Fundraising – the act of bringing in money in order to help your organization meet its mission – is far more than soliciting donations and writing grant proposals. There is a wide array of activities in which organizations can engage and each type of activity has its own advantages and pitfalls. In this section, you'll find resources related to a variety of fundraising types.
Ways to Bring in the Funds
Grant Writing
This document defines the various types of fundraising and explores the pros and cons of each type.
Use this matrix as a convenient way to keep track of potential funders and deadlines as well as aligning funder priorities to individual programs.
Get a breakdown of what should be in your grant budget along with a list of common mistakes and a final checklist for reviewing that budget before you submit it.
This 2-year budget template will get you off to a good start on your next grant proposal budget.
Use this chart to track the key elements of the grants you are seeking.
Use this form to prepare for an initial phone call to a foundation regarding funding for a new project.
Sometimes scripting out an important phone call, such as that to a foundation program officer, can help eliminate jitters and keep you on task.
Submitting a proposal to a foundation requires some preparation to increase your chances of success. Keeping these steps in mind can make a big difference.
Capital Campaign
Find inspiration for your Capital Campaign materials in this sample brochure and naming map from the Cocheco Valley Humane Society
This document defines the various types of fundraising and explores the pros and cons of each type.
This readiness quiz will help you determine if your organization is ready for a capital campaign.
NH Public Radio shared their capital campaign brochure.
NH Technical Institute shared their capital campaign brochure.
Planned Giving
This document defines the various types of fundraising and explores the pros and cons of each type.
Any major gift given, either during the donor’s lifetime or after death, as part of the donor’s overall financial and/or estate planning is called planned giving. Get a basic understanding of this topic in this document.
Bequests can be a great way for people who believe in your work to show their support, but sometimes it can seem like an awkward conversation to begin.
What do you need to know when a donor wants to give to your organization in the form of stocks?
Annual Appeal
An annual appeal is a huge undertaking. Let this step-by-step guide help you navigate.
Corporate Sponsorships
This document defines the various types of fundraising and explores the pros and cons of each type.
The success equation is a tool developed by Jason Saul that asks an organization to list its top 3 priority outcomes that lead to the desired impact. To complete the equation, plug in the performance measures and the key strategies used to get to those outcomes.
Use this chart to develop an at-a-glance strategy for your corporate sponsorships.
This document provides a list of things to consider when you are reaching out for corporate sponsorships.
Special Events
This document defines the various types of fundraising and explores the pros and cons of each type.
Let's hold a fundraising event! It sounds so simple, but it's not. Use this guide for planning your event, making it successful and staying sane.
Charitable auctions trigger a variety of compliance and reporting requirements. This tool, adapted from a Blue Avocado article can help you keep track of what you need to do.
There are many types of special events that you can hold and each one offers positives and negatives. Use this tool to help you in making your decision about which kind is best for you.