Fund Raise Efforts Can Help Make The World A Better Place

By Helen Parker


Millions of people are passionate about one cause or another. Some feel strongly about the homeless, others about abused children, yet others about the desecration of the environment or about animal welfare. These causes, and many others besides, have given birth to numerous charitable organizations that aim to make a change. This is not a new trend. Charitable organizations have been part of society for aeons. But they need funding to achieve their aims. To this end, fund raise campaigns are necessary.

Fundraising used to imply taking to the streets asking coins from passers by or by organizing bazaars or jumble sales. Modern technology and increased demands from charities have changed all this. These days fundraising is an art practised by professionals. It is highly specialized and require skilled individuals to identify potential donors and to convince them to support a specific cause. These days fundraising efforts are conducted globally, using internet technology as a main communications channel.

The fundraising field is amazingly competitive. There are numerous organizations that appeal for donations of one kind or the other. Obviously, potential donors cannot support every fundraising effort. This forces fundraisers to become more creative and to do more to motivate the worthiness of their causes. Some larger organizations even employ professionals that focus solely on fundraising and many larger potential donors have full time employees to evaluate appeals for support.

The pleas for help have become so numerous that a new term was coined. There is now talk about donor fatigue. Donors have become tired and bewildered by the sheer number of appeals for help. They cannot respond positively to every appeal and it is often stressful to say no. It is also often difficult to establish the bona fides of appellants. In addition, many donors feel that they should enjoy some benefits in exchange for their patronage.

It is a sad fact that there have been numerous instances where organizations appealing for donations have been using those donations for purposes other than what is was intended for. Huge percentages of donations are routinely used for administrative purposes while donors want their contributions to be used exclusively for the benefit of the prime target group justifying the existence of the charity.

There are a number of common denominators shared by successful fundraisers. They are transparent and they are able to specify exactly how donations will be used. They are passionate about their various causes. They are willing and eager to submit their audited financial statements and they make sure that they establish long term relationships with their donors. They provide regular feedback and they share their successes with their supporters, acknowledging their role in achieving those successes.

There are some sensible guidelines about picking a charity to support. It needs to properly registered and it needs to be able to present audited financial statements. It needs to be able to show that it is achieving its aims and that it is indeed making a difference within its field of operations. Of course, it is also advisable to choose a charity that is active in a field that appeals to the donor.

Most people and reputable organizations realize that they have a duty to help make the world a better place. Helping worthwhile charities is probably the best way. Every little contribution helps, even it if it is only time and effort that can be donated.




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