Protecting Your Government Funding

First things first: If you are reading this and have any idea at all as to why my text is formatted so oddly, please let me know! Thanks, Lisa

A friend of mine who worked in the mayor's office of a small city told me this story:

The City invited local nonprofit organizations that operated recreational programs to apply for
funding. Among the applicants were a nonprofit organization that offered swimming classes,
enjoyed by a broad cross-section of residents, and an organization whose only program was a golf
course, enjoyed by a small but loyal base of fans. The golf club was awarded money; the swim
program was not.

My friend felt that, for the most part, the swim club needed and deserved the money more than the golfers did. But, she said there was one complicating consideration:

The golf club's representatives regularly visited City Hall and updated key people in the grant-
making process about the golf club's programs, events, maintenance challenges, and more. The
swimmers did not visit City Hall, and offered no updates.When it came time to decide which
groups got money, the grant-making folks had much more information about the golf program than
about the swimming program.

Here are my five notes-to-self from this story. (What are yours?)

1) DON'T assume that your organization's good work speaks for itself.
2) DON'T assume that fundraising and other activities not directly related to your mission don't
    constitute good work.
3) DO cultivate relationships with government officials and staffers.
4) DO advocate funding for their services.
5) DO these things on an ongoing basis.

Check back tomorrow for 33 ways to protect your government support.

Capture Holiday Season Donor Dollars

Take advantage of this time of year – when many people feel an urge to make charitable donations to nonprofit and community organizations:

1. Ask your supporters to save those unwanted holiday gifts and donate them to your organization. Their unwanted gifts may be perfect as your annual benefit's auction items, raffle prizes, or program/office supplies.

2. Let supporters know what you could use. You will be surprised by what people will donate. Here are examples of things that have been successfully requested: 

• copying services, 
• computers, 
• digital cameras, 
• temporary use of a theater marquis, 
• a performance by a dance troupe, 
• use of a professional kitchen, 
• office supplies.

3. Encourage donors making cash donations to find out if their employers have a matching gifts program and, if so, how to have their gifts matched.

4. Make your holiday wish list widely available. Get the word out using tools like:

• Newsletters (if already printed, use inserts),
• Websites,
• Blogs,
• Flyers,
• Mailings (if mailing materials are already printed, use inserts),
• Meetings and other events.

5. Finally, thank everyone who makes a contribution. (This means you have to get and store donors’ contact information.) Prompt, written acknowledgments help you cultivate solid, long-term relationships with donors who will support your work not only this year, but for years to come.