| It can be difficult to meet your fundraising goals with | | | | Keeping your organization's message at the forefront |
| cold calling, mass emails and direct mail alone. That is | | | | of conversations will keep your network interested in |
| why it is important for you to harness the potential | | | | your activities and make them more likely to donate |
| of the people you know personally and professionally | | | | to your cause. |
| first and foremost in order to meet or exceed your | | | | You can use the good standing you have with your |
| fundraising goals. | | | | social network to promote your cause. The people |
| Anyone who you are semi-regularly in contact with | | | | who consider you a friend or acquaintance are much |
| can be considered part of your network. This group | | | | more likely to recommend your organization to |
| of people consists of family, friends, casual | | | | others. They can offer support and in doing so, |
| acquaintances, co-workers, and anyone with whom | | | | promote your goals. They are your base and your |
| you consistently do business. A good example of | | | | foundation. You can grow this base by keeping in |
| your network can be seen if you are a member of | | | | regular contact with them. Through them, you can |
| social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. | | | | meet new people to add to your network who are |
| The people you are connected to on social | | | | potential donors and supporters of your cause. |
| networking sites are part of your network, whether | | | | Many big business and corporations won't offer |
| they are friends-of-friends or acquaintances you've | | | | donations or support your organization without a |
| only seem in person a handful of times. | | | | large community backing. Use your social network to |
| Your network is important for helping you meet your | | | | gain that community backing. Before you know it, a |
| fundraising goals. Because of the personal connection | | | | new acquaintance of yours may be the CEO of that |
| they share with you, they are more likely to offer | | | | big business, or at least an influential person within |
| donations. And when fundraising is done through a | | | | the company. By growing your network, you're |
| network, those people in your immediate group are | | | | becoming better known in the community and are |
| more likely to pass on the information to their own | | | | more likely to have the attention of larger businesses. |
| network. The fundraising becomes more personal, | | | | Of course, using direct mail and cold-calling tactics can |
| involving people who share connections and common | | | | be a great strategy, too. But if you utilize the |
| bonds. Talking about your organization to the | | | | potential that your social network has to spread your |
| network or posting about it on social networking | | | | organization's message, you'll see the total money |
| sites generates conversation and buzz. Talk about | | | | raised significantly increase. Grow your social network |
| your organization's achievements, future plans and | | | | and include them as an integral part in your |
| the exciting things you've got coming down the line. | | | | fundraising strategy. |