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I am often contacted by new organizations trying to obtain grants. When I say “new” I mean brand new with zero budgets. Maybe you are one of them? You have a big deal, 501 (c) (3) status, and you have no money for further development. Many new projects believe grants are the best way to get started, and many aspiring grant writers would like to convince you of that. In my opinion, this is not the best strategy.
Often the founder does not want to be the first investment. The new nonprofit needs to show that they have some money and are using it well. For many, this may seem like an impossible task, but it is not. This is a basic fundraiser. Here are five simple suggestions:
1. Garage Clearance Sale: You probably had one as a child. This is a great way to inform the community about the formation of a new organization. Explain that all income goes back to the root cause. If you and your board members contribute, there’s a good chance you will easily reach your first $ 500 goal.
2. House party: Pull your relationships first by financing. Announce a spaghetti dinner at your home and explain how $ 10 a plate supports the mission of your new nonprofit. If you have a church connection, you can even organize an event there and receive additional congregation support after Sunday services.
3. EBay: Yes, a new nonprofit can grow fast with technology, which is just a tip. The technological resources are so abundant that I will leave this topic in a separate article. Until then, eBay is a staple step even for beginners. Explain in your sales that funds are being used to support a new nonprofit.
4. Recycling: Recycle newspapers and cans and take them to your local recycling center. You and your board members can even ask family and friends to recycle. Explain that you are happy to pick up materials from home on a schedule and that all income is going for a good purpose.
5. Board Members: We advise new nonprofit organizations to have at least six board members before starting grant funding. Founders see the boards as an inbuilt system of checks and balances to manage the money they invest in the nonprofit. Six is ??a good number. If each of your six donates $ 50 when entering the board, you will receive your first $ 300. If each of the six takes $ 25 for the next four months, your total over four months will be $ 600.
Combine these efforts and your nonprofit can start at $ 5,000-10,000 in the first four to five months of its existence. Organizations with such a small budget are good candidates for the next step: small grants from local foundations.
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Source by Laura Perdue