How Worthwhile Causes Survive Through Fund Raise Efforts

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By Helen Parker


Fundraising is almost as old as humankind itself. From the earliest times organizations, churches, rulers and individuals needed money and goods that they could not afford personally. To obtain that money and goods they appealed to the general public, governments and affluent organizations to donate the needed resources. In many cases they organize special events for this purpose. To this day, charitable organizations, churches, schools and many others gather resources by means of a fund raise event.

For a long time, fundraising was conducted by well meaning members or supporters of charities and other institutions in need of help. The art of fundraising has come a long way, however. These days fundraising efforts are managed by dedicated professionals that are highly skilled in identifying potential donors and in portraying the cause they represent in the best possible light. To achieve this, they use the latest technology and modern marketing methods.

The competition between charitable organizations for donations is extremely fierce. There are numerous causes looking for support and each one feels that their cause should be seen as a priority. Donors, both individuals and organizations, can support only a limited number of causes. Many larger business organizations employ staff specially tasked with evaluating appeals, investigating the integrity of charities and making recommendation. Fundraisers therefore need to be extremely creative and skilled.

Fundraisers are challenged by the fact that donors have become wary and fatigued. They are overwhelmed by appeals for help and they have limited resources for charitable donations. In many cases they are approached by various charities that have the same cause and they do not always know which of them perform best in achieving their aims. Larger donors are also starting to expect some form of tangible benefit in exchange for their help.

There is another major challenge that must be overcome by fundraisers. Donors, both corporate and private, have become discontent with the way their donations is used. There have been numerous cases where charities have been caught using donations for private enrichment. In many cases an inordinate percentage of donations are employed for administrative costs. Donors have become careful and even suspicious.

Successful fundraisers obtain donations from the same donors time and time again. This is only possible, however, if they are honest and if they can show the donor exactly where and how the donation has been used. A transparent fundraising agency that makes its financial statements readily available are also more likely to succeed. Successful fundraisers establish long term relationships with their supporters and they make sure that they provide regular feedback.

Any individual or organization that feels that they have a responsibility to contribute towards charitable causes should choose their beneficiaries very carefully. It is vital to make sure that the charity is properly registered, that it is audited regularly by an independent auditor and that it utilizes donations for the intended purpose. Most donors prefer to support a cause that is especially important to them.

There are numerous organizations, ranging from humanitarian aid agencies, political movements, animal welfare groups to churches, schools and conservation activists. They all feel that their causes are priorities. Donors should support those causes that coincide with issues that are dear to them.




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