As a grant writer, I have a problem with the percentage approach because no
matter how great a proposal I write, I can’t guarantee that a potential donor
is going to want to fund it. Perhaps they are no longer interested in funding
types of projects they did in the past; maybe they are focusing their dollars
elsewhere; maybe the project I am writing about is not that great in the first
place. There are many different variables that could effect the success of
getting the grant that have nothing to do with the way the proposal was
written. If I were to work on a percentage basis and no money came in, I would
not be paid anything for my hard work. Also, it can take a year for a donor to
decide if they want to fund a project and maybe longer to award the money. In
such cases, I would have to wait a year or more to get paid.
Yikes!
Kate Hallgren
From: Alan Rosen
Sent: February 07, 2016 11:32 AM
To: Steve Solomon
Cc: Nirit Roessler ; Rachelbeth Canar ; Avi Hyman ; Fundraisers Forum
Subject: [Fundraisers Forum] Re: How do you charge clients?
I am aware of all the ethical issues and I do not disagree.
However there is a very real challenge to hiring a fundraiser. I have been with
the same organization for 28 years. We have had all kinds of people working
here in fundraising. It is a lot more challenging than hiring an accountant or
secretary.
The costs for someone good are very significant. The problem is, that many
people can sell themselves well but can't begin to do the job they claimed they
could. The organization losses lot of money and makes very negative progress in
their goal of developing a successful fundraising operation.
The NGO directors need a lot more than a lecture on ethics to move forward and
make good decisions. A few lines about ethics will not convince them to take an
enormous financial gamble with an untested Fundraiser, especially after they
may have been burned in the past.
Alan Rosen
Shvut Ami Center for Russian Jews
Administrative Director
On Fri, Feb 5, 2016 at 3:32 PM, Steve Solomon <smsolomon22@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
After many years as a salaried fundraiser and presently working as a
consultant, I can only echo the comments and especially those made by Pam and
Nirit.
Aside form the ethics involved, organizations must understand how any donor
would react. I often tell the NGO something like : " Imagine that your donor or
prospect finds out that your new, commission paid fundraiser is getting $40,000
out of the $100,000 gift he/she solicited. Any the donor will find out !!" .
That usually works.!! Reality .
Steve
Steve M. Solomon, MSW
Consultant, Organisational & Resource Development
יועץ מומחה , פיתוח ארגוני ומשאבים
(972) 54 309 6444 in Israel
(1 732) 410 4958 in the USA and Canada
Sאקהק
Sאקהק
Sאקהק
On Thu, Feb 4, 2016 at 5:30 PM, Nirit Roessler <nirit.roessler8@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
organizations don't LIKE this solution - they just:
1. assume that so it must be (ill informed)
2. As they often don't have money (until the fundraising efforts bring in
the funds) they hope to "encourage" the fundraiser to work in this way instead
of his fair fees-for-service.
I agree one needs to preach for it again and again and help educate both
sides as to the ethical and financial consequences of this method...
2016-02-04 17:12 GMT+02:00 Rachelbeth Canar <rachelcanar@xxxxxxxxx>:
As someone who is doing recruiting and helping many people find work in
the fundraising field, I am truly shocked by how many NGOs are only offering,
insisting, etc. on this model of commission based fundraising.
I think we MUST find a way to have this addressed at a Midot conference
or in some way that the NGO directors et al can be educated about this issue.
It is unethical both for the fundraiser and for the donor. I see that several
people have sent you the information about the ethics and rules of this, but
just for the fundaisers to know it is clearly not enough. How can we make this
stop?
On Thu, Feb 4, 2016 at 2:35 PM, Avi Hyman <avihyman@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I was recently asked by a few organizations that I represent (PR) to find
them professional and experienced fundraisers.
They are both interested in paying a percentage of money raised, but I am
increasingly hearing that people don't work this way anymore.
Can anyone shed some light on the subject?
Avi Hyman | CEO
Avi Hyman Communications
Israel: 972-54-633-0768
www.avihyman.com
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Nirit Roessler
Professional Director of JCU
Independent Consultant and Trainer to the Non-Profit Sector
"You need a break in order to get to a breakthrough"
02-6431380
054-6585260
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