An organization that raises money in a local community using a variety of fundraising techniques is practicing “grassroots fundraising.” Grassroots organizations depend on community-based fundraising because it makes up over 80% of their income; whereas grant make up only 6 to 7%. Grassroots fundraising is a key component of any grassroots organization’s fundraising plan. It is a way to get the word out about the work your organization does, and it helps build a network of support in the community.
Grassroots community-based fundraisers can be face-to-face solicitations, personal mailings and special events. The least successful fundraising endeavor among these is the direct mail approach, as it is risky and yields a return of approximately one percent. On the other hand, a true grassroots special event is a good way to make friends out of donors (encouraging them to give more) and can include raffles, fairs, auctions, concerts, dances, walk-a-thons, etc. Not only do special events build new relationships, they also cultivate the “grassroots” relationships with current donors. Grassroots fundraising helps non-profits invest in the future success of the organization. These days, most non-profits are under-funded and under-staffed. Donations are necessary to help an organization survive, improve the quality of their work and support their grassroots causes.
About SmartRaise:
SmartRaise is an easy-to-use and completely free online tool that is the perfect complement (or replacement) for the traditional fundraiser. In a matter of your minutes, your group can have its own personalized fundraising website where supporters can log on, learn about your cause, and earn you cash with every purchase they make at over 300 popular online stores.
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