Smart ideas delivered every other Tuesday from Hartsook Companies, Inc.

April 3, 2007

This is the first in a two-part series on tips that I, as a volunteer fundraiser, wish I had received before making my first solicitation call.

Once volunteers have mastered the groundwork in the tips outlined below, they will have more comfort with the solicitation tips to be presented in the next issue of Strategies for Success.

1. Understand your organization's campaign, goals and mission.
Know the organization - what it does and who it serves. Take a tour, meet key personnel, observe clients being served. Commit to memory the campaign's financial and service delivery goals. Understand how the dollars are distributed and how clients will benefit from the funds raised through the campaign.

2. Be passionate, be a believer, be an advocate.
You must be personally and financially committed to the campaign if you expect others to join your cause. Armed with the knowledge mentioned in the first tip you can speak comfortably and passionately about the organization's mission and campaign goals.

3. Build a networked team that works together.
We have all heard the old adage, "It's not what you know, but who you know." Nothing could be more true when you are in fundraising. Having people of influence and affluence from your community involved in the campaign is fundamental to success.

- Bob Puissant, Guest Columnist

(Bob, an active volunteer fundraiser, serves on the Board of Advisors for The Salvation Army Fox Cities in Appleton, Wisc.)

For more information on fundraising volunteer training check out Robert Swanson's book Fundraising Magic - 33.5 Strategies for Turning Board Members into Money Makers.

Another Smart Idea...From the Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM

"We have more than 400,000 members. We challenge each one to donate $1 as a fundraiser and also to build our donor base. - Chad Sorce, Young American Bowling Alliance (Greendale, Wisc.)

If you are interested in Best Practices, see these additional resources from Hartsook Companies:

• "Reality Fundraising: Proven, Practical Ideas for the Enlightened Fundraiser" by Bob Hartsook (2005, ASR Philanthropic Publishing). The book features great ideas, insights and lessons learned through hundreds of best practices from nonprofit professionals nationwide. To order the book, follow this link http://www.ASRpublishing.com

• "Best Practices Coast to Coast^SM," a compilation of best practices from every state in the union

• "Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM," our original collection of 250 best practices and great ideas

For a free copy of any or all of the "Best Practices" collections, please email Tammy Weinman, tammy@hartsookcompanies.com, or visit our web site at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com/bestpractices2.shtml. We also invite you to contribute your own best practice by emailing Tami Druzba, tami@hartsookcompanies.com.

Interested in Speakers?

Hartsook consultants are available to speak to your organization on a variety of topics. To read more, visit http://www.hartsookcompanies.com/speak.shtml or email Tami Druzba at tami@hartsookcompanies.com to discuss the possibilities.

Visit the Hartsook Companies web site for:

• Educational opportunities
• Books/reference articles
• Conference/workshop speakers

Strategies for Success explores smart ideas, connecting with more than 1,500 fundraising professionals bi-weekly. We welcome your contributions or comments. If you'd like a free subscription to Strategies for Success - or its monthly companion, eHartsook on Philanthropy - contact Tammy Weinman, tammy@hartsookcompanies.com. You also can reach her at 316.630.9992.

Our web site is located at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com.