Best+practices+for+Fundraising

=Best Practices: Fundraising and Sponsorship Development= Discussion from Round Tables Mentor Workshop Greensboro, Sep 29, 2012


 * Maintain relationships with sponsors
 * Outreach events
 * Chamber of Commerce
 * Matching fund from employers
 * 501(c)3 – consider forming a team nonprofit?
 * Parental involvement
 * Workforce development grants
 * VIC card link – demos outside the store (Harris Teeter), other loyalty programs – Lowes, Belk, Macy, etc..
 * Incentivize student participation (ie attendance = trip costs covered)
 * Software company product-use donations
 * School board support
 * Supplier donations
 * Community grants
 * Community colleges
 * Keep in touch with sponsors – newsletter, facebook, demos, etc…
 * Handwritten thank you notes and team photos
 * Put wish list on team website
 * Sponsorship levels – tiers
 * Learning how to write effective grants
 * Include budget and specific categories – business plan – when approaching sponsors
 * Family day events at companies
 * Civic organizations
 * Small-scale (donuts, etc…) not much money but gets students actively involved and helps with grant applications
 * Community groups ie Kiwanis, Lions Club, etc…
 * Cover letter for sponsors
 * Students bring in 3 corporate names and then do cold calls
 * Team member dues
 * THANK YOU – letters, on website, in newsletters, etc…
 * Incentives for donating to team
 * Targeting small companies
 * Demonstrations
 * In-kind support – parts, space, mentors
 * Networking
 * Build business plan for team
 * Link fundraising to team building activity
 * Look for multiple sources of funding; don't put all eggs in one basket; diversity of portfolio
 * Keep sponsors involved