Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund
Preliminary Summary Fundraising Plan
2007
This plan is preliminary in that the new GLAHNF Board of Directors will not meet until
January 2007 and therefore have not had a chance to review or provide input to the plan.
Given this fact, this plan is a summary of fundraising activities and goals for 2007 that
will be further developed in conjunction with the board. A 2007 Fundraising Calendar
will be developed in conjunction with the Board of Directors in early 2007. This plan
includes information prepared for GLAHNF by Andy Robinson in a fundraising
assessment and recommendations report.
A. Purpose. To help GLAHNF plan for more diversified income by focusing on
identified strengths and utilizing a variety of fundraising methods.
B. Background findings from Andy Robinson's interviews.
A number of themes emerged:
2. It’s all about the grassroots. The interviewees (regional funders, regional NGOs
and GLAHNF network members) spoke clearly and consistently. GLAHNF's
greatest asset, they said, is its connection to the grassroots and ability to bring
grassroots activists together for common purpose. “What impresses me,” said one,
“is the sheer number of voices that can be called on.”
The other standout assets include the grants program and staff, both of which
were mentioned by many of the respondents, and the bi-national nature of the
program.
Interestingly, a few people discussed advocacy as a strength, while a few other
applauded the fact that GLAHNF wasn’t primarily an advocacy organization.
“Advocacy,” said one, “doesn’t get in the way of the dialogue.” Another added,
“They have a knack for finding middle ground.”
3. Once they know you, they love you. “People seek me out to tell me how much
they support GLAHNF,” said one respondent. “Grassroots groups appreciate
knowing that somebody is on their side.”
4. The biggest weakness is – no surprise – the narrow funding base. This
problem was mentioned by nearly half the interviewees; one called GLAHNF,
“this thing of Mott.”
5. What distinguishes you from other groups? Grassroots, grants. When asked
to define your niche – in other words, what distinguishes GLAHNF from the
many groups working in the basin – two things stood out: GLAHNF's grassroots
credentials and the small grants program.
6. On the topic of fundraising, respondents had all sorts of ideas (“Make Mott
happy!” said one), many of which are incorporated into the recommendations
below. A number were stymied by the question – I heard a lot of sighs, pauses,
and the words, “I don’t know.” People understand that GLAHNF is neither a local
watershed group nor a typical advocacy organization, so the funding plan must be
created on a different model. As one respondent pointed out, “To build a
traditional membership base, they would have to do a lot more advocacy, to be
higher-profile.”
C. Key Strategies.
More grants, different grants
1. new private foundations (i.e. Joyce, Beldon, Gund, Patagonia, Surdna, National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation)
2. new government sources (i.e. EPA, USFWS, Department of Commerce)
Collaborative grants and fundraising
1. joint grant proposals and joint programs
2. collaborative fundraising events
Institutional memberships, fees, and other earned income
1.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Paid Individual Memberships
Paid Organizational Memberships
Publication subscription fees
Grant process fees (waived for members)
Workshop and training event fees
Materials fees
Donor fundraising
1. Individual donor program
2. Begin major donor program
Corporate fundraising
1. Business sponsorships for events and auctions
D. Specific Activities in 2007
Fundraising efforts in 2007 will focus on developing new foundation and
governmental contacts and submitting proposals to ten private foundations and
governmental funding sources. GLAHNF will continue to collaborate with other
groups to provide compelling programs and proposals such as those currently
underway with the Alliance for the Great Lakes and Tip of the Mitt Watershed
Council. In addition, GLAHNF is beginning to implement joint fundraising events
with its grassroots partners in the form of local house parties. GLAHNF provides
materials and training and the local partner provide participants, food and venues.
GLAHNF will develop its membership programs for both individuals and
organizations. Benefits of membership will include waiving grant application fees,
access to members only resources on our website, and more to be determined by the
board of directors. While small fees have been charged in the past to cover
workshops, training events, and materials, more market-based fees will be developed
this year by researching what groups and individuals would be willing to pay for such
resources.
We will continue to develop our individual donor program and focus more effort on
potential major donors. Though this program has been underway for three years, we
believe there is good potential for expanding the donor base now that the
organizational structure makes the recipient of giving clear.
A business partner program will be established to provide sponsorships for events and
programs as well as receive donations of goods and services for charity auction
purposes.
The Board of Directors will work with the staff to determine goals to diversify the
funding sources from the different sources.