FUNDRAISING

FUNDRAISING

DONATIONS,

AND GRANT WRITING

Fundraising Guidelines

Types of Fundraising

DOs and DON’Ts

Grant Writing

Example Scenarios

FUNDRAISING GUIDELINES

• Fundraising MUST: • A) Provide direct support to a service activity of the member• B) Fall within program’s approved activities• C) Not be primary function of host site• D) Not involve activities raising money for the organization

• Can only account for 10% of your total hours

• Complete Fundraising Request Form with host site supervisor and submit to Program Director for approval• Needed if collecting money or actively seeking out donations from

businesses/agencies or applying for grants

TYPES OF FUNDRAISING

In-Kind Donations

Donations other than money such as goods, time or professional services

Examples: Clothing, Hygiene products, Non-perishable food items, volunteering, etc.

Grant Proposals

Monetary Donations Donations of money as direct funds

Examples: Donations given through website, checks written to organization, cash donations given to the organization, etc.

DOS: EXAMPLES OF PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES

• Seeking donations of clothing and household goods for newly housed clients

• Writing a grant proposal to a foundation to secure resources to support the training of volunteers

• Securing supplies and equipment from the community to enable volunteers to help build houses for low-income individuals;

• Seeking a donation from alumni of the program for specific service projects being performed by current members.

DON’TS: EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

• Cannot raise funds for your living allowance

• Cannot raise funds for an organization's operating expenses or endowment (as opposed to a project)

• Cannot apply for grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service

• Cannot apply for grant from any other Federal agency

ME FUND

GRANT WRITING• Grants must specifically go towards YOUR project

• Most require a 1-3 page application process

• Examples of grants compliant with AmeriCorps’ requirements:

• Michigan Community Service Commission grants • Awesome Foundation grants (Detroit & Ann Arbor Chapters)• VolunteerMICHIGAN funding alerts• Kohl’s Cares Associates in Action program

GRANT WRITING CYCLE

Identify Funding Needs

Research possible funders

Alignment with

Funding Priorities

Building Relationshi

p

Write proposal

Follow-Up, Tracking, Reporting

Grant writing cycle from NonprofitNetwork of Jackson

Funding/items for your service project or your clients

Aforementioned websites or community foundations for grantsWrite grant or fill out

an application

Ensure grant requirements are AmeriCorps compliant

Grant may require write-up or event report in order to receive grant.

TIPS FOR GRANT WRITING

• Apply well before the deadline!

• PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD

• Have multiple people look it over

• Follow guidelines

• Read all requirements about the grant

• When will you receive the money?

• Any additional reporting? • Age restrictions?

• If not accepted, ask for feedback.

SCENARIO #1

Your agency is seeking out donations and wants you to help. Is this ok?

YES/NOThe answer to this certain scenario depends on “What type of donations and what will they be used for?”

- If they are cash donations for a general fund, that is INELIGIBLE.- If the agency is seeking out in-kind donations (e.g. clothes, non-perishable foods, toiletry items, etc.) to be given to your clients, that is ELIGIBLE .

SCENARIO #2Global Youth Service Day is coming up soon and you are planning a service project at your agency to renovate the common area where clients may congregate during the day. You would like to purchase paint and other supplies. You plan on engaging 25 volunteers and need $200. Is this fundraising activity allowed?

YES• The funds are for a service project YOU are planning directly.• MCSC grants are eligible for fundraising.• You can also apply for other grants not associated with Federal agencies

SCENARIO #3

Your agency has tried numerous ways to raise funds for clients at your shelter. They decide to plan a 5K which will raise funds to buy medical supplies for the clients. You are asked to help in the planning of the 5K. Can you do this?

NOMembers cannot recruit volunteers or fundraise for activities that the member his/herself cannot participate in. But you may participate in this activity on your own time.

SCENARIO #4

Your agency wants to host a community breakfast to engage people about homelessness.  The money raised from the event will go to the overall organizational costs.  Can you plan this?

NOYou cannot participate in organizing this event. You “Cannot raise funds for an organization's operating expenses or endowment.”

However, you CAN:• Recruit volunteers for the event• Fundraise IF you were seeking in-kind donations for your clients (ex: food for breakfast, gifts for attendees)• Fundraise IF monetary donations were NOT going towards the organization’s fund

QUESTIONS?

Reminders:

• Survey monkey quiz

• Conference Call:

Tues Dec 16th from 10am-11am

• Q1 Reports due Jan. 2nd