I’ll keep this short and simple. Before you pick or start again on an annual fundraiser make sure it’s making a true profit. How do you know? Easy, factor in staff time needed/used to make the event/fundraiser happen and subtract that out of the projected or past funds raised. Was it worth it?
The reality is donor ‘asks’ are usually a more productive way to go about raising funds. I get it, it’s also usually the least comfortable for people. Often donor ‘asks’ are uncomfortable not because a lack of competency, but because a lack of practice. Like most things the more you do it the easier it gets and the better you get at it.
The work you do is important. Make sure the funding is there for you to not only do it, but not have to worry about doing it next week or next year, even if that means having to stretch into knew ways of asking for funds.
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