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Fundraising Introduction Funding is an important aspect of successful conservation programs and should receive serious thought and effort as to how it will be obtained and used. The oversight of fundraising programs is the responsibility of district supervisors. Every avenue for additional funds should be pursued to accomplish your district’s goals and objectives. The first step in conservation district funding is to define your district’s need for funds. This is best done in conjunction with the development of your annual plan. You should assess funds from federal, state, or county appropriated funds, grants and local income-making projects. Many cooperative agreements (and grants) require conservation districts to provide matching funds. Occasionally, services or materials can be substituted for matching funds. A supervisor should be able to define your district’s need for funds and how it can become financially sustainable.
Remember! Funds obtained by conservation districts are classified as public funds, regardless of how they are obtained. The board should be aware of all conditions and restrictions associated with funding sources. Important: Before engaging in any activates, like sponsoring events or tours, consult with your insurance professional to make sure you have the appropriate coverage!
Some Fundraising Thoughts Fundraising is not about asking for money – it’s about turning your visions and values into action. Fundraising is not about waiting for need – it is about planning, monitoring and acting for a secure and effective future.
How Does it Fit in the Picture Includes excerpts from the CSCB Fundraising Guide (Chapter 12 of the Online Conservation District Reference Manual) and NACD educational materials. For more information, please explore these resources or see your local Conservation Specialist. Fundraising is really part of your District long-term plan – how else will you achieve your goals and objectives if not without funds or the resources bought by someone else’s funds? Securing and finding the right fundraising tool is part of the process of meeting District goals – not an activity in isolation. It is also a function of the District Board both for incumbent and future board membership effectiveness.
Where do We Start? • Recognize the importance of fundraising strategy and commit to addressing it • Identify what funds and resources you need to address the District’s short and long term goals (your district action plans are an ideal opportunity) • Be open to ideas and change – just because the District has “never done” something it doesn’t mean they can’t. • Research and compare several fundraising avenues that could address your needs. • Develop a plan based on the most attractive options. Identify who, what and when to implement the plan. • Commit to action AND to ongoing long-term building and sustaining for your fundraising efforts. • Make identifying fundraising needs, initiating action and monitoring a part of your monthly meeting agenda.
Building a Strategy • We know/don’t know what our funding needs are now and for the future. • Our community and sponsors know/don’t know who we are and what we do. • Our board and staff have/don’t have a strong sense of district identity and purpose. • We have/don’t have publicity material developed and regularly promote ourselves. • Our board members do/do not embrace their responsibility as fundraisers and discuss fundraising regularly. Where Are You Now? – ask yourself if you already have the basics or not. These basics are the foundation on which to build a sustainable fundraising strategy – they need to be addressed first and continually strengthened.
Publicize and Market • People only support what they care about – they only care about something they know about. • People like to support efforts that they see generated by a successful source. • Familiarity (even just in name) increases the chances that people will donate to you – that is why you see the same advertisements over and over again! • You don’t know who is out there who might identify you as a potential partner for their projects that the district would benefit from being a part of. How Can Publicity and Marketing Raise Funds?
What is Publicity and Marketing? Publicity Ongoing exposure to District activities and mission increases familiarity and provides a reason for the public to be interested in the District. If the first time someone hears of you it is “give us some money” they are less likely to do so – even if you offer strong reasons to support you. Don’t wait for a big extravaganza – find ways every month to get the word out about your District. Even just knowing your name will increase the comfort level for a potential donator. And it may take hearing about you 10 times for them to even remember your name! Marketing If publicity is “getting the word out” marketing is what the word is. Staff and Board should know what your District mission is so that you can consistently and clearly give out that message. Develop interesting stories that show what the District does – use them when talking to the public to “prove” what you do. If you are targeting material to a potential partner/donor ask “what are their goals and what is in it for them” – make sure you align your message in this light. Consider developing an “information packet” that you can give out to the media or others that briefly describes who the District is, what your goals are and what you have already achieved.
Brainstorm What follows is a no-holds-barred list of fundraising ideas to help you brainstorm possibilities that might be available to your district. They are ideas collected from conservation districts and non-profits nationwide. More complete resources for developing many of the ideas can be found in the CSCB Fundraising Guide in the Online Conservation District Reference Manual or on the NACD website.
Brainstorm List • What about fundraising by reducing costs to free up cash? • Obtain sponsorships for current activities – newsletter, teachers workshop participant, poster competition • Business donations – rental program equipment, supplies • Share resources with other districts - advertising costs, rental equipment, booth space at events, publications, buying power for goods/services • Sell your products/services through other organizations – regularly or at a special event • Apply for government subdivision status at Post Office for reduced mailing costs • Take on building management duties to reduce costs • Employ interns, youth or volunteers for new ideas or to launch new projects
Brainstorm – Longer Term Sources • Building/Land Ownership – office or storage rental space, space for events, eventual asset for borrowing, educational facility • Equipment Rental – grass drill, tree planter, rodent control, specialist weed control, flumes for water flow measurement • Taxes – mill levy, county sales tax, tax on land sales, check-offs, tax forms, land sales, food sales • County Operating Sponsorship – via county commissioners • Sell advertising space – newsletters, events, property, affiliate web sales • Membership Program – individuals (landowners), corporate/business, educators, politicians, set or voluntary amount
Brainstorm - Donations • Ask for donations rather than memberships • Change jar at door of events/businesses/partners • “Pass the Hat” – at district or partner events • “Second Collection Sunday” at churches (pass collection twice) • Local businesses donate % of sales (or a particular item sales ), on particular day/week etc. (Earth Day?) • Adopt-A-?: if you give $x you will buy X for the district • Donation of unused hunting licenses for sale by district • Matching pledges program • Supermarket card donation program (Coalition for Upper South Platte (CUSP) does this with King Soopers/City Market)
Short Term Sources Workshops with Fee – create a differentiated fee for landowners, government, industry, professionals, non-profits Topic ideas: soil evaluations (EPS certification), wildlife attracting/management, native plant/xeriscape/home landscaping, defensible space for fire, managing horse property/small acreage, erosion control (for industry professionals), renewable energy, composting, gardening, range management Sponsorship/Grants – businesses (agricultural, environmental, food, local); locate potential sources in the yellow pages, chamber of commerce, trade publications, web site searches, librarian assistance. Key questions to ask: find out their purpose, goals and restrictions to ensure you can offer something they will want to be involved with. Keep this uppermost when selecting and soliciting potential benefactors. Then ask yourself: what can you offer the sponsor? Advertising – newsletter, events, posted; Recognition in publication, at site, at event; Publicity materials about what they contributed to such as Articles, Display Board, Leaflet, Poster, Radio/tv publicity. See grants lists in the Fundraising Guide (Chapter 12 in the Online Conservation District Reference Manual) for information on where to look for grants or contact your local Conservation Specialist.
Short Term Sources Create a Bequest Program On-Going Competitions - selling tickets for raffle; “Guess the beans in the jar”/”Weight of the steer picture” etc. at local businesses for $1/chance Wish-List Printout – District and partner newsletters; local paper; public notice boards; District and partner web sites Special Events: BBQ/breakfast/picnic/coffee morning; celebrity or themed dinner/harvest dinner/fish fry; wine or beer tasting/specialty or local food tasting; games/quiz night; music/dance/karaoke night; hunting, fishing, birding, wildlife watching or hiking trips and membership clubs; raffles/auctions/competitions: alone or combine with event; sponsored events – pheasant shoot/bike ride/sports event/clay pigeon shoot/tree planting/weed pull More ideas: local history presentation; trips to interesting locations – day/evening/weekend; treasure hunt; restaurant-to-restaurant or house-to-house dinner tour/series; auction items made by local children – combine with children’s contest for items
Make it FUNdraising! Consider the following fundraisers to raise money for specific projects or activities. Each activity contains a projection for the recommended dollars invested, charged and earned. All activities can be adapted to fit your organization, your needs and your community. By exploring different fundraising opportunities, you will add extra money to your yearly budget for staff, extra training and travel – potentially expanding your customer base in the community as well. Please note: Before doing raffles or bingo games, please consult your local city and county offices to get the appropriate licenses.
Fundraise - example GUN RAFFLE WITH 2 DECKS OF CARDS (GUN DONATED) = $2,080 (APPROXIMATE)>> ANOTHER DESIRED ITEM MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR THE GUN, DEPENDING ON YOUR AUDIENCE<< This requires one or two decks of playing cards. If you use two decks, be sure they are not identical. You will be selling each card for $20. Do not sell the cards until your event happens, but be sure to let you audience know if it is only one or two decks of cards; this will help them identify their odds of winning. When you sell a card, let the buyer choose their card, then tear it in half. Give the buyer one half and keep the other half for the drawing. The drawing occurs only when all the playing cards are sold. The half of the playing card you draw will be the winner. Have fun with the audience in revealing the winner by narrowing the winner down by the color of the card, the suit, and then finally revealing the exact card. Please be sure to check with the gun dealer on the necessary paperwork beforehand so you can let you winner know what they need to do after they win.
Fundraise - example SOUVENIR PLASTIC CUP FOR $5.00 AT AN OPEN BAR - $350 (APPROXIMATE) >>PURCHASE OF THE CUP IS NOT MANDATORY<< Buy a box (500) of 8 oz. plastic drinking cups with the district logo. Set up a table at the entrance to the event, reception or dance. Request $5 donation per souvenir cup – the purchase is not mandatory to attend the event. If it is an open bar, you need to discuss with the hotel providing bartenders to make sure they will make the drinks in the cups. Or you can give a ticket when you sell a cup for one free drink (instead of all free). Sometimes the bartenders will charge you (the district) for a double shot of liquor in these cups, because the cups are larger than a regular drinking glass. This can cost the district more for the drinks made in the cups and can get expensive. Just be sure you work out the fine details with the hotel, caterers, and/or bartenders beforehand. The incentive to buy the cup? One cup has a secret mark on it! Whoever has the special cup gets a $25 cash prize. Make sure the marked cup is sold before announcing the surprise.
Fundraise - example POTTERY RAFFLE AT $5.00 PER PERSON = $700-$800 (APPROXIMATE) This is an event specially designed for an annual meeting. Contact a notable local potter/artist and ask them to donate or cut the price on their products. Procure one of their large pieces and sell raffle tickets for $5 each. Hold a drawing at the luncheon or banquet. Add a little fun by making a spinning wheel that has numbers one through three on it. After selling tickets, spin the wheel and the number it lands on is how many times each person may place their name in the drawing. This just adds a little more fun.
Silent and Live Auctions SILENT AUCTION WITH DONATED ITEMS FROM CDS= $4,000+ (APPROXIMATE) Districts, local businesses or individuals donate items (anything from dog food, art prints, jewelry, boxes of sweet potatoes….anything). Usually, a silent auction is held during state association annual meetings. Attendees walk around the tables and sign their name beside the price they are willing to pay for that item (the bid sheets are in $2 intervals). Be sure to announce when the auction is about to close; it is fun to see people stand guard over items they really want to make sure their name is the last name (highest bidder) on the sheet! LIVE AUCTION WITH 70 DONATED ITEMS = $15,000+ (APPROXIMATE) For your live auction, choose no more than 70 large, expensive items donated by districts, local businesses of individuals. (If you have too many items, the auction may run too long.) Sometimes, the less-expensive items are better-suited to the silent auction to raise money. NACD conducts a live auction every year at their annual conference to raise money for their legislative fund. Make sure you have a good auctioneer who can keep the crowd excited, energized and spending money! Advertise the items ahead of time, if possible. Be very organized with paperwork, keeping track of both the donor and the buyer for each item.
Golf Tournaments GOLF TOURNAMENTS • Golf tournaments can be big fundraisers, if executed properly. • Most fees to play are $125 per person or $500 per team. • The organization needs only to pay the green fees, which are usually $25-75 per person.Individual Strokes or Four-Man Scramble are popular game choices. • Teams are chosen by filling out a form; • An A, B, C, and D player are placed on the teams to keep the teams from being staked. You may also want to have an auction along with the golf tournament, featuring items donated by local businesses. You may also consider asking local businesses or individuals to sponsor each hole. • Sell $5 Mulligans (one more putt of shot) and give small prizes (usually something that has been donated to you) for the longest drive and closest to the hole. • One hole may have a chance to win a car (or other prize), if someone hits a hole in one; chances are sold for a price for this opportunity. There are many more options that each group can use to change the golf tournament to fit their players and increase excitement and fundraising opportunities. This kind of even draws participants outside our normal customer base, introducing them to conservation and the district. “Outsiders” will come to play golf if it is advertised and the awards are large enough.
Poker Run POKER RUN This event can be done with motorcycles or boats. Plenty of volunteers are needed. • Usually the players pay an entrance fee anywhere from $25-$100. A paid registration provides the participants with a meal and a t-shirt. Be sure to advertise your district and sponsors on the shirt. • There are five to seven stops where your participants will need to pick up a card. You will need to have a volunteer at each stop to give the players/participants a card. • Be creative when selecting your stop – sights of interest in the community or even areas of conservation education. • There is a general meeting place in the morning, a deadline to leave that general meeting place, and a place to turn in your cards. • The players turn in their poker hand and the best hand wins the prize: usually a cash award has been advertised in advance. When the Poker Run is over, the meal and entertainment are provided. This will reach people outside our regular audience and give districts an opportunity to teach them a little about conservation through handouts and the use of knowledgeable volunteers, who will be able to answer questions about conservation at the stops.
5K 5K RUN/WALK • Runners pay a fee to participate and receive a T-shirt with paid registration. • Be sure to advertise your district and sponsors on the shirt. • Offer a prize for the winner. • This event requires extra efforts to coordinate with the city, as they may need to close streets. • You will also need numerous volunteers to assist.
KEY POINTS • Before engaging in any activates, like sponsoring events or tours, consult with your insurance professional to make sure you have the appropriate coverage! • Funds obtained by conservation districts are classified as public funds, regardless of how they are obtained.
