Who You Are
You’re an entrepreneurial nonprofit leader whose organization is in a growth stage. You are passionate about your cause, motivated to make a difference in your community, love what you do and are confident that you should be able to make a living at it. Your biggest need right now is a stable base of funding, so this is a building phase for you and your fundraising strategies and materials. This is also a time of engaging your board of directors appropriately in the fundraising process. You want to serve more people in your community and that means more (and consistent) donors quickly.
What Your Concerns Tend to Be
You are fully convinced that being involved in this cause is your calling. There are needs in the community that you know your organization can meet, but you’re struggling to find financial partners. Your promotional materials are not connecting with people and there is so much to do that sometimes you’re not sure if you’re coming or going. You feel alone because no one else seems to show any interest in raising money. All of this is creating tension, an ongoing sense of overwhelm and working evenings and weekends at the expense of your mental health. That’s because you’re not sure about the most effective fundraising strategies that are appropriate for your organization’s current stage. You’re working really hard, but not necessarily seeing the results you know need to happen to fully meet the needs your constituency is facing. If we’re really being honest, you’re frustrated that more people aren’t seeing the need and stepping forward to help.
Client Highlight: Marianne Zickuhr with Preservation Louisville
When we first contacted Kirsten, our situation was very bleak (and it’s still not great). We are a struggling 5 year old repositioned non-profit with very few donors, board members and supporters. Hope has been fleeting the last few years.
Kirsten was able to listen to 5 years worth of frustration and immediately identify some logical strategy to help us grow in the immediate future. It was great to have someone boil things down to what seemed like attainable goals. We have begun work on some of the points Kirsten suggested and are currently going through a strategic planning process with the goal of making some major changes which we hope will give us the infusion we need to sustain ourselves in the future.
Kirsten was smart and helpful and just downright nice- I recommend that anyone who is struggling with fundraising issues to contact her! And don’t wait until it’s too late. Get help now – do something!
What You Need Most Right Now
Your primary focus needs to be on creating a strategy for attracting high dollar donors who are partners with you. It’s all about developing materials that make your organization attractive to donors, getting buy-in and support from your board, creating a fundraising plan and then implementing the plan consistently, so you fill you donor funnel quickly and turn prospects in to donors, while automating the process as much as possible. Then it’s all about stating specific goals and creating the focus and accountability you need to grow funding to support your cause so that you build recognition and credibility in your community and know you are doing everything you are called to.
Fundraising Coaching / Training
To meet this need, I’ve created this Coaching program. It includes access to my proprietary system, 8 Steps to Fundraising Success, as well as to one-on-one Strategy Calls (one or two calls per month depending on your needs and budget). During these Strategy Calls, we’ll talk in-depth about your fundraising program including: reviewing the effectiveness of your approaches, overcoming obstacles and recommending changes and improvements to your program and materials.
Expected Results:
The clients that I have worked with have experienced success with:
- Attracting new donors
- Raising more money
- Increasing awareness in the community
- Engaging more people in the cause (who have the potential to become long-term donors)
Please visit my testimonial page for more information and case studies.
Your Coach:
Kirsten Bullock, CFRE, MBA is a consultant, trainer and coach who works with leaders of non-profit organizations and ministries to bring professionalism, excellence and effectiveness to their board and fundraising efforts. Since 1995, Kirsten has worked with health care organizations, social service providers, national and local ministries, and international membership associations. Kirsten is currently serving as president elect of the Association for Fundraising Professionals Greater Louisville Chapter. She is an AFP Master Trainer, compiles Kirsten’s Fundraising Headlines Blog, authors the Growing Your Donors blog and is a contributing blogger for SOFII (the international Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration).
To schedule a no-charge session to talk abut your needs and determine whether I can help, please contact me at:
kirsten@growingyourdonors.com or +1 502.509.5004
