Module 1: Awareness and Your Call To Action
The Importance of Donations
“Awareness-raising is a worthy activity unto itself, but the reality is that awareness without action results in little change. After all, awareness is supposed to inspire people to act!”(1)
Committed people bring change to the world. Fundraising is a vitally important part of any service activity because organizations and institutions that seek to help those in need simply cannot function without funding and can make a much greater impact with increased funding. For example, $50 can restore a patient’s sight through Unite for Sight. Unite for Sight's volunteers raise funds by sharing their passion about Unite for Sight with their family and friends.
Tips for Fundraising
- Make it personal: Tell your story and why fundraising for Unite for Sight is important to you. People respond much better to a personal commitment than to broad claims and big statistics.
- Concretely explain how the donations are used and will tangibly help. Be specific: $50 can restore a patient’s sight. $250 can restore sight for five people. Explaining exactly what the money accomplishes can help donors understand that they are not just throwing their funds into a big pot that siphons it off to intangible things. Every donor's funds have a real, life-changing and direct impact on individuals.
- Do not be intimidated by high goals: Jim Berigan reminds us in an article in “Step By Step Fundraising” that the Obama campaign raised $150 million in one month alone with an average gift of under $100. The Obama campaign worked by making their case one donor at a time. Most people are willing to donate $50 or $100 to a good cause, but it’s up to you to make that cause personal and relevant to them.(2)
- Build relationships with donors. Most of the time, you will be asking family and friends, but even in these instances you should keep them updated and involved in your activities with Unite for Sight. If a donor feels that he or she is really becoming part of a movement, he or she will be more likely to support you and your efforts with that organization in the future.
- In any conversation about fundraising, focus on the work that you will be doing with Unite for Sight and how it will be good for the community you will serve. Focusing the conversation around your vision for improved global health is much more productive than simply discussing money. Use the conversation as an opportunity to share your passion with a potential donor and to get them excited about the great work that you will be doing abroad.(3)
While you are fundraising to eliminate preventable blindness worldwide, you are also raising awareness about how others can become involved as well. People respond very well to passion and commitment on an individual level, so go out there with confidence and tell your story!
Go To Module 2: Your Network of Supporters >>
Footnotes
(1) “Awareness + Action = Effective!” The Online Fundraising Blog. Accessed 2/26/09 <http://www.onlinefundraisingblog.com/2008/07/awareness-action-effective/>
(2) Berigan, J. “What Non-Profits Can Learn from the Obama Fundraising Campaign” Step By Step Fundraising: Practical Resources to Help You Raise Funds for Non Profit Causes. Accessed 2/26/09 <http://stepbystepfundraising.com/non-profits-can-learn-from-obama-fundraising/>
(3) Perry, Gail. “Five Fundraising Mistakes We Make With Our Boards.” Fired Up Fundraising. Accessed 2/26/09 <http://www.guidestar.org/news/features/board_fundraising.jsp>