Folly #70: The Right Tools
If the one you have isn't the one you need, you're wasting valuable time.
I’m a DIYer at heart. And most Do-It-Yourself projects are like fundraising – you just need a little encouragement (and a few YouTube videos) to get going.
But I cannot count the number of times that I’ve struggled through a project using the not-quite-right tool that I already had, instead of finding (or borrowing) the right one. I may have gotten the job done, but it took way too long.
Tools for Collaborative Fundraising
Since last week’s post on measuring outcomes, I’ve had two conversations about the need for tools. Both were with super smart nonprofit execs who have worked in their issue area for decades.
Both conversations included honest discussions of how hard it is for a nonprofit’s executive director to implement bold programs, manage their board and staff, and fundraise.
One conversation focused specifically on collaboration. Below are my questions – and their answers.
How would you encourage more small nonprofits to seek collaborative fundraising?
I’d start by defining shared goals.
Excellent idea! What tools could guide them in that process?
I don’t know of any specifically.
Starting is always the hardest part. What’s something that could help them start?
Gather data. We don’t have organizations consistently sharing data. I know of a larger organization with terrific dashboards on community needs for children and families. They need more representative data, especially from small nonprofits with direct service programs.
Data can feel so intimidating. And there’s an art to asking questions in a way that provides consistent answers that are easy to aggregate. Is there a tool that could help small nonprofits collect data?
I’d love to see a simple (like, five-question) demographics form that all area nonprofits complete to identify clients served and service gaps. A regional grantmaker could distribute and gather them, and share the data with other organizations that are compiling issue-specific dashboards.
Does anything like that exist in this region?
Not yet.
I’m keenly interested in this topic because I’ve been asked by a community foundation to support their grantees’ capacity building by teaching fundraising. They want me to include collaborative fundraising opportunities.
It pains me to say: I don’t know a lot of examples. Yet, when over half of the 1.3M 501(c)(3) nonprofits in the U.S. have budgets less than $50,000, it sure makes sense to join forces in raising money.
What is the Right Tool?
I “borrowed” ideas from a local coalition leader to gain insight on tools in this community for collaborative fundraising. Each week, I advocate for a common grant application form, so I absolutely love the idea of a single, shared demographic form.
And later this month, I’ll have an opportunity to ask a regional funder what they think of the idea – and would they consider launching it.
As for the bathroom tiling, a chisel and hammer made quick work of removing the old thinset. And a shop vac is the right tool for most projects of continual improvement!
As we prepare to launch our new Funder Follies podcast, this is exactly the kind of story we want nonprofits to tell – in their own words. Where do you find tools that help you raise money with a small staff?
Speaking of … here are some free fundraising tools and online classes from CommunityGrantwriters.us.