Since it was first published in 1988, Fundraising for Social Change has become one of the most widely used books on fundraising in the United States. Fundraising practitioners and activists rely on it for hands-on, specific, and accessible fundraising techniques, and it has become a required text in dozens of college courses around the country. This fifth edition offers the information that has made the book a classic: proven know-how on asking for money, planning and conducting major gifts campaigns, using direct mail effectively, and much more. The book has been significantly changed to include new technology—e-mail, online giving, and blogs—and contains expanded chapters on capital and endowment campaigns, how to feel comfortable asking for money, how to recruit a team of people to help with fundraising, and how to build meaningful relationships with donors. In addition, this essential resource contains new information on such timely topics as ethics, working across cultural lines, and how to create opportunities for fundraising more systematically and strategically

Planning a nonprofit starts immediately a great idea hits you smack between the eyes. You’ll start with the formation of your vision. Then that will grow into your mission statement. Next you’re looking down the road at a budget and trying to anticipate how much something like this will cost to operate and share with the world. Finally, you’re ready to launch into the paperwork. However, you need volunteers. So, my advice to you, before you make the investment into the paperwork and officially forming your nonprofit get your volunteers lined up.

Volunteers are the life-line to all nonprofits. These are the individuals that believe in giving back to the community and are just looking for a place to lend a hand. Volunteers do the work of the nonprofit. The truth is without volunteers your nonprofit will very likely never grow.

There are several ways to find outstanding volunteers:
Announcements – Send flyers and announcements to local community groups and area churches. Share information some basic needs you have for your nonprofit and request that interested volunteers be in touch with you.
Volunteer Banks – There are online volunteer banks where you can post about your need for a volunteer and interested individuals will contact you directly. Some of these services are for free.
Family and Friends – This is probably the number source to start to tap into for volunteers. Friends and family members will gravitate to the idea of volunteering if for no other reason than to see you be successful. Also, friends and family members are going to be a great resource for referrals.

Sharing information is a common theme throughout this post. You must start talking to people about what you are thinking about doing. You must share your mission. Help people catch the enthusiasm you have for your new venture. Then they’ll help spread the word.

Also, the more you talk about your new nonprofit, the more confident you’ll become about it. Talking about it and getting others input will definitely help to fill in gaps in your information collection process. As well, you may discover a new way of looking at your nonprofit that you hadn’t thought about before.

So, don’t be shy. Share your new idea with others. Get people excite and eager to help you get your new project off the ground.

Well, a very good friend of mine (Laura Allen) educated
me to the fact that not only was I wasting gas, but I was adding to the
pollution. Now, I dress appropriately for the weather. I arrive closer to the
time I need to meet him, so I don’t run the car engine at all.  I’m doing my bit to improve our climate conditions.

What are you doing to live greener, and preserve our
world? Check out the Blog Action Day site for suggestions.

Kids learn by doing. So when it comes to volunteering, not only must we set a good example as parents and adults by helping those in need, we must also involve our children in the action of helping others.

As parents, we are inundated with fundraisers from the PTA, the Girls Scouts, and now many schools are involved in jump rope for heart and other causes. It’s much easier for parents to simply take fund-raising order forms to work or send e-mails to their friends and family and avoid getting their kids involved in the process at all. But getting our kids involved and teaching them about giving is the all important lesson we are missing out on if we forgo that step.

Aside from the fundraisers that come our way via school, sports teams and our communities, the best way to get our kids involved is to do something different that is meaningful to them. Check out Kids For Our Troops , offering great ideas for our kids to get involved in helping our troops. Another great idea is to organize a good cause garage sale. Your kids can participate in selecting which good cause to support. This makes them feel empowered and part of the process.

Kids from ages 12-17 can attend a volunteer camp in Frederick, MD. Volunteer Frederick offers camps through its summer serve program where kids participate in various projects from working with rescued horses and other animals to preparing and serving meals to the hungry to engaging elderly residents with developmental disabilities in music, art, cooking and exercise activities. What a great way to keep your child from being bored in the summer and have them gain the valuable experience of giving.

April is National Volunteers Month. It’s a set aside time for us to honor and show our deep appreciation for the men, women, and children who keep our nonprofit organizations operational. There are many nonprofit organizations in the country that are only able to offer services because of their fine volunteers.

There are quite a few organizations that no longer exist because their volunteers gave up. Don’t let this happen in your community. Consider just a simple gesture of appreciation to honor the volunteers at your local community center, Boys and Girls club, and other neighborhood nonprofit organizations consider giving a very simple, and sincere, Thank You.

Also remember to check out Volunteer Match to see what organizations can use your special skill or talents. Volunteer!

What does your target audience do for a living? Where do they live? What are they asking for that the community isn’t providing? How can you provide? What will make them want it from you? How will this improve their lives? I could keep going on, but you get the idea.

In order to gather this information, you really need to do some field reconnaissance. Create a brief questionnaire, and then poll people. Attend town hall sessions, homeowner association board meetings, or any other venue that will give you access to the people in your targeted community. If there isn’t one, then organize it. Listen to what the people are saying, and if appropriate ask a question that may lend itself to research for your project. (Be appropriate, otherwise you’ll just turn off your targeted community.)

My most rewarding experience, yes hind-sight is 20/20, was the November 9 networking event with the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations and other nonprofit organizations. While I was almost sick to my stomach just thinking about going, it was a great experience, and I was able to gather new resources from that event. I must admit, I’m looking forward to my next one.

Established in the fall of 2001, A Wider Circle is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to creating change from the inside out. Their programs address the inner and outer needs of adults and children challenged by homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, and other health and social issues.

A Wider Circle is involved in a number of programs, all of which share two major components:

Inner Work focuses on helping adults and children manage stress, build healthy self esteem, and understand how to utilize their inner resources to create a desired reality for themselves. Workshops and written materials educate people on the power of visualization and positive imagery; the importance of wellness; stress, anxiety, and anger management; and the empowering insights of the mind-body connection.

Community Outreach events provide assistance on many levels – from furniture and clothing deliveries to building gardens, painting, and the beautification of neglected areas – in an effort to help individuals and families have the opportunity to live well and make healthy lifestyle choices.

A Wider Circle is primarily a volunteer-based organization, with over 300 individuals currently helping to deliver a wide range or programs and services. Our volunteer pool grows on a weekly basis! Interns come from local (and sometimes distant) universities as well as from the community, at large. Along with the Executive Director, they help manage the daily activities of the organization. It is the synergy of everyone involved with A Wider Circle that has allowed us to grow in service of our fellow human beings.

For more information got to A Wider Circle.