Fundraising requires careful consideration and planning. Personal fundraising may involve raising $50,000 per year for 50 years of ministry, or 50% of needs through faith. Developing credibility through church involvement, accomplishing work for the poor, starting discipleship groups, and accessing foundation or business funding are suggested. US foundations operate like tribes with rituals and barriers, so researching databases, familiarizing with 990 forms, and building relationships are important. Proposals should be simple, with visuals, clearly describing needs, vision, strategy, leadership, and finances. Accountability through reporting is as important as success. Effective communications include regular reports, brochures, newsletters, websites, blogs, conferences, and fundraising letters.
2. Considerations for MATUL students:
Level 1: Personal Fundraising
Next years: each of you might average $50,000 (wage to survive in
the US) x 50 yrs = $2,500,000
If living by faith most people have the ability to raise (50%) of their
needs
Consider being a part of a church denomination. This greatly increases that
Accomplish something well on the field in benefit of the poor. This
gives you a focus and credibility.
Start cell groups and disciple when back in the US each tiem and
these people will support you for the long run
NGO’s to survive need to spend 10-15% on fundraising
3. Considerations for MATUL students:
How do you support the funding of projects you want to develop?
Schools, NGO’s, movements?
Build a resource base for long term sustainability…you are
accountable for the gifting's God has given you.
Access foundation and business money for projects over an extended
period of time.
The US $ will crash in the next few years. Brazil or China are the likely
next financial resource bases in the future. For now access eh US
resources.
Build credibility:
Build your leadership capital= your Mana + your studies + your
expereince + your wisdom + your spirituality + your location in the web
of relationships of your people.
Organizational skills
Develop in character
Seek to accomplish something while in the MATUL
4. US Foundations as a tribehave connections with each other. A herd….pecking order, rituals, barriers to access,
Search Databases
Foundation are well known and easy to track down
990 is the Foundation tax form which is open to public. Get familiarized with it.
Take a course in the Grants Foundation site (600$) www.foundationcenter.org
Most won’t fund buildings or overhead costs only “hands-on” projects
(Businessmen will fund those or retirees who want a name)
A good start up Foundation is the “Mustard Seed Foundation” Msfdn.org
Relationship building during the completion of a grant is in important step. As
you work through application call contact and build a relationship. Possibly
even have him/her check the application before you submit applications.
Work towards their deadline. In your proposal, plan for the delay of funds---
meaning from the point of when you get “approval” to the point when the
funds are in the “bank” may be from 1-3 months.
5. Businessmen/women
Not part of Foundation network, they just show up
Do not write an academic document for them.
They want to make a decision quickly
Successful businessmen are often deeply insecure
people…
Plan to counsel them…they just want friends. Call
them once in a while, visit…
Involve them in what you are doing
Pastor them…
They are interested in OUTCOMES and PROJECTS not
PHILOSOPHY
6. Self Case Study-- 7 page proposal
This what you keep always updated and available. Then for each proposal you pull bits and pieces from
this master document.
• Keep it simple, just seven pages.
• Lots of white space
• A pic per page
• A left column with a quote or a picture.
Cover Page: Catchy title
◦ Executive summary--300 words (densely written)
◦ 1st line: the focus of the project and the need
◦ 2nd line: vision and how you will meet the need
◦ 3-4th line organization description
◦ 5th line: Further description
◦ 6th line: Who will do the work/leadership
◦ Final line: xxx Amount of funding needed over yyy years for 3 outcomes
◦ Location, phone, contact person
7. Self Case Study
2nd page: Needs Page (draft a creative title)
◦ Most of the page will be white space
◦ Describe the need
3rd page: Vision
◦ Organizational Vision
◦ 1st paragraph description of vision referencing the need.
◦ Be precise—logic model inputs
4th page: Strategy
◦ Describe the steps that will be taken for project
implementation
5th page: Leadership
◦ Leadership: Describe, in one paragraph each, the CEO and
leaders.
◦ Include an Org Chart and staff selfies
◦ History of the Organization
8. Self Case Study
6th page: Organization financials (previous year or 3)
◦ Income and expense
◦ Demonstrate major sources of funds
◦ 5-7 expenses (better to be project specific than things like postage)
◦ Balance sheet
7th page: Org budget and Reporting System
(Accountability)
◦ 3 year budget (Simple 5 lines income, 5-7 expenditure)
◦ Reporting System (Accountability) Integrity in your reporting
is worth more than your success.
Possible Appendices
◦ Legal NGO registration
◦ Annual Report
◦ Recommendations
9. Key Communications
1. Yearly 4 page Report with Graphics and stories
2. Brochure
3. Monthly thankyous and newsletter
4. Website
5. Blog
6. Yearly conference
7. November fundraising letter