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

February 21, 2006

How many times has your Board of Directors been faced with cutting expenses or the Leadership Committee had to minimize costs in a campaign budget?

Below are ways to use in-kind gifts to reduce your budget and control campaign expenses:

• Ask your printer to produce campaign collateral materials at no cost. In return, include a "thank you" on the brochure, case statement or other materials they agreed to donate.

• To help reduce the cost of professional development, talk to a local car dealer about the use of a car or van for travel to regional or national conventions.

• Ask your electrician, plumber, painter or handyman to provide their services and/or materials at no charge. This is a great way to get them involved with your agency.

• If you hire outside counsel to assist in your campaign here are a few ways to reduce their travel expenses and your campaign costs:

  -	Ask Board or campaign leadership members for frequent flyer miles to offset the cost of the consultant’s flight each month.
  -	Contact local hotels for complimentary lodging. Most hotel general managers are community-minded members of the local Chamber of Commerce and are happy to be associated with your fundraising effort.
  -	Ask local restaurants, chains and privately owned, to provide meals for your consultant when they are in town, or a meal once a month for you and your counsel.

• If you are building a new facility, talk to a local furniture store about donating furnishings.

• If a Board member, close donor or friend has a private plane or is a pilot, ask them to transport your organization's leadership to a national foundation visit. This can amount to huge savings.

And always remember to appropriately thank in-kind gift donors and acknowledge the market value of their gift.

- Susan Schneweis, Executive Vice President (Kansas City), susan@hartsookcompanies.com.

Another smart idea...From the Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM

"Planning, planning, planning. We have a strategic plan that reflects the college's mission and we use this plan to guide our work. Good planning leads to higher efficiency and productivity and to greater success in fundraising." - Dr. Bets Brown, Colby College (Waterville, Maine)

If you're interested in Best Practices, check out 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
• "Another Two Dozen Best Practices and Great Ideas^SM," a special edition which features suggestions from 24 Hartsook Companies consultants
• "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 Erika Turner, erika@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 1,200 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 Erika Turner, erika@hartsookcompanies.com. You also can reach her at 316.630.9992.

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