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We have assembled some of the best tips, tricks, and ideas from the best fundraising minds to help you. Browse the categories on the left to find articles that will help you raise the most money while having the most fun you can have doing a fundraiser.

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Tips to help you succeed

How to hire and get the most from outside fundraising counsel

Hiring outside fundraising counsel is an increasingly popular and important resource tool for funding economic development programs in local communities. As local governments face declining budgets and private businesses realize the specific benefits of economic development activity to their own organizations, this funding trend will continue.

Here are some key factors to keep in mind before hiring an outside fundraising firm:

1. Credibility –Your own, not theirs. Has your organization earned the respect and public trust from your community that would allow you to make a credible ask for support? Have you communicated goals and results to your publics regularly?

2. Leadership – Do you have strong, committed leadership that can see that the job gets done? The executive can’t carry the load alone. Evaluate carefully the ability to gain buy-in for a long-term campaign and sustained volunteer effort. Conduct a feasibility study to identify leadership and gauge support for a campaign.

3. Need – Can you demonstrate the need to expand (or maintain) your program? Can you directly relate your efforts to the growth of your community? Justify the case for making your program bigger, better and more effective. Metrics are what the business community understands. Hire a firm that can help you develop solid data to demonstrate your program’s projected impact & return on investment.

4. Hire a Specialist – Many fundraising firms will claim that raising money is the same regardless of the cause. Some boards will want to give the job to you. Don’t be misled by this thinking. Be sure to hire someone with specific credentials in the area of economic development fundraising who can commit their full efforts to raising the dollars you need. Resist the urge to hire a retired executive from your community.

5. Involve the entire team – Make sure your staff and especially your volunteers have input into the decision to pursue a fund campaign and in the selection of your outside counsel. They have to live with your selection too!

If you’ve done these things, you may be ready to consider an outside fundraising effort. Take time in your deliberations and consider:

1. Experience – Not only of the firm, but of their team members. Do they have people on board who have done your job and understand economic development? Look for firms whose staff has specific experience in economic development. CEcD’s and CCE’s on staff are a plus. Also look for long-term stability in the staff, client retention rates and growth patterns of any firm you consider.

2. Value – Not just cost. Be sure to understand what you are buying and who can provide the greatest efficiency as a result of their experience, processes or people. Look for flexibility in approach, fees and expenses. Are they adequately sized so that they are neither spread too thin or overly large to give you the personal attention you deserve? Get a complete understanding of the entire cost for your campaign including fees, outside purchases, out-of-pocket expenses and travel. Consider fee-only firms exclusively. Commission based fundraising efforts are unethical and will jeopardize your credibility.

3. Personal Chemistry – You will live with your selection for up to a year. Make sure you have full confidence in their abilities to represent you in the community. They wi...

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