professional help. In most cases, groups find the increase in funds from a manageable, successful fundraising consultant pay for themselves.

• Work your fundraising company
Fundraising companies are experts in the field and they have many resources designed to make your life in fundraising easier. Take advantage of everything they offer and let them earn their commission!

• Hit the boards
Join an online fundraising support group, chat, or forum. You’ll find others to there boost your confidence and offer creative solutions to common fundraising problems.

As a last piece of advice – have some fun! Fundraising is not supposed to be a drag and a drain on you personally. Connect with your fellow fundraisers, take some time to relax and enjoy each other, and build a support system. All by itself, finding someone to share your misery with can be a great solution to reducing the stress of a burdensome fundraiser.

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• Tips For Dealing With Problems Within Your Volunteer Fundraising Group
• Put The Fun Back Into Your Fundraiser!
• Wanted – Volunteers: Recruiting Volunteers For Your Fundraiser
• Recognizing Fundraising Volunteers
• Is It Time For A Fundraising Change?

Consider Your Supporters

You have to consider that if you and your volunteers are bored with your fundraiser, the odds are better than good that your supporters are, too. Lack of interest is probably the top reason why fundraisers don’t bring in enough money. After all, if you can’t stand selling it, how do you expect your supporters to want to buy into it?

Add Some Spice To Your Fundraising Life

Sure, it’s a bit stressful knowing that your fundraiser is not very exciting. But when you look on the bright side, you’ll see that it may be just an opportunity to do something new and different. It’s a great opportunity for a fundraising leader to light a new fire under a group of volunteers and motivate supporters, and that is exactly how you need to sell it to your group.

Realize, though, that not everyone is eager to accept change. Often the reason that a group becomes saddled with a boring fundraiser is that it is easy because everyone knows exactly how to run it – a lot of the work is already done. But fundraisers should not be burdensome; they should be fun! And if your supporters are sick of your fundraiser, there’s really no saving it unless something changes.

To fix a boring fundraiser, you have two basic options.

1. Scrap it! Start fresh with something else – either an entirely new fundraiser, or something that’s shown promise in the past that could be built up into a great fundraiser with a bigger, better effort.

2. Spin it! Find a new twist to add excitement to an old stand-by. Instead of having a pie sale, have a pie and pie throwing sale! Instead of a fashion show, a fashion show with male models! Instead of a pizza night, a make your own pizza night! Anything that makes your fundraiser fun and interesting while motivating fundraiser volunteers – a standout among fundraisers.

Likewise, add some spice to the behind-the-scenes of fundraising. There is no reason that meetings and work sessions have to be all work. Bring in some treats, take a night off for cocktails, or just spend some time visiting and getting to know each other. When you enjoy your company, even the most boring of fundraising tasks can come to life.
Partners In Marketing: Planning Joint Fundraising Events

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The ideal way to combine practicality and profitability is to become a link in the supply chain of everyday, essential items. One of the best ways this can be accomplished is to fundraise by selling grocery and food items. Sure, these products as offered through a fundraiser may cost a little more, but often the difference can be made up in quality or in the justification that at least the item is something that will be usable anyway, and thus, in the long run, save money over frivolous expenditures on worthless products on top of the regular grocery bill.

What’s Available

Food product and grocery item fundraisers started out fairly basically with consumables like coffee and gourmet bakery items, but as the logic of this partnership grows into increased fundraising success, more and more food items that might be bought at the corner grocery store are being added to the list. What follows here is just a sampling of the more common food and grocery items that might be offered through fundraisers:

• Oven-ready frozen foods like pies, cakes, cookie dough, and pizza
• Refrigerated meats
• Coffee, teas, cocoas
• Soap, bath, lotions, and spa items
• Snack foods like beef jerky, dried fruits, nuts, pretzels, and popcorn
• Dry mixes for baking (like cookies, cakes…) or cooking (pancakes, etc.)
• Herbs, spices, rubs, and sauces
• Cheeses

Benefits

The benefits of selling grocery items center largely on the fact that these are products people are buying every week anyway, and so the potential for sales is great. In addition,

• Profits are usually immediately available
• Many organizations are able to repeat the same fundraiser multiple times in one year (since products are quickly consumed)
• Good products build customer loyalty
• Usually no up-front expenditure is required
• Ordering may be available online to expedite processing and turn around time

The only real difficulty to food sales is that many times frozen and/or refrigeration is involved. That means that the fundraising organization needs either adequate storage or fast distribution; it also means that having someone on hand at the time of delivery is an absolute must. However, many organizations have overcome these difficulties by organizing delivery with the company ahead of time and also planning to have sellers pick up their items on the same day. Recognizing the logistics involved in storage and distribution, food product fundraising suppliers are happy to coordinate efforts as needed and are excellent resources for distribution tips and tricks.

Fundraising with grocery and food items has become very popular. Welcome, saleable products combined with the ability to repeat the fundraiser regularly (thereby diminishing the planning and learning curve) keep groups and customers coming back again and again.

For more ideas for food fundraisers, visit our Fundraising Ideas: “foods” category.

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It is true that no fundraiser can be successful without supportive donors, but it is just as true that no fundraiser can succeed without volunteers. Without volunteers, there is no fundraiser. Volunteers deserve the recognition of the group they support just as donors do. And for the same reasons – so they feel appreciated, so others know their worth, and so they will feel compelled to volunteer again in the future.

Recognizing volunteers does not have to cost a lot of money (although if that’s in the budget, fabulous!); it does, however, need to be personal and classy. There are many great ways to recognize the selflessness of volunteers.

• Thank You’s – regardless of whether additional recognition is given, a heartfelt, personal thank you note should be sent to all significant contributors
• Volunteer Plaques – a nicely displayed plaque garnering thanks and recognizing individual volunteer’s efforts
• MVV (Most Valuable Volunteer) Award – presented publicly if possible, or at a meeting of the fundraising committee at the very least
• Volunteer Walls – a tile (brick, etc.) on a wall with the name(s) of indispensable volunteers with thanks
• Press releases – sent to area media publications, local TV stations, and newspapers, thanking individuals publicly
• Wrap-Up Party/Recognition Night – a party or cocktail hour/hors d’oeuvre night where volunteers and group members can mingle, relax, enjoy their success, and recognize noteworthy volunteer donations
• Coffee and hors d’oeuvre hour – when a larger party is not a possibility, a coffee hour to recognize volunteers can be thrown for very little money
• Recognition during events – schools may have the opportunity to recognize valuable volunteers at school functions, awards nights, sporting events, or graduations; church groups and sports teams may find similar opportunities
• Gifts of recognition – perhaps as simple as a small bouquet of flowers, or a larger, more personal gift; may be a small engraved plaque or curio the individual can display in their home; if it’s in the budget, gifts are a great way to prove an organization’s appreciation beyond a doubt

Volunteer recognition should always be a part of fundraiser planning, perhaps even worked into the budget when possible. But whether a group’s budget is big or small, there is always a way to publicly recognize valued volunteers so that they know their effort has been donated for the betterment of a worthy organization who knows the value of their time.

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• Motivating Volunteers & Donors: Show What You’re About
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