Mark Preston’s Post

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Successful fundraisers do things that yield the biggest IMPACT for their cause. I consult with smaller organizations all of the time who want to have Galas and Golf Tournaments because they are trendy and exciting, but the math has to work. You NEVER spend more money on the fundraiser than will go toward your stated mission. It's basic fiscal responsibility (that the IRS actually regulates for real 501c3 orgs). Having events where the P&L isn't at least 80/20 is wasteful and representative of wanting to have a good time being the priority and an indication of satisfaction with less actual human beings served. Successful fundraising is about a transfer of passion to support mission work. You can do that with low expense, low manpower activities. I wrote a book about it.

Confession time, hands up 🙋🏼♀️ who has been guilty of using the “spray and pray” method at some point in your fundraising career? It’s the topic of our latest YouTube video (https://lnkd.in/evjfvxSM ). Of course, when we’re: 🌱 starting out 🌱 short of time or under pressure 🌱 low on energy/demoralised we can be tempted to simply opt for a scattergun approach when applying for grants and hope that something comes of one of our applications. ✨Reality check ✨ This approach doesn't benefit anyone in our industry and yields less success than a more targeted method. It: ⚪️ wastes your time in submitting applications ⚪️ wastes the grant makers' time in making rejections ⚪️ impacts your reputation ⚪️ wastes money in the grant system that could be put to better use for charities. So how can we hit the sweet spot of being efficient with our time and yet still being targeted with our approach? Let’s open up the floor and help each other- share your top tips for quick but efficient targeting in the comments. 👇🏻

The story so far... April 2023 Following the initial conversation with a wider group of young people asking the question: What If?, a core group of five young people (18-25) met to plan what this new young person-led organisation could look like. We explored what change we wanted to see in our communities, why we wanted to see it and how to put it into action. As a group we decided that we wanted to commit to: • Reaching young people where they are at; meeting practical and social-emotional needs by building long-term relationships and tailoring support to each individual. • Inviting young people into community and belonging by running positive activities, providing safe spaces, and developing a network of support through local partnerships. • Creating opportunities for young people to build skills, gain experience and lead in shaping change, influencing local strategy and practice. We then committed to the next steps in setting up as a charity, whilst being incubated by Gateway Church Swindon who shared our vision and values. And so WAY was born. #WAY #WAYUK #WAYSwindon #WAYmentors #makelastingchange #volunteerswindon #youngleadersswindon

Sharing one of my favorite reasons why you shouldn't go it alone when you're working on year-end appeal or any other big fundraising project. Check it out and let me know what you think! You can read the other reasons why you shouldn't think you have to do it all yourself here: https://lnkd.in/eBDHtMwC #changeyourworld #knowwhatyoudontknow #dontgoitalone

FIVE ways you can help support us at The Ben Kinsella Trust 💛💜 From following our social channels to running a marathon and fundraising, there are plenty of ways you can make an impact. We need your support more than ever, find out how you can help... 👇 https://lnkd.in/dy_FSZf

This Fall, focus on your #HumanServices Organization mission and engage your community. Sample of Fall Plan for Success: - Focus on your Mission - Host a Fundraising Effort Around the Season - Share Success Stories - Make A Difference #HumanServices #PlanForSuccess

Lions Myth Buster #3. Myth: You need to attend all of the meetings of your club to be a Lion! Reality: Engaging in Lions service and fundraising projects stands as a vibrant departure from conventional meetings within the organization. While regular gatherings serve administrative purposes, participating in service initiatives uniquely embodies the Lions Club's commitment to humanitarian causes. Joining hands in community service projects allows members to directly impact lives, fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose. Fundraising events further amplify this impact, channeling resources toward vital causes. Unlike routine meetings, these endeavors offer tangible outcomes and a more profound connection to the Lions Club's ethos. Embracing service and fundraising projects transforms membership into a dynamic force for positive change, emphasizing the organization's dedication to serving communities in need.

If anyone is in the process of fundraising for LPT, we’ve lined up some useful tips to help boost your total and reach that £700 goal 💜👇

Funding Struggles: The Clemency Project Needs Your Support! Explore the funding difficulties faced by the Clemency Project in this eye-opening discussion. Witness how financial challenges impact vital community work and discover what support is crucial for survival. Join us in understanding how you can help make a difference. #ClemencyProject #FundingChallenges #CommunitySupport #FinancialStruggles #GrantWriting #MakeADifference #NonprofitHelp #SocialImpact #RaisingAwareness #SupportLocal