Activist organizations are not immune to the effects of the weak economy, so a post with some random fundraising ideas is in order. I promise not to stop with a simple list of things you can do. Rather, I will try to suggest how you can take effective action to raise money or otherwise close that annoying gap between what you have and what you really need.
Money Isn't Everything
Money is important, and not optional for some things like rent and electricity, but you sometimes have options aside from raising or earning the money you need. You can't pay the electric bill with used books, but you can sell them and use the money. Try to distinguish between those things for which you really must have money and things for which there are realistic alternatives. You may do this in an informal way now. Consider making a list of what you need to carry out your mission. Items like the rent will present themselves as expenses for which money is required.
Money is important, and not optional for some things like rent and electricity, but you sometimes have options aside from raising or earning the money you need. You can't pay the electric bill with used books, but you can sell them and use the money. Try to distinguish between those things for which you really must have money and things for which there are realistic alternatives. You may do this in an informal way now. Consider making a list of what you need to carry out your mission. Items like the rent will present themselves as expenses for which money is required.
Saving Money Instead of Raising Money
Now, consider some ways to cut costs or even avoid spending money:
1. Barter - What do you have that could be traded to another organization? Don't forget to consider volunteers' skills and talents, as well as skills that the staff can offer. Maybe you can trade your graphic designer's services for something you need from a local business.
2. Seller Cooperatives - Nonprofits sometimes team up to work together on a long-term effort. This is something a bit different. Organizations that sell non-competing goods or services as a source of revenue could share the design, hosting, and marketing costs by creating a fair-trade mall or something similar. This idea may have value in social marketing and cause marketing as well.
3. Buyer Cooperatives - Simple idea. Combine forces with other area nonprofits to get bulk discounts on things. In an extreme case, a group of nonprofits could team up to buy an office building. The net cost of doing this could be less over X number of years than renting a place, maybe.
Look for businesses and nonprofits to team up with and make one of those strategies work, at least as an experiment.
Now, consider some ways to cut costs or even avoid spending money:
1. Barter - What do you have that could be traded to another organization? Don't forget to consider volunteers' skills and talents, as well as skills that the staff can offer. Maybe you can trade your graphic designer's services for something you need from a local business.
2. Seller Cooperatives - Nonprofits sometimes team up to work together on a long-term effort. This is something a bit different. Organizations that sell non-competing goods or services as a source of revenue could share the design, hosting, and marketing costs by creating a fair-trade mall or something similar. This idea may have value in social marketing and cause marketing as well.
3. Buyer Cooperatives - Simple idea. Combine forces with other area nonprofits to get bulk discounts on things. In an extreme case, a group of nonprofits could team up to buy an office building. The net cost of doing this could be less over X number of years than renting a place, maybe.
Look for businesses and nonprofits to team up with and make one of those strategies work, at least as an experiment.
Get a Side Hustle
We call them side hustles or gigs, sometimes. Business owners often start side projects to earn money. A farmer might lease some land to a power company that wants to set up wind turbines. Some nonprofits sell products to generate revenue. Spend a little time considering side hustles for your nonprofit. All of the options open to an individual entrepreneur are on the table:
- Sell arts and crafts on Etsy.
- Sell custom t-shirts or mugs through stores that provide the items and ship them.
- Publish books and sell them through Kindle Direct
- Start a YouTube channel.
- Launch a podcast.
- Open a Web store selling products on commission.
Comments
Post a Comment