Creating a Circle of 10 " The Guru fundraisers
Dr. Stephen L. Goldstein
Author / Consultant
Translated by Araceli (Angie) Wright
E-mail: awright@languageresource.us Creating a Circle of 10 ": The magic formula of fundraisers Looking for more generous people who contribute to their cause? Have a question about whether your nonprofit organization is fulfilling its mission? Not sure which is the most effective way to market your organization?
Abracadabra! To achieve each of its major goals, create a "Circle of 10." To paraphrase the song from the musical group Three Dog Night, "one is the loneliest number that you can have." Therefore, do not do it alone. Learn the magic of adding a zero and meet all the power needed to succeed. Think
Circle of 10 "as a group not a group, ie, its own task force, group of experts, or selected sample group. The same should consist of persons knowledgeable, committed to helping you find the answers to specific questions and in creating strategies to increase the effectiveness of your organization. This is not a formal board. No rules and does not meet regularly. (It is best to keep members of their "Circle of 10" away from the each other, providing advice informally. People do strange things when it is coupled.)
Try your ideas with your "Circle of 10." See what we agree. Get an idea of \u200b\u200bwhat can work, without asking them to all made a difficult march towards the same goal at a time. A five-minute phone call, from time to time, may be all you need for someone to help you build your success at large.
Besides having experience or expertise in a particular area, the only criterion for membership in their "Circle of 10" must be that each person promises to help you get ten others who share your same qualifications, and would be willing to help. (Do you see the magic? 110 people are already pre-selected, knowledgeable and very talented helping.)
For example, to create a "Circle of 10" that gives tips on fundraising, would contemplate a group initial key people, consisting of (1) an accountant, (2) a director of a bank trust, (3) a lawyer who specializes in estate, (4) a stockbroker, (5) an executive a corporation, (6) the director of a foundation, (7) a philanthropist who has not helped its cause (8) an employer; (9) one of its donors, and (10) an official elected. Remember they must be willing to clone ten times, so that eventually you will have eleven accountants, bank trust eleven directors, etc.
As another example, to determine if your nonprofit organization is fulfilling its mission, establish a "Circle of 10" composed of persons representing each of its constituent groups. If you are a secondary school (high school), their circles could be composed of faculty members, administrative staff, parents, graduate students and taxpayers, as well as corporate representatives, community agencies, media communication and universities.
The same formula can be used over and over again to get information, help and guidance you need for everything from the development of its current marketing program to its future plans.
A Circle of 10 "is magical because it is fresh, focused and flexible. Leverages the strengths of people with common interests. It is organized for a specific purpose, not wasting people's time, and energizes people to help you reach others, the only way to build an effective network. In other words, encourages participation.
So if you really want to succeed in fundraising, try adding a zero and going around in circles. May prove to be the adventure of a lifetime. #
The latest book from Stephen Goldstein is entitled 30 Days to Successful Fundraising ("30 Days to raise funds successfully.") Send your comments and questions by email to:
trendsman@aol.com The Fundraising Guru Stephen L. Goldstein
Author / Consultant
Translated by Araceli (Angie) Wright
E-mail: trendsman@aol.com Keep your smoke craving becomes
"One hand can not clap "-a mantra on every fundraiser should meditate daily. You may be passionately committed to an idea worthy of collection, but his" burning desire "is only half the equation in terms of revenues. Equally crucial is to find others who are enthusiastic to the point of being willing to give of their money for it. Otherwise, you end up alone, clapping in the air with one hand.
This, however, is easier said than done. Many would-be collector think they can just jump into the world with a worthy purpose, that others will grasp its importance and that the money will start to come. Keep on dreaming.
If you are ever going to convince someone to blaze with the same desire as you and your project, then you have to expose a flawless argument, or to personally finance the same. So, once your project distils collection and can be expressed in a single crystal and prayer, you will need to perform a feasibility study in three phases to determine its marketability. The process is part art, part science-never illusionism.
First, you need to do your homework. Consider whether the time is right for your idea, and long-term viability of it. In business, this exercise is called "making a market analysis"-looking data and figures to see if the project meets a legitimate need, and then determine if you have enough financial sense to convince others who contribute to it. As if starting a business, you must also analyze the competition. (Do not pretend you're holier than anyone, and do not look at other nonprofit organizations as "opposition." You know as well as I do, eventually you're going to try to beat them in the scramble for contributions.) Outline the results of their research in a preliminary draft of a page, to strengthen emergency logically that "burning desire" for which you want to raise money.
Second, before asking a cent to anybody, listen to feedback from potential donors and professional experts to draft the project, so you can determine whether or not it is marketable. (Do not ask family and friends.) Listen. Be receptive. Too many collectors collect less than they need because they are put in place for those who can help them finance their projects or mold. They think they can raise enough money to any idea, even if the medium formulation, that others should support them for the simple fact that they are "doing good." How much can get honest feedback, so you do not trip at the last step, which will be decisive.
Third, if after talk to enough people to get a general opinion on the merits of the project you discover your "burning desire" leaves them cold or warm, then you have two choices: you can continue with his original idea, convinced that sooner or later will encounter most enlightened people to support it, or you can choose to modify or even discard his proposal.
One thing is obvious: his "burning desire" alone will not guarantee success at the box office. At some point, your proposal should be erected on its own merits and energize strangers. If you are not willing to be flexible and adapt to external realities, you may see its "desire burning "becoming smoke while with one hand, shake the air still hoping to stir up unnecessary sparks.
Email me a draft market analysis page that supports your" burning desire ", and I will give a rating from 1 to 10.
Send comments and questions about fundraising Stephen Goldstein, a:
trendsman@aol.com . Goldstein is the author of 30 Days to raise funds successfully (30 Days to Successful Fundraising ) and http://www.fundraisingguru.blogspot.com/
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