What Do You Need?

07/14/2010

Love is at the root of everything. All learning. All parenting. All relationships. Love, or the lack of it.
Fred Rogers, 1928-2003, American television personality

In her Exchange book, Not Just Small Change: Fund Development for Early Childhood Programs, Roberta Bergman talks about the importance of being able to effectively describe your "need" when asking for money for your organization. Here is some of the advice she offers:

"The problem that your proposal addresses, while critical, must be reasonable. You must be able to solve it in a reasonable amount of time with a reasonable amount of money. The problem can't be described as so overwhelming that the funder questions whether or not you can solve it.

"The need you state is NEVER for money. Our agency needs $50,000 in order to train 100 low-income women to become teacher aides is not an appropriate statement of need...".

"Your success rests with your definition of a specific need among a targeted group that you can realistically meet by the method you are proposing.

"Do not confuse the need with the methods. A training program for 100 low-income women is a method of meeting a need. It is not the need itself...".

Guide for Raising Money

Not Just Small Change: Fund Development for Early Childhood Programs is a fundraising guide written specifically for early childhood programs by a veteran early childhood fundraiser, Roberta Bergman. The practical resource provides advice on...

Whom Can We Ask (and Keep Asking) for Money?
Building the Donor Base
Developing Relationships with Your Donors
Events — Yours and Theirs
Direct Mail
Online Donations
Grant Writing
Writing Foundation Proposals: Dear Mr. Gates
Preparing Government Grant Application
Breaking New Ground: The Capital Campaign

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For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.