The Mikuska Group  

Understanding development

One of our clients, Lori Stewart of the Centre for Christian Studies, recently reflected on her job as Development Coordinator in the most recent issue of Common Threads and the reactions she gets when she tells people what she does. Entitled “I Help People Fall in Love with CCS“,  she eloquently hit the nail on the head about what development is all about.

She explains that it’s not about asking for money, it’s about meeting amazing people and hearing stories that inspire her, move her and prompt her to act. Then she shares these stories with people she meets and if they are similarly inspired and moved, they support the work they do at CCS.

That is the essential and salient point of the work done by great fundraisers worldwide. It’s not about campaigns and budget lines. It’s not about you at all. It’s about creating great relationships based on inspiration.

Have you inspired anyone today?

Laura Mikuska

 

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Businesses: Beyond gold, silver, bronze sponsorships

Is this scenario familiar to you?

You are approached by a charitable organization for a sponsorship, typically through a package that lists “Gold, Silver, Bronze” type recognition levels and the benefits each one provides. You’re offered a hole, a table, a booth, or some other such “visibility” opportunity. Or you’re asked to donate a prize for a silent auction or raffle in exchange for some recognition (logo soup, anyone?).

How did these types of approaches make you feel?

Most likely you felt obligated to “give back” to the community and help out the cause. That’s not a bad way to feel, but it’s certainly not what sponsorship is meant to be.

Did anyone ask you how they could help you achieve your business goals through sponsorship?

Mikuska Group Inc. is offering a new program for business – helping you define your sponsorship goals and creating a program that leverages your sponsorships to meet those goals.

We can help you:

  • understand the principles of sponsorship
  • define your business goals
  • create your program for maximum ROI

 If you want to support community causes and achieve your business goals, contact us to find out how.

Laura Mikuska.

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Storytelling: It’s not about you

I had the pleasure of attending the first Nonprofit Storytelling Conference on Nov. 6 and 7 in Seattle. It was a terrific  if exhausting two days and reinforced for me the importance of telling the right stories – so that you can raise more money!

  • The right stories aren’t about you, the organization. They are about “you”, the donor.
  • The right stories don’t talk about thousands or millions of people. They talk about individuals.
  • The right stories put the donor at the centre, fighting the good fight. The donor is the hero.

According to Tom Ahern, one of the experts at the conference, the first gift you ask of a donor is their attention. You do that by trying to get “mental nods.” As in, “Open this now if you’re a true believer in saving hummingbirds!”

After that, you tell them about the problem and how they, the hero, are going to help solve it. Not by using statistics. By writing like your Aunt Ruth. Plain spoken and right to the point.

And you ask for their gift.

I recently contrasted two direct mail letters to show a good letter and a really ugly letter. At the end of that post I let you in on a truly great resource from Jeff Brooks: The Fundraiser’s Guide to Irresistible Communications. Jeff also spoke at the conference, and he says:

  • Donors give because of who they are, not because of who you are.
  • Donors give because they are awesome, not because you are awesome.

And the sooner you get that, the sooner you’ll get to raising more money with storytelling.

Julie Mikuska.

P.S. Check out Jeff Brooks’ blog, Future Fundraising Now.

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