YDA Anaheim Convention Fundraising Training Notes

Note: I (Brandon Key) e-mailed Mark Newman to get a copy of his fundraising powerpoint presentation.

*Training: "Fundraising 101"

Mark Newman, YDA Finance Committee Chair (guy who gave presentation)
marklnewman@hotmail.com
Amy Lewis, YDA Treasurer
treasurer@yda.org

Why do people give?:
Personal relationships/Party Affiliation/Loyalty
Desire to defeat the opponent
Social Connection/desire to join with cause or organization
Because they were ASKED!
Donations come from people of all income levels (so ask everyone)
Build relationships with people at all income levels
Have a fundraising plan:
How much you need? (fundraising goal)
Where will you get your money?
Who is going to help? (in some way, everyone in the club)
What are your resources?
What is the overhead?
A case or chapter/campaign statement explains where the money is going and why
Everyone involved in fundraising must be able to articulate the plan
Who do I ask?:
Best donors: people who know you or your organization personally
Always research the people you ask
Think beyond check #1, build a relationship with them so they can keep giving back
Making "the Ask" is the hardest part (so do your RESEARCH on them beforehand!)
Follow up!
After "the Ask", ask the people to open up their address books, find five more people who

might be willing do donate.
For next year, Legislator of the Year 2008: Christopher Cabaldon?
We should get business cards!
Think of donors not as donors, but INVESTORS. They're not donating to your club, they're

INVESTING (and thus, expect a return on their investment)
ASK for more (even double) than what you think they will give you, so they will give you

the amount you expect.
Always send out thank yous to donors: (DCD must do this!!)
Thank you note should be short and sweet. "Thank you for your support... it's because of

your support that..."
Make "thank you" look like it took some time
We MUST keep our records. Re-ask past contributors for more the second time around.
Maybe we should send out a monthly DCD newsletter to all donors and everyone interested

in the club.
For newsletter:
Always put an area where people can make a donation.
Send by email
Maybe make a quarterly newsletter if you haven't done a lot of stuff in just one month.
Worst that a possible donor can say: "no". Move on to another. You might want to go back

to this possible donor in the future, so leave off on a friendly note.
THINK OF DONORS AS INVESTORS!
Keep in touch. Give them reports. Show them how their investment is paying off.
For phone-calling possible donors:
Don't keep them on the phone for too long, no more than 5 minutes. Make the "ask" in the

first few minutes, otherwise, they're wasting your time that you could be using calling

other donors.
Think of doing mini-fundraisers in between! Bake sales, raffles, etc.