No doubt about it, the economy has presented us with the perfect storm—demand for services is skyrocketing at the same time many people are worried about their pocketbooks and foundations are seeing their investments lost substantial value. However, the perfect storm also presents us with the perfect opportunity: to take a critical look at how our organizations approach fundraising and consider making some adjustments that can promote diversified, durable funding.

 

In this session, we’ll start with thinking about the place that fundraising has in our organizations, and learn how ordinary human beings (a.k.a. staff and board members) can actually develop that seemingly mythic thing: a culture of fundraising. Next, we’ll take a look at the realities of fundraising today: new technologies, emerging trends and demographic changes. Finally, we’ll use sustainability as a criteria in pursuing funding sources and selecting fundraising methods—from the tried and the true (special events, grants, endowments) to truly innovative (mobile giving, giving circles, social enterprise).