How
to Bust Through Funding Barriers -
Part 2 |
| April
18 , 2007 -- Issue 9 |
|
|
| Better
Fields for Better Play |
|
|
From my experience
as a past president of a baseball booster club, there
are two things you need to do to bust through fund raising barriers.
In part 1 we covered the importance of answering this question,
"what is my reason for being?" This helps you answer
questions like, "who are you? what do you do? why
should I support your program?"
Today,
in part 2, we'll look at the second thing you need to do:
2. The
next most important point in your fund raising message is to
be very specific about what you are going to use the money
for.
Tell
people exactly how much you need and how you are going to use it.
Don't just say, "I need money for my baseball program." Instead
say, "I need $300 for a new fence, $510 for dirt to make the field
safer and more playable, and $210 for field maintenance equipment."
You'll get a better response. Guaranteed.
Here's a real world example. A team needed
to raise money to cover travel, food, and lodging expenses during
their spring season. A generic letter was created for
the players to use. Players had a goal to raise $300.
Those players using the generic "please donate to support
our program" raised about $300.
One player customized the support letter and included specifics about
money needed: locations of travel (city and opponent team), how they'd
travel (passenger vans), need for lunch/dinner (simple fast food),
and type of lodging (bunching up in a hotel or staying with host families).
He even included personal info about the position he played and some
of his own needs (sunflower seeds, gum, gatorade, new glove).
The customized letter with specifics raised over $3,000.
Being specific
along with a good 'reason for being' taps into the emotion of benevolence
and really motivates people. People want to make a contribution
that counts. Not just for another box of baseballs, but to be
part of something bigger with a lasting accomplishment.
Of course you should also acknowledge support by advertising or promoting
their support and with a thank you letter.
Have fun!
Yours for better play more often,
J.
Reiner
Jim Reiner
Publisher, Editor, & Groundskeeper
The Ultimate
Baseball Field Renovation Guide
If
you missed part 1 - developing your fund raising message to bust through
funding barriers, click here.
