Locating Resources
Products and Services
High performing associations rely on more than just membership dues to bring in revenue. Too often, associations end up missing out on possible income by making membership an all inclusive package that grants access to all events, products, and services. The current trend is for membership to include a basic level of access while additional items come with an additional fee.
This is accomplished in a number of ways, either through tiered dues structures in which membership is divided into categories with each successive category costing more and providing more benefits. The other trend is to move to a free membership model, in which every product or service such as newsletter subscriptions, conference attendance, or research report, has an associated cost. Regardless of the structure, you must be able to develop and sell products and services to supplement your income.
Key to developing new products and services is conducting a needs assessment among your members. Developing a product that no one wants is a sure way to misuse resources and become irrelevant in the eyes of those you hope to serve. Product decisions should flow naturally from the needs assessment, but an accurate needs assessment will not necessarily guarantee that one’s product will be a success. To be successful, the product or service itself must be accessible, useful, and practical. In making product decisions, it is essential to consider how the product will be purchased and used, to maximize its probability of acceptance by potential users.
Obtaining Money from Grants
A huge amount of money is given to associations through grants made by private endowment institutions. On the Internet, over three million groups are listed all around the world that give grants for worthy projects. Though the process is not easy, these foundations are one possible source for funding. Be sure to check your nation’s laws concerning grants from foundations.
To obtain such a grant from a donor foundation, the grant request must fit within the scope and purpose of the giving organization. These donors have a specific set of values that the originators of the group had in mind. Grants are regarded as investments toward improved human conditions. The decision-makers do not give money to people because they want to give someone a gift or because the requester deserves to receive money. The decision is based on whether or not the request matches the purpose and intent of the specific donating foundation. Does the request fit within the scope of the foundation’s area of giving? Grant writing is a very specialized field.
Writing a successful grant application takes a great amount of research. Start by writing a letter to the person specifically in charge of reviewing grants. The proposal for a grant should be positive in tone, brief, and sufficiently documented and supported with facts.
A simple Google search using the terms “international private endowment intitutions” can help locate possible donors for your projects and programs. You will be amazed at the number of organizations that may be willing to help fund meritorious projects in your country. Be patient and keep searching until you find a match.
Charitable Donations
Supplementing membership dues, fees for services, and grants is the idea of donations and charitable giving from the community in which you operate. While this typically does not constitute the largest portion of any budget, it is still a valid way to bring in additional funding. It is also a challenging endeavor, but there are a number of things to remember that can help in your efforts.
| Peer Involvement : | All fund-raising professionals know that people give to people, so success depends on who is doing the asking. |
| Commitment to the Cause : | Most people give because they believe strongly with the mission of a group. |
| Personal Involvement : | Approach the people who are closest to the organization. Their direct connection makes them good gift prospects. |
| Obligation : | If the donor prospects or members of their families have benefited from the association’s services, do not hesitate to ask for a donation. |
| Sense of Community : | Many people want to give back to their community or their nation. |
| Recognition : | Although most people will say they don’t want recognition, most really do appreciate some form of thank-you. |
| Tax Incentives : | Some nations make gifts to a nonprofit organization tax deductible. Check the laws in your country. |
The key factor for raising donations is to start with the people who have the strongest connections to the organization. But always remember that philanthropy is all about gaining public trust in the association’s commitment to using donations wisely.
