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The Accidental Fundraiser
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO RAISING
MONEY FOR YOUR CAUSE
Stephanie Roth
Mimi Ho
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The Accidental Fundraiser
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THE CHARDON PRESS SERIES
Fundamental social change happens when people come together to organize,advo-
cate,and create solutions to injustice.Chardon Press recognizes that communities
working for social justice need tools to create and sustain healthy organizations.In
an effort to support these organizations,Chardon Press produces materials on
fundraising, community organizing, and organizational development. These
resources are specifically designed to meet the needs ofgrassroots nonprofits—
organizations that face the unique challenge ofpromoting change with limited staff,
funding,and other resources.We at Chardon Press have adapted traditional tech-
niques to the circumstances ofgrassroots nonprofits.Chardon Press and Jossey-Bass
hope these works help people committed to social justice to build mission-driven
organizations that are strong,financially secure,and effective.
Kim Klein,Series Editor
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The Accidental Fundraiser
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO RAISING
MONEY FOR YOUR CAUSE
Stephanie Roth
Mimi Ho
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Copyright © 2005 by Stephanie Roth and Mimi Ho.All rights reserved.
Published by Jossey-Bass
A Wiley Imprint
989 Market Street,San Francisco,CA 94103-1741 www.josseybass.com
The materials that appear in this book (except those for which reprint permission must be obtained from the
primary sources) may be reproduced for educational/training activities.We do,however,require that the fol-
lowing statement appear on all reproductions:
The Accidental Fundraiser,by Stephanie Roth and Mimi Ho
Copyright © 2005 by Stephanie Roth and Mimi Ho
This free permission is limited to the reproduction ofmaterial for educational/training events.Systematic
or large-scale reproduction or distribution (more than one hundred copies per year)—or inclusion ofitems
in publications for sale—may be done only with prior written permission.Also,reproduction on computer
disk or by any other electronic means requires prior written permission.Requests to the Publisher for per-
mission should be addressed to the Permissions Department,John Wiley & Sons,Inc.,111 River Street,
Hoboken,NJ 07030,201-748-6011,fax 201-748-6008,or online at http://www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Limit ofLiability/Disclaimer ofWarranty:While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in
preparing this book,they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or com-
pleteness ofthe contents ofthis book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties ofmerchantability
or fitness for a particular purpose.No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or
written sales materials.The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation.
You should consult with a professional where appropriate.Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable
for any loss ofprofit or any other commercial damages,including but not limited to special,incidental,
consequential,or other damages.
Readers should be aware that Internet Web sites offered as citations and/or sources for further informa-
tion may have changed or disappeared between the time this was written and when it is read.
Jossey-Bass books and products are available through most bookstores.To contact Jossey-Bass directly call
our Customer Care Department within the U.S.at 800-956-7739,outside the U.S.at 317-572-3986,or fax
317-572-4002.
Jossey-Bass also publishes its books in a variety ofelectronic formats.Some content that appears in print
may not be available in electronic books.
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Roth,Stephanie,date.
The accidental fundraiser :a step-by-step guide to raising money for your cause / Stephanie Roth,
Mimi Ho.
p.cm.—(The Chardon Press series)
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13 978-0-7879-7805-1 (alk.paper)
ISBN-10 0-7879-7805-1 (alk.paper)
1. Fund raising. I.Ho,Mimi,date.II.Title.III.Series.
HG177.R68 2005
658.15'224—dc22
2005017234
Printed in the United States ofAmerica
FIRSTEDITION
PB Printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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C O N T E N T S
Preface vii
Acknowledgments xi
How to Get the Most from This Book xv
PART ONE Fundraising ABCs
One You CanAsk for Money 3
Two Building Your Fundraising Team 11
Three The Importance of“Thank-You” 21
Four Beyond One-Time Fundraising 25
PART TWO Fundraising Strategies
Asking People 33
Five The Personal Ask 35
Six Phonebanks 55
Seven Door-to-Door Fundraising 77
Social Gatherings 103
Eight House Parties 105
Nine Community Dinners 123
v
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Ten Bowlathons and Other Pledge-Raising Events 149
Eleven Auctions 163
Selling 181
Twelve Ad Books 183
Thirteen Car Washes 203
Fourteen Raffles 213
Fifteen Garage Sales 229
Conclusion 239
Resources 241
A Volunteer Recruitment Form 243
B Who Can You Ask? 245
C Tips on Asking Individuals for Money 247
D Tips for Making a Pitch at an Event 249
E Volunteer Tracking Sheet 251
F For More Information 253
G Blank Worksheets,Workplans,and Scripts 255
The Authors 303
vi
Contents
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P R E F A C E
A
s we were writing this book,we found ourselves in many conversations about
it with friends and family members who neither work for nonprofits nor are
particularly involved in fundraising.When they heard the book was about how peo-
ple who aren’t fundraisers can raise money for a cause they believe in—like their
kid’s school or some other community effort—we started hearing story after story
about something they or someone they knew had done to raise money for a cause.
Here are some stories we heard that convinced us there was a need for this book.
•
Stephanie’s nieces periodically ask her to buy wrapping paper or chocolate,
or to sponsor them in a readathon to support their publicschool,that is,a
school that is supposed to be supported by our tax dollars.
•
An immigrant from El Salvador wanted to raise money quickly to send to a
relieforganization in his home town after a severe earthquake destroyed much
ofthe community.
•
A few friends in Minneapolis got together to help raise money for a candidate
running for the local school board.
•
A young Jewish woman from Boston returned from a trip to the Middle East
with an interest in raising money to support a peace organization there made
up ofboth Israelis and Palestinians.
•
Colleagues who are community organizers in low-income communities in
the United States need to raise money each year to send people to the World
Social Forum,an annual conference that brings together low-income people
working for social justice around the world.
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Fundraising has become commonplace in the United States,in part because so
many public institutions (schools,libraries,parks) that had been completely sup-
ported by taxes are facing budget cuts as government has abdicated responsibility
for meeting even the most basic ofcommunity needs.The result is that more and
more programs that were supported by our tax dollars are now seeking financial
help from individuals,local businesses,and private foundations.That means more
and more ofyou are being asked to help raise that money.
On a more positive note,people are also raising money because,as in the ex-
amples above,they are moved by a pressing community need,by a desire to make
a difference in the world,or just to come together with their neighbors to improve
the conditions in which they live.They decide they want to do something:orga-
nize a local theater group,clean up a toxic site in the neighborhood,lobby the city
council for better lighting at night,get their community to provide better services
to survivors ofdomestic violence,or provide more books and teaching materials
for their local schools.In order to accomplish these projects—some ofwhich are
short-term,while others will take years to complete—they realize they need to
bring people together to make it happen.They need people to participate by giving
their time,and they need some ofthem to contribute some money as well.
This book was not written for professional fundraisers,though ifyou fall in that
category you may find some good fundraising ideas here that you haven’t tried be-
fore,and you are likely to find things here that are helpful to your volunteer team.
It was not written for people working in nonprofit organizations who need to cre-
ate the systems,infrastructure,and technology required to carry out sophisticated
fundraising programs on an ongoing basis.This book is written for anyone—like
you—who finds themselves unexpectedly needing to raise some money to carry
out a particular project,activity,or event.It might be a time-specific need,such as
attending a conference,or helping support emergency relief,or building a com-
munity center.Or it might be something that starts out as a one-time effort and
then grows into an ongoing activity because you find yourself thrilled with what
you were able to accomplish.
You might be a political activist or a member ofa community organization,and
while you never thought that raising money was something you’d ever agree to do,
you finally agree at least to help out.
Or maybe you’re a board member ofa nonprofit organization and have learned
that board members are expected to help raise money.If you don’t really know
where to start,this book should help steer you in the right direction.
viii
Preface
