It All Begins With an Idea

A dependable revenue stream that grows—ah, paradise!

Have a fundraising challenge you want to crack? Weary of doing the same old, same old yet hoping for different outcomes?  Do you want the over-the-top results that come from superior strategy?

Email me with your particular problem and I’ll arrange a quick consultation offering you a practical solution you can implement. I may even use your situation to share with my readers. Names are changed, of course!

Bill spoke with me last week regarding his desire to start a nonprofit. He told me that he wanted to start a nonprofit that would build awareness for a particular illness—one with which he suffers.

He understands the process—get an attorney, develop by-laws, submit an application to the Internal Revenue Service for 501c(3) status.

What he wanted to know was how to get started.

I told him it begins with an idea. He has that.

Principle 2 of The Eight Principles™ is Begin at the Beginning™. Once you know your passion, you need to communicate that passion to potential supporters in a manner they will understand. The operative word is “they,” not you. That can be tough.

I went on to say that the underlying driving force for success is passion—genuine energy and drive to make a difference. Success isn’t about money, social media or celebrity endorsements.

Not that money isn’t important, because it is. It’s essential, in fact. That’s where that thing called fundraising comes in. (Awareness is also important, but that’s a subject for another time.)

Money is the result of fundraising—not the goal. So, how do go about raising money without making money your focus?

Raising money for a one-time need fits well into the trendy crowdfunding model. If you’re looking to raise funds for a one-time scholarship effort or rescue mission, it’s very effective. It works.

Creating an ongoing stream of revenue to support an ongoing passion—the will to change things for the better—is another matter.