Message-ID: <002b01ca72e5$2ca5a190$0301a8c0@Jensen> From: "Don Jensen" <dnjkenosha@wi.rr.com> Subject: Re: Fundraising Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2009 18:19:54 -0600
I do not claim to know much about major fundraising. But I know a
little, based upon what I have been told by some people who do have this
knowledge. First, if you are aiming for $2 million,
you had better figure that something like 80 percent will come from a
half dozen or ten major donors, and the remaining 20 percent from small
givers.
For a local historical society, major donors will have to be from your
community, wealthy individuals or corporate donors. Personal contacts --
people who "know" people -- will be key. Likely major donors need to be
specifically identified and then properly approached. Likely, to a
large extent, this major fund drive will have to be one-on-one long
before a public drive kicks off.
The big money has to be in place before one really goes public with a
drive.
There are, certainly, fundraising specialists that guide non-profits
through the process. Unfortunately, their services don't come cheaply
and this requires an upfront commitment of an amount that we, in our
penury, can only gasp at... the notion of raising $20,000 to get the
services of a professional for a $2 million campaign may be shocking!.
Geez, we'd rather have that $20,000 as a donation toward the $2 million.
But it costs money to raise money.
Doubtless there are other ways, and surely, among us there will be some
who have ideas or experience that have worked. I don't have that
knowledge or expertise and have nothing useful to offer on that point.
What I am saying, though, is I think it is a mistake to announce the
beginning of a fund raising campaign (in January) without having the
detailed roadmap already in hand. It is my opinion that a campaign
begun without the details on just how to do it is doomed to failure, and
that the campaign should be postponed until you have a good idea of just
HOW you are going to do it.
Don Jensen
BoD, Kenosha History Center
----- Original Message -----
From: Kathleen Hart
To: localhistory@listserve.uwec.edu
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 2:37 PM
Subject: Fundraising
The Greendale Historical Society is undertaking a fundraising campaign
beginning in January,2010. We need to raise at least $2,000,000. Has
anyone done this before? We have been writing grant proposals and
have
received a few bucks. The Major Donor campaign will start in January
but how do you find the major donors? Can they be found on the
internet
and how would that be done. We want to talk to these people in
person.
Let me know if you know. Kathleen Hart