Life and Mission

Start With These Fundraising Resources

November 05, 2020 Kay Helm Episode 50
Life and Mission
Start With These Fundraising Resources
Show Notes

Today I’d like to take my 14 years experience managing a nonprofits and offer help for leaders in this area. 

Download the guide at kayhelm.com/npguide.

1) A Spirituality of Fundraising, by Henri J.M. Nouwen

You can read this through in one sitting. It’s only 50-60 pages. And it deals with the most important part of your fundraising–your mind. So many people start because of passion, but then run into a wall because fundraising feels like begging. So we’ve got to change our mindset. This is a book that invites us to examine our hearts, motives, and methods and align these with God’s word. If you come to me for fundraising coaching, Session One homework is to read this book.

2) FREEDOM Fundraising Framework: 7 Steps to Build and Sustain Your Next Campaign, by Mary Valloni

This book outlines Mary’s FREEDOM Fundraising Framework. Raising funds successfully and consistently requires strategy! The Freedom framework gives you that strategy, from clarifying your mission and message to building and deploying your teams and making your difference! I interviewed Mary in episode 42, and Mary has a podcast called Fundraising Freedom.

3) Fully Funded Academy

This resource is specifically for missionaries raising support. Fully Funded Academy is a monthly membership training program that gives you the clarity and confidence to launch, grow, and scale your financial support base. If you need more 1:1 support, I'm a Fully Funded Certified Coach.

4) Cairification, from Claire Axelrad

There are really only two blogs you need to follow. The first one is “Clairification” from Claire Axelrad. This blog is a tremendous source of knowledge on all things fundraising and philanthropy.

5) The Storytelling Nonprofit

The next blog is the Storytelling Nonprofit, from Vanessa Chase Lockshin. I interviewed Vanessa in episode 27. As the   Storytelling Nonprofit, Vanessa’s focus is on recognizing, collecting and telling stories that help donors connect with our cause.

6) GuideStar (now part of Candid)

You need to be sure your organization is listed on GuideStar, and that you keep your listing updated each year. This is the place where foundations and funders will look to verify your information, got make sure you are a legit 501c3. So when you apply for a grant, and when you apply to get listed on other nonprofit sites like TechSoup, they need to find you here.

7) TechSoup

This next one will save you TONS of money on software and tech. Do NOT go to sketchy discount software stores where you could end up with pirated software, or malware. Get the real deal.

If you struggle to tell stories, you’ll struggle to raise funds. 
In the Mission Writers course:

  • Learn the exact stories that every ministry, missionary, and nonprofit needs to tell.
  • Master the fundraising story calendar.
  • Develop and practice essential storytelling skills to increase funding for your mission.
  • Build your story library and your confidence.

Details at MissionWriters.org
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Mission Writers is an online course and group coaching experience where you’ll develop and practice essential storytelling skills to help increase funding for your mission. Get started now, for a year of coaching at over 60% off the regular price.