Fundraising Triumphs & Keeping Members Engaged for the Long Haul, FCI at NFCA, Sept. 2013
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The document discusses effective fundraising strategies for co-ops, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and engaging potential members through various activities. It outlines the necessity of evaluating fundraising efforts and leveraging media while sharing lessons learned from past experiences. Organizers are encouraged to empower others and foster a collaborative environment to ensure successful co-op development.
Fundraising Triumphs & Keeping Members Engaged for the Long Haul, FCI at NFCA, Sept. 2013
- 1. Fundraising Triumphs and Keeping Members Engaged for the Long Haul!
- 2. Fundraising Triumphs and Keeping Members Engaged for the Long Haul! Suzi Carter [email protected] 540-416-2667 (COOP) foodcoopinitiative.coop
- 6. Why do people give/join? • Because their friend joined • Because you asked them • For their own reasons!
- 7. So what? How does this apply to co-ops?
- 8. Who are you engaging? Potential members: • “Just browsing” • “I’m waiting until you’re open” • “You’re a bunch of hippies” • “I don’t eat healthy” • “I love what you’re doing! But I don’t have the money right now.” • “I’m here with my friend.”
- 9. 4 Cornerstones in 3 Stages
- 10. 4 Cornerstones in 3 Stages
- 11. Membership growth? Membership fantasy? Membership plateau…
- 13. …only gets you so far
- 14. vs. Earned Relational Capacity
- 15. Moving people to take action
- 18. Taking stock: research, listen
- 19. Set goals and tell everyone • Why are you doing this? • Plan it • Test it • Simplify it • Use traditional and new forms of media
- 20. Decide your activities • Who’s your team? • Where are your members?
- 21. One-on-one
- 22. House Parties
- 23. Small events
- 24. Big events
- 25. Collecting info, building momentum
- 26. Leveraging media
- 27. Evaluating Activities • Did it build membership/loans? • Did it drain our energy or resources? (ROI) • Was it worth it? • Who could do it next time? • What did we learn? • Did the press cover it? • Was it fun? • Was it the right thing to do? • Did the board love it? Did members love it? • Did it bring goodwill to our co-op? • Did it attract past the core?
- 28. Other Ideas
- 29. Other Ideas
- 30. And ideas that flopped
- 31. Lessons learned • Use templates • No such thing as bad press • Work with and through your members • Always think, “Who can do this?” • Use your university • Break up small tasks into smaller tasks • Event toolbox and 3-prong spiel • Make friends with media; become a connector • Don’t do anything alone • If you don’t announce it, it never happened • Admit mistakes, ask for help
- 32. Remember Your Role REPEAT: I WILL NOT DO EVERYTHING.
- 33. Iron Law of Organizing Never do for someone else what s/he can do for herself/himself.
- 34. Job of the Organizer • Identify and recruit the people needed to do the work of starting the co-op • Give them the tools they need to be successful • Keep them working together effectively
- 35. Thank you! Suzi Carter [email protected] 540-416-2667 (COOP) FoodCoopInitiative.coop Questions?