1 r e t p a Ch Getting started So your school or kindy or sports group wants to raise some money. First question: why? The answer is not ‘because we should’. It is not ‘because we want to help the school/kindy/sports group’. You need a firm goal!
Lesson 1:
Goal setting the SMART way
Think: Specific – well-defined and clear Measurable – in terms of progress towards the goal Agreed – all key stakeholders agree to the goal and have a stake in it Realistic – don’t be too ambitious Timely – a time frame is built in. Now that’s SMART! Applying the SMART principles, you’ll see that ‘we want to contribute towards the school’s new science building’ is too broad. ‘We want to outfit the canteen in the new science building’ is better but not quite there. These are great goals: ‘All funds raised from the club’s Trivia Night will be used to send players to the interstate meet during the Easter holidays.’ ‘We want to raise $5000 by 30 June to install shade sails in the playground.’ Such specific outcomes mean you can get actual quotes for what’s needed and set real financial goals.
BONUS ADVANTAGE! Knowing absolutely how much money is needed and how it will be spent provides motivation and focus for helpers and supporters. We’ll talk more about these important people soon.
TIP Financial success does not equate with the percentage of gross sales a fundraising supplier provides. There’s much more to it. Chapter 3: ‘Choosing a fundraiser and supplier’ explains.
10
The Essentials of Fundraising e-book