National Alliance of HUD Tenants
42 Seaverns Avenue
Boston, MA 02130
tel: (617) 267-9564
fax: (617) 522-4857
naht@saveourhomes.org

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FUNDRAISING METHODS

This portion of our web site is where you can find out about grassroots fundraising; what is it, why should you do it, and how to do it. We have some simple guidelines from fundraising event planning to soliciting donations along with some basic principles to help you along. If your group has some great fundraising techniques you'd like to share here, let us know.

Goals that Grass Roots Fundraising Can Help Meet

• Raise money
• Build the organization
• Test members commitment to the organization
• Test commitment of leaders and helps determine who are the leaders
• Tests whether your group has community support
• An expression of members running their own group--establishing that they “own” their group--they raise money, not the staff who write the proposals, so they will want to make the decisions
• Pride
• Chance for non-vocal people, or people with less time to contribute, participate and get recognition.
• Gives independence from outside funding sources so you can set your own program.
• A dependable base of support that you can count on each year in determining your budget, a figure that can grow each year.
• Helps in getting grants from outside sources to show you have the support and ability to raise other funds.

EVENT PLANNING

Grassroots Fundraising Event Planning--By Michael J. Brown of the Jewish Organizing Initiative

Questions to ask yourself before you begin
• What are you raising funds for?
• Where is the event taking place?
• Date of the event? Allow at least 6 to 8 weeks advance notice. Think of what you're going to say, Always speak with a smile in your voice.

Operating Principles of Grass Roots Fundraising

• Set up a regular calendar of events that are spaced out in time, that occur regularly, i.e. Annual Spring Dance.
• Vary events where your members pay the money (i.e. Dance) and where the general public pays (i.e. raffle, carnival)
• Vary social fundraiser's (i.e. dances) and non-social ones (i.e. raffle)
• Set up a Fundraising Committee--stress to members and staff that it is as important as being on the board or an issue committee.
• Don't be shy about asking for money
• Use good business techniques--planning, choosing events that maximize profits per hour of planning time.
• Keep good records of expenses, sales, who bought, donated what
• Give individual attention and recognition to volunteers who help as well as those who give you a donation or any kind of help.
• Set financial goals for each event and break them down.
• Sell something people need or is in their best interest to support.

REQUESTING DONATIONS

How To Ask for Money-- Joan Flanagan & Associates © 1982

Questions to ask yourself before you begin
• Make a list of possible donors
• Names, addresses, and phone numbers
• Address a person by their name
• Address letters when possible with the name of the person giving the donation.
• What are you asking for? Be precise.