NCJ Number
83286
Date Published
Unknown
Length
0 pages
Annotation
A community organizer outlines and illustrates a calendar-based fundraising plan that community crime prevention programs should follow in their resource development efforts. Resource materials are mentioned.
Abstract
Three basic principles of fundraising are to seek multiple sources of funding instead of relying on a single funding source, to have well-defined program goals, and to thoroughly plan a fundraising plan should be based on a quarterly division of the fiscal year that corresponds to the funding patterns of most foundations. The months of July and August should be used to write and updated proposals, research potential funding sources, plan for the next 10 months, and form the fundraising committee. In September through December, proposals should be sent out and individual solicitation pursued to capture donations made in the Christmas spirit and in the interests of the tax advantage. A rule of thumb is to expect 5 positive responses for every 100 proposals mailed out. It is important to determine how much money the program needs and estimate the number of funding sources to be approached. January through March is a good time for membership drives to generate internal support. March through June may be devoted to organizing special benefits. Crucial features of the above plan are that multiple approaches to multiple sources are used and that proposals continue to be submitted throughout the year. Informative letters are critical complements to a request for funding, since entire proposals are seldom read. Among fundraisers' basic research tools are the Foundation Directory; corporation and foundation Internal Revenue Service tax returns, available in microfiche from the agency and at local resource libraries; and an alternative foundations directory, which lists funding sources for less conventional programs. For further discussion of fundraising techniques, see NCJ 83287-88.