Sg2009wc:market

From She's Geeky Wiki

Title: How to Market and Fundraise for Non-Profits

Session: 3-L Bay Area Jan 2009

Convener: Alicia Washkevich

Attendees:

• Alicia Washkevich
• Sheila Down
• Stacey Banks
• Amie Forest
• Amy Jussel
• Myrna Lantzsch
• Melanie Swan
• Jill Wilker

Notes:

• NOLO Press: how to start a non-profit in California, CD’s with templates, etc.
• More non-profits are started in San Francisco and California than anywhere else in the coutry, great for support, not as great for local funding
• Sobrato Foundation – free library, they have spae they give away fro free, Library: Compass Point – low to free classes and webinars
• Most fundraising events don’t actually raise money
• Playing at Learning: Have VIP functions before free events to build awareness and hopefully get some funds. The non-profit is for kids to get excited about Tech, Science, and Engineering
• Classes For Causes : non-profit that reconginizes everyone has something of value they can share. Connects “teachers” willing to volunteer to teach a class, and “students” wanting to learn. “Teachers” get free advertising and “students” get educated – their money goes to the non-profit of the teacher’s choice
• RAFT – Resource Area for Teachers (.net)
• Grant Writer: people passionate about your mission, not just to get 20% off your grant, should be hourly based. OK to write grants yourself, but you should submit through someone that actually knows the program officer of the grant organization or at least someone in the organization. Finding the right grant writer: be sure they know people in foundations that align with your non-profit, be sure they have experience in your space, ask competitors, network at events, Compass Point has a non-profit day, Night New Challenge, Compass Point also has a board café newsletter
• Be aware of what’s out there
• ShapingYouth.org another non-profit from a attendee at She’s Geeky
• Template for Grant Writing – the foundation center
• What to answer in grants: Who are you – leadership? What do you do? Why is it important for the community? Finances? How will you be sustainable? Goals and measureables? How you fit with the grant’s mission?
• Can you go for simultaneous submission? SF Foundation said you can’t go after one til the one you just applied for says yes or no. Sheila says you CAN! Most grant organizations will just ask you who else you’ve applied to…
• Fundraising: relationships, have program officer – what you do and how your fit in, they say they will only give you 50 – ask where to go to get the rest
• How important to just send a one-page: this is who we are
• Sobrato – need 200 K, in private donations before you get space
• Do a newsletter & put your list information on it
• Foundation Officers are overwhelmed – so no real need to just send a one-page
• Catch Phrases? What organization are you writing for? What are your specialty areas? Hire someone who knows your field. Pur grant writers vs hybrids? There are those out there that will just help to push your grant forward because they have the built relationships and connections
• AFP Association for Fundraising Professionals
• Sheila: Experience in youth development and domestic violence consulting for grant writing, non-profits, and event planning
• Ailicon Valley Council of Non-Profits
• Stanford SSIR – free newsletter, but to join… what is best for a miniscule budget?
• Where to you find ED’s? Opportunity knocks, idealist, YNPN Young non-profit professional network, Compass Point interim or part-time Eds (Margaret Donnaho) or Nelson Lang out of the Valley office in Milpitas, Craigslist
• Schmale Science – teen advisory board? Science in her garage
• Y Pulse – 836 Valencia (Best American Non-Required Reading)
• How to get interns or a teen advisory board? Blog, skype, internship or advisory board, “service credit” for helping a non-profit. “seeking interns”… and “come join the fun”!!
• Event management: brown paper tickets, non-profit on the east coast that gives you free stuff: craigslist stuff!! Eventbrite; activa
• Stanford, Berkeley, Santa Clara: intern programs for free workers
• Fresh lifelines for youth: krista is their ED
• Prepaid Legal Servies: Specialized start-up advice: free for most, then 10-20% off… like AAA for legal