How to Create a Successful Fundraising Plan

Kate EmeryPresident, Engineers Without Borders- USA, Texas A&M University Student Chapter

2011 EWB South Central Regional Conference, 11/12/2010

Fundraising Goals•Raise money to provide for various

parts of organization▫Projects▫Administration▫Conferences

•Develop relationships with donors▫Gaining recurring donations▫Finding new mentors

•Publicity

Fundraising for Student ChaptersLocal fundraisers vs. Big Fish

Chapter Expenses

•Projects•Administration•Conferences

Donor Relations• Make it easy for them to donate

▫Mail them resources with sponsorship opportunities

▫Make donation links easy to find on website▫Follow-up!!

• Thank them before they donate▫In your letter, on your website, etc.

• Thank them right after they donate▫Personalized, handwritten letter, newsletter, DVD,

etc. • Thank them again (and again)

▫After major trips, after you spend the money, etc.

Sponsorship Packet•Write out all of your anticipated expenses•Give different sponsorship opportunities•Clearly list benefits for the donors

Publicity•Smaller fundraising events can provide

more publicity▫Bring in students to events who may

eventually join▫Give your members a way to get involved

•Even if companies don’t donate, your chapter will be in their minds▫They may donate in the future

Fundraising Year-to-Year•Finding recurring donors

▫Some grants may be in more than one installment

▫Some companies may commit to 2 or more years of a set donation amount

▫Personal donations – keep track of your alumni!

•Having a plan▫Organizing for years to come – develop tools▫Trying out different things▫Know when to just pull the plug

The Life Cycle

Involve EVERYONE!•Our chapter has a

Fundraising Director•His job includes:

▫Seeking out grant opportunities for project teams

▫Coordinating sponsor “thank you” notes

▫Coming up with new fundraising ideas

•Everyone can write a grant! Or a letter! Or come up with ideas!

Plan (at least) Five Years in Advance

• “What happens after this semester when we have spent all of our $20,000?!?!”

• Estimate and forecast future trip budgets▫Example: We still need $20,000 if we want to

take trips next summer• Be prepared to lengthen project timelines to

adjust for long term plans▫Only take 1 trip per year

• Transfer knowledge▫Have a plan to pass down to new leaders▫Overlap leadership so people are on same page

Develop a Budget Template

Our Chapter’s Luck in Fundraising

•Have raised $35,000 since January 2011

•This chart is from last year, but is very similar to the distribution this year

Take Aways:- Figure out your goals- Create the best opportunities for your target donors- Don’t let a strategy start to tank

• http://ewb.tamu.edu• http://ewb-usa.org• Templates and materials on EWB-

USA website: ▫ http://ewb-usa.org/Fundraising.php

• This fundraising presentation▫ http://ewb.tamu.edu/

SouthCentralRegionalWorkshop

Contact information: president.ewbtamu@gmail.com