You are here: Home >Archive for November, 2009

From the Donor?s Perspective: Why Some Fundraisers Succeed While Others Fail

In order to get their valuable perspectives on fundraising, I interviewed more than 30 donors of the highest caliber who have given millions and millions of dollars to various charities, ministries, and organizations. I asked them why some fundraisers succeed while others fail.

These are the qualities and characteristics the donors felt made successful fundraisers:

Sincere relationship — Above all, successful fundraisers are sincere.

Personal integrity — Successful fundraisers are upfront, genuine, and always operate with integrity.

Knowledge of their charity — Successful fundraisers are well informed.

Clearly defined goals — Successful fundraisers clearly state the mission, needs, and opportunity a donor has to help accomplish the mission.

Regular communication — Successful fundraisers keep donors in the loop.

Assurance of cost effectiveness — Successful fundraisers show donors that their money is doing what was promised.

Credibility — Successful fundraisers use donors’ funds for the intended purpose only.

Matching gifts — Successful fundraisers think about lead gifts or matching gifts so donors’ gifts are multiplied.

Deserving cause — Successful fundraisers help donors feel that they are making a worthwhile contribution to a worthwhile cause.

Shared vision — Successful fundraisers seek donors who share the organization’s vision and want to make a difference.

Passion — Successful fundraisers believe in their cause so much that they contribute to it themselves.

Common interest — Successful fundraisers find donors who are interested in their mission.

Enthusiasm — Successful fundraisers are enthusiastic about their cause.

Quality presentation — Successful fundraisers present the charity in an enticing, concise, and articulate manner.

Gratitude — Successful fundraisers must have an air of gratitude, no matter the amount of the gift.

Persistence — Successful fundraisers are persistent without being offensive.

On the other hand, these are the qualities and characteristics the donors felt made fundraisers fail:

Lack of personal relationship — One of the most common reasons that fundraisers fail is that they haven’t established a relationship with the donor.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • RSS

The 5 Must Know Credit Tips for Students

Building and maintaining good credit is more important today than ever. Whether we realize it or not, so many parts of our daily financial lives revolve around our credit scores. But don’t fret – abide by these five must know credit tips for students and you shouldn’t have any problems at all.

1. Start a Credit History

The best way to start your credit history off on the right foot is to keep it natural and realistic. Go ahead and open up savings and checking accounts – you’ll need them. Next, try starting off with a student credit card. Use it only to make purchases that you’d make anyway and then pay it off in full and on time each month with the funds from your checking account. Your credit worthiness will gradually begin to grow just by conducting everyday transactions.

2. Stick to One Credit Card

If you’re using your credit card only to make planned purchases and paying it off each month, chances are, having one credit card is all you’ll ever need. Sure, the limits start off fairly low, but they will rise as you make purchases and pay the bills on time. Know that having more than one credit card as a college student statistically has a history of leading to credit troubles.

3. Live On a Budget

This is probably one of the most important credit tips for students there is. Write down all of your monthly expenses at the beginning of every month in the order of what you’ll need to pay first. Use your income to pay the items according to priority and be sure not to spend any money at all outside of these categories until all expenses are paid first. Actually writing everything down helps reinforce your understanding of your own individual financial picture and does help prevent unnecessary impulse buys that often snowball and cause credit problems later.

4. Financial Responsibility Counts

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • RSS

7 Steps to your Fundraising Success

Fundraising has become an essential element to schools, scouts, sports and cheerleading teams, youth sports leagues, and other community groups in both small towns and major urban areas. The need for fundraising has become of greater importance than ever before for a variety of needs ranging from playground equipment, uniforms, and trips, to primary funding to support and maintain many types of programs and curriculum.

Robinn Lange of Custom Fundraising Programs has enjoyed fundraising success for over twenty five years and says he has noticed the changes in the fundraising landscape. “Fundraising used to be a means to offer or support for supplemental programs or activities, but in today’s world fundraising is being depended on more and more for the survival and primary support for more and more groups, activities, events and programs.

This importance of fundraising in today’s marketplace has created the need for stronger and more successful fundraising programs than can generate impact and results. Fundraising is no longer just a fun activity, but rather an entrepreneurial enterprise – a business.

Parents, students and community members are bombarded and approached with more fundraising solicitations than ever before. Lange says “the one crucial element is to make sure your fundraising efforts do not get lost in the shuffle. You must make sure your fundraising campaigns are properly executed to position yourself to achieve the best results possible.”

The good news is Lange offers seven important steps you can implement to help to insure your fundraising success.

1. Create A Good Fundraising Team

This is one of the first and often most overlooked aspects of a successful fundraising program. Your team is the heart and soul of your fundraiser. Even though it is often difficult to get volunteers and quality people to be part of your fundraising team, one of the biggest mistakes that can be made is just accepting anyone onto your team. Seek people that are driven, motivated, and share your fundraising vision. Those who can attain their given goals. Confident, self-starters who can take direction, yet be able to function and operate on their own.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • RSS

How Changing Your Mind About Your Personal Finance Will Change the State of Your Wallet

Many personal finance articles have been written on the issue of money.  Can’t say I have been moved to action by many.  First I’d like to say it is ok that you feel down about the current situation about your personal finances.  I give you permission to feel your feeling for the next 24 hours and then pull yourself by your boot straps and let’s what we can do.

There exist many a definition, I want to share with you  my personal finance definition:

Financial freedom is not an event, it is a skill.

I bet right now with the current economic situation you are saying to yourself, “I just wish I could the lotto!”  Boy don’t we all and yet statistics and personal finance facts show that the majority of people who win the lottery, end up broke and worse off before their winnings! Imagine that.  You among the many seeking wealth, riches, fame few people realize that money isn’t the solution to their problems;  the way you think about money is the problem and the solution.

I can almost see you going oh yeah, give me the money and I’ll show you change in mindset!

My favorite entrepreneur of all times, Henry Ford was once asked, “What if you lost everything you own?” He responded without missing a beat: “I’d have it all back and more within 5 years.”

Being a master of your own personal finance is not about what is in the bank; it’s about the ability to acquire the skill that will show you how to produce new streams of income and wealth based on your knowledge and experience.

So before we go any further on this issue let us tackle the real problem here that is impeding your personal finance for good!  Why you might ask?  Well without the mastery of these 5 steps, your desire for your goal for financial success and financial freedom is highly unlikely!  This is why big players in any industry have coaches, Oprah has a life coach, football players and basketball players have coaches and mentors.  Tiger woods after every bad game will go in for coaching and training.  Why?  Those who achieve great financial success do not go it alone.  They always have a team.  Those who achieve great poverty have the do it yourself mentality!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Fast Cash Personal Loans – Auto Title Loans and Payday Loans Online

Our Services Include:

AUTO TITLE LOANS – We offer fast auto title loans that provide quick cash and let you keep driving your auto while you repay the loan. Our auto title loans offer you the opportunity to get cash fast.

GUARANTEED UNSECURED PERSONAL LOANS – Our unsecured personal loans are guaranteed to help you bridge a temporary cash crunch. Guaranteed unsecured personal loans from other companies often come with a difficult application process.

PAYDAY LOANS ONLINE – Our unsecured payday loans online offer you the opportunity to get an instant cash advance. Other companies who offer payday loans online may make it difficult for you to borrow money. Unsecured personal loans online from Fast Cash Personal Loans let you borrow from $100 – $2,000, and are great for people who have bad or slow credit.

UNSECURED SIGNATURE LOANS – Our unsecured signature loan program allows you to get fast cash repayable on your next payday. Unsecured signature loan sites that require you to complete lots of paperwork, abound on the Internet. At Fast Cash Personal Loans, we offer you quick cash loans from $100-$2,000, that are easy to apply for with very little paperwork.

Auto Title Cash Loans – Car Pawn Alternative
We offer fast auto title loans that provide quick cash and let you keep driving your auto while you repay the loan. Our auto title loans offer you the opportunity to get cash fast. We understand that you may have had trouble getting a loan at your local bank or credit union. Our car title loans are easy to apply for. You can borrow from $100 – $5,000. Our automobile title loans are available to almost anyone 18 years of age with a paid off auto and a clear title, at least $1,000 per month of steady verifiable income, and a current permanent residence.* On our site it’s easy to get started for an auto pawn loan alternative. Just fill out our short form, or call us at (888) 309-3278 to get more information about an auto pawn loan. If you’ve been looking for Carolina, Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin or Tennessee auto title loans without success, contact us. Our auto title loan options let residents of almost every state apply for a fast cash auto title loan.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • RSS