Fundraising Tools

Tools for fundraising

The activity aims to provide a complete overview of the tools useful to the fundraiser in the search for funds. Not all tools have the same effectiveness, as they can address different audiences and be more suitable for particular sectors of fundraising: cultural, social, health, environmental, etc.

Other important elements in choosing the most effective fundraising tool are: the time available, the professionalism and number of members of the work team, the starting database, the collaboration of the management, etc.

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Getting your Fundraising Starter Kit

This section deals with the first tools you need to have to start a winning fundraising campaign. They are the institution’s database, the time that the team and institution can devote, the professionalism of the team members the trust and freedom of action shown by the board.

Activity: Explore the presentation on fundraising tools. Make a list of key areas to develop. 

Generic Fundraising Tools

Not all tools demonstrate the same effectiveness in every sector. This is mainly due to:
– the diversity of communication languages of the various entities
– to the different sensitivity of donors
– the emotional impact of the content communicated and the mission of the entity

Activity: The presentation lists the main fundraising tools and channels, indicating for each the relative strengths and weaknesses. Identify those most useful for you and your organisation.

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Specific Fundraising Tools for Cultural Heritage

Some of the tools identified in the previous section have historically proved to be more suitable for fundraising in artistic and cultural contexts. Why is this?

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The greater effectiveness of one collection method compared with another is:
cultural level of the target of possible donors
brand recognition
credibility and reputation of the entity
influx of visitors to places of culture
– high value of the cause

In the next section the favourite fundraising tools of the cultural world have been identified. That said, most tools could be converted into a fundraising tool for cultural heritage with the appropriate precautions, so don’t be afraid to “venture”, trying to explore new ways!

The important thing is to always document in depth the campaigns undertaken and to evaluate in a realistic and adequate way the impact of the various initiatives on fundraising: this is how case studies and best practices are born!

Activity: review the guide to specific tools of Fundraising for cultural heritage

National perspectives:

In fundraising it is necessary to always keep in mind all the tax advantages provided by the law, to provide incentives to the donor to donate even larger amounts or more frequently. The tax benefits and concessions vary according to the country and, often, also to the variation of the simple local administrations; for this it is necessary to obtain information on the tax legislation in force in the country where you work.

Another “territorial” aspect to keep in mind in order to establish successful fundraising is  the Foundations Banking Origin (FBO) and their tenders. FBO usually provide donations and funds but exclusively to entities based in their own territory or operating in that specific territory to which the FBO refers.

Activity: examine the short guide with the main indications on where to find information on the expected tax benefits for your donors, together with some valid tools, existing to date, in the countries involved in the SYNOPSIS project.

Insert PPT 5.4 – National advantages

Other sources of information on fundraising tools

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