Support Raising Strategies

Looking for money brings out the best and the worst in people. Promoting an important cause can simultaneously open your mind and close your heart, or conversely, open your heart and close your mind. Fundraising is a science many of us have ventured into as a giver, goer, or sender.

Fundraising is a Vital Aspect of Every Profession

The skills needed to raise money are needed in hundreds of different kinds of jobs. Aid organizations like those working in Haiti survive from charitable contributions. Business managers fight to keep their budget dollars and to grow them. Churches rely upon the generosity of their members while missionaries go out by faith trusting in God to provide through caring friends, family, and faith-based groups. Writers sell their work to broad audiences while artists bring attention to the nuances of life in hopes of making a difference and making a buck.

The school teacher promotes her agenda to the principal submitting funding proposals that educate but don't break the bank. Restaurants market their unique blends of tastes and atmosphere. Youth groups wash cars. Politicians scheme to spend. Sports teams promote their stars. Businesses build their brands. Companies cater their crafts. Non-profits pitch their plights. Almost any job you can think of requires the skills and abilities of selling yourself, promoting your agenda, or encouraging another to join in your way of thinking.

Fundraising Goes by Multiple Names

Different terms describe the idea of gathering money for an important cause: raising support, deputation, professional development strategies, finding funding sources, budget planning, partnership, partner discovery. In some contexts fundraising is a big business looking to garner millions while in others a few hundred dollars goes as far for the need at hand.

Whatever the fundraising need, you need these three essential support raising strategies to get you started and keep you going on the right track.

Essential Support Raising Strategy #1 - When Raising Support Stay Focused

What is your overall purpose? To help refugees in Southeast Asia find homes? To increase your department's travel budget to enable sales representatives to get into the field? To allocate more funds for your favorite politician? To raise three hundred dollars for your summer missions trip? Whatever your purpose, keep it in mind. Stay focused. Don't let a "no" deter or distract you.

It's easy to become distracted by the process of raising support. Don't forget why you are making phone calls, taking friends out to lunch, or developing PowerPoint presentations. Once you forget your true calling, you can forget about sounding relevant to prospective donors.

Essential Support Raising Strategy #2 - When Raising Support Be Yourself

Potential partners want to see a realistic, no nonsense, heartfelt vision before they give you their hard earned money. They want to be moved as much as you are moved. Are you convinced that a budget increase of $10,000 makes your team more productive? Then you've got to sell the idea to your leader by showing your true colors in full array. In short, you have to be yourself. You can't be someone else. Let your passion for your idea show. Honestly reveal how important it is to you. Craft your case as credibly as you can.

Don't be someone different. You can only be yourself. Donors, managers, and leaders will support you as much as they'll support your vision. Build trust. Paint pictures of possibilities. But keep your personality at the center of the presentation. If your cause is bigger than you are then you don't need to fear getting in the way of it. On the other hand, if your cause is all about you, or a misguided attempt to find true meaning in life, people will see right through it, and you'll struggle in your fundraising efforts. You need to have your act together, but more than that, you need to be the normal, good hearted, responsible person that you are.

Essential Support Raising Strategy #3 - When Raising Support Learn and Grow

Each of us needs to grow to be fulfilled and find meaning in life and support raising provides ample opportunity for personal and professional growth. Take the time to learn various fundraising strategies and techniques. Learning from those dedicated to helping you is paramount. Finding colleagues or friends with support raising experience will encourage you along the way.

Beyond the strategies notice what asking others for money does to your heart, and soul, and mind. Do you stay focused? When you present do you present a façade or are you your normal self? Do you handle a "no" by taking it personally or by being grateful for the opportunity to share?

Those of us who raise support have to grow through the joys and heartaches, otherwise we'll be tossed around by the sea of donor commitments that come and go. Don't plead for pledges. Instead, recognize that asking for money is an opportunity for you to learn how to relate better with people. Support raising is a chance to develop skills in presenting your case, asking for the commitment, closing the deal, and thanking the donor for their thoughtfulness.

Your Cause Moves Your Heart and Your Heart Moves Your Cause

If a vision has captured your heart, find a unique way to share it with others. Your job is to stay focused, be yourself, and keep learning and growing in order to motivate dozens or hundreds or thousands of others to be excited about your vision as well. If you engage others, you'll be successful in your support raising efforts, enabling you to benefit your cause and make the world a better place. Raising financial support for a cause that moves your heart will cause your heart to move your cause.

Look for more support raising strategies by following Brian on Twitter @ConvergeCares.