Incarnate Word Foundation

Navigating the Funding World in Uncertain Times

Foundation Role Grantmaker: Providing financial support Convener: Creating a forum for dialogue

and collaboration Educator: Enhancing grantee expertise Advocate: Effecting change in public

policy Communicator: Addressing community

issues in proactive grantmaking

Fundraising = Relationships Process of making donations and awarding

grants is intuitive Different donor pools require different

strategies Corporate donors vs. foundation funders Older individuals vs. younger, etc.

The Heart of the Matter Belief in the mission Passion Telling the story Making the ask Building an ongoing relationship

Developing a Funding Strategy What are the funding needs? What can you build upon? What strategies make sense to reach the

goal? Who will implement a plan and what is the

calendar?

Develop a Funding Strategy – the Donors Who are the potential donors:

Foundations Corporations Alumni Churches Individuals Community groups

Reaching the Donor How do you segment the donor

marketplace? What is your story?

How do you tell that story effectively? How do you reach the donors in the

marketplace?

The Role of Fundraising Events Why an event? What is your group’s capacity for events? What scale event?

The Foundation World Driven by their own missions and world view Cutbacks due to the downturn Emphasis on guidelines, deadlines, outcomes and

collaboration Importance of researching funding to identify

potential funders Cultivation

Corporations Heavily impacted by downturn Importance of relationship

Possible Advisory Group membership leads to relationships

Alumni Have a positive feeling toward the

university and awareness of the work Delicate matter because of possible

conflicting fundraising agendas within the university

Churches Approach as a social justice partnership Possible speaking opportunities and other

support for alums of the prison program when they graduate

Individuals Importance of segmenting the market Need to develop strategies to get the story

out Possible use of social media Publicity

Community Groups Service organizations

Rotary, Elks, Sororities, Fraternities, etc. Getting the story out through a speakers

bureau

Use Common Sense Define your goal Don’t try to do everything at once Tell the story Meet deadlines and have a readable

proposal Encourage site visits Use good manners

Major League Dont’s Rudeness Gifts Attempts to influence foundation Board

members Being unclear with what you want Incomplete proposals Not saying thank you