Chunks of bite-size pieces

If the task of fundraising seems overwhelming, create a strategy that will help you to chunk it down into bite-size pieces and then chip away at the target over time. A good way to do this is to create a fundraising table, which identifies your fundraising requirements and then matches each area with a potential funding partner.

Here are some steps to get you started:

• Itemise your business plan and running costs into “fundable” items

What do you need to fundraise for? Fundable items are anything you need in order to do your job eg operating costs like office studio rental and phone, work station with computer, base materials - canvas, paint, studio recording etc, marketing and audience development costs, database management, accounting systems and audit costs.

If you are having trouble identifying your costs, look at your bank statements or cheque book to see what monthly payments you have made during the year. For upcoming projects look at your projected budget to see what has to be paid for and when.

Don’t forget to include majors like website development costs and if there are too many small line items, you can cluster items together into groups/areas such as marketing and operations.

• Create a targeted strategy to find a funding partner, sponsor or donor for each item

Consider who is a good fit for each area by researching a funder’s specific aims and required outcomes. All websites of trusts, foundations and granting organisations make their purposes very clear and considering this information will make efficient use of your time. There is no point applying to a trust or organisation for an item outside their authorised purposes.

Potential funding partners, sponsors or donors:

a) Grant making organisations

FundView contains more than 700 NZ funding schemes which come from government, local government, statutory and philanthropic trusts, gaming trusts and service organisations.

b) Sponsorship

For items that are difficult to get funded eg administration salaries – think outside the square. Maybe sponsorship is an option and you can attract an appropriate sponsor by offering them the opportunity to be associated with you and your database. The one-off payment for this can be used towards those hard to fund areas. A professional sponsorship person can help you identify the dollar value of your audience/target market.

c) Pro-rata or contra deals

In the instance that funding and sponsorship have both failed to produce results, you can consider other options. If you have services or merchandise to swap, contra deals can be just as effective as cold hard cash.

d) Private Donors

Since the cap was lifted on donation rebates (up to the level of annual income) in 2008, the culture of philanthropy has been slowly changing in NZ. Private donors are becoming accustomed to receiving a refund every year from the donations they have made. With this positive reinforcement, they are becoming more prolific, and willing to contribute increasing amounts of money over time.

• Create a table representing this information and set each area against a projected timeline

For every item and potential funder, record the best time during the year to make an application and stick to it. Most funders have due dates for applications and this will dictate when you should send your application to them. Many fund on an annual basis – so even if you apply to a gaming trust that takes applications monthly, they are unlikely to fund you more than once a year. You need to keep track of historical applications too, and checking out last years table will make this a far easier job.

• Systematically chip away at it

These days many organisations are employing development staff to create and action fundraising plans, but there is no reason why you can't be your own development manager by systematically sticking to the annual plan you create with the table above.

Allocate yourself a regular timeslot to complete the work required – working on fundraising the same day as you pay your monthly bills is often a good way to keep it regular.

* * * The Next Step * * *

This exercise should help fundraising seem less overwhelming, but if you still feel stuck don’t forget to ask for help. There are many fundraising consultants about who are happy to share advice or mentor passionate people associated with interesting projects.