 
Ten Trends Shaping Your Fundraising Success in 2004
Economic and Community development executives are embracing the new year. They hope for success in 2004, yet are acutely aware of the mixed economic forecast. Fortunately, getting ahead of the following ten trends in fundraising can lead to a successful year.
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Bigger Initiatives
It may seem counter-intuitive, but bigger initiatives, backed by a comprehensive action plan, actually can be easier to fund than one-off or "warm & fuzzy” events. Potential investors are tired of being nickled and dimed, asked to fund poorly planned events that can’t demonstrate any contribution to the long-term health of the community. That’s why communities are thinking big - even if they're small.
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Bolder Plans
An increasing number of organizations are bundling multiple program and facility needs, aligning them to a single, bold initiative. The resulting four or five-year action plan becomes an effective way to garner strong community attention and support.
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Broader Scope
The scope of what investors consider important in economic/community development has broadened to include such diverse initiatives as workforce development, K-12 education, retention of college graduates and small business/entrepreneurship development efforts. Of course business attraction, retention & expansion remain critically important as well.
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Public-private Partnerships
The public sector has been increasing participation through stronger, more-focused public-private partnerships in response to the private sector's leadership of economic/community development issues.
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Demonstrable Returns
As with any investor, businesses (and the public sector) demand to know, "what's in it for me?" before investing in a fundraising initiative. To answer that question, fundraisers need definitive impact data and a measurable return-on-investment. This often requires a very astute investigation of “best practices” and “benchmarking” other peer communities and organizations to set strong, yet attainable, performance measures.
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Over-reliance on Volunteers and Staff
The traditional tactic of relying on volunteers for fundraising is no longer effective. Volunteers have little time or desire to roll up their sleeves and raise funds by themselves. Often, they lack the expertise to target and execute an effective request for funds. Staff, who are faced with trying to do more with less — and must make wise use of their volunteers —, may also lack the time and experience to solicit funds effectively.
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A New Breed of Outsource Resource
A new breed of outsource resource is easing the burden on volunteers and staff. Firms like STELLAR Fundraising Executives are emerging to fill this critical need. These firms can never replace volunteers, especially when it comes to leveraging a volunteer’s influence. But, by placing an experienced fundraiser on-site, these consultancies can organize and manage an entire campaign. Often raising many times over what staff or volunteer efforts could alone.
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Volunteer and Professional Integration
The choice is not between community volunteers and an outside resource. The key is to integrate the contribution of each. For example, the community leaders who volunteer to help with a fundraising initiative have the connections and influence. The consultant knows how to package the request for funds. Working together becomes far more effective than trying to go-it-alone or get-it-as-you-need-it.
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Appropriate Action
Developing and executing an action plan can require a commitment and ability beyond many volunteers. However, proper facilitation from a fundraising consultancy like STELLAR can provide the solid framework that results in a complete action plan and proposed budget.
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Feasibility Assessment
Testing an action plan communitywide through a professional Feasibility Study helps to build and gauge investor support and can answer a host of other key questions and perceptions. Assuming there is adequate support for the proposed initiatives, the fund-raising campaign can, and should, move forward.
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