Tutoring News FlashFlash

Fundraising Tips December 2007

How Does the No Child Left Behind Law Relate to Tutoring?

President Busch signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 on January 8, 2002. This Act reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The NCLB law principles are accountability for results, more choices for parents, greater local control and flexibility, and an emphasis on doing what works based on scientific research. Under this law children can receive free tutoring or supplemental services if the child attends a Title I-funded school that has failed to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) for three years or more. To learn more about Title I-funded schools, visit: http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg1.html. To learn how NCLB is making a difference in Illinois, visit: http://www.ed.gov/nclb/overview/importance/difference/illinois.pdf.

Tips for Raising Program Funds Raising funds to support program activities is an ongoing challenge for many non-profit organizations. Here are a few tips and suggestions to assist fund raising efforts and promote a stable funding foundation: Tip # 1: Create a Fund Development Plan A fund development plan can help you pre-determine costs annually. Keep in mind the following when you develop your fundraising plan: Set realistic, attainable goals Always have a start and end date to raise funds Allow enough time to plan the fundraising effort Develop a budget based upon your goals Decide on the most feasible fundraising strategy Find people to assist with fundraising efforts Tip # 2: Diversify your Funding When diversifying funding you should think of all of your operational needs. Do you need office space, food, printing and copying, or transportation for the participants? Determine if in-kind donations are appropriate Identify and list potential funding sources Develop a gift/donation chart Build a team of supporters to help spread the word

Guiding Principle: People will only give if you ask!

Tip # 3: Continue to Recruit New Donors Individual donations are the leading fundraising strategy for many non-profits. The following tips will help you recruit new donors. Identify key community/fundraising team

members to recruit donors Identify incentives for peoples involvement Write a well-structured presentation to describe the

program and goals Write fundraising letters that appeal to both the

heart and head of potential donors. Appeal to a donors sense of compassion, but also mention that donations are tax deductible

Cultivate relationships in the community including schools, businesses, and social service agencies.

Tip # 4: Motivate your Donors to Keep Giving Keeping donors motivated is essential. Here are some tips to keep donors invested in giving: Empower your Donors. Communicate how you are

helping them make the world better Show how past donations are at work and make a

difference Share program successes with a Donor Newsletter Say Thank You! with a card created by a

program participant. This adds a special touch!

Fund Development Web Resources: How to Write Better Fundraising Materials http://nonprofit.about.com/od/fundraising/fr/writematerials.htm How to Write Grant Proposals http://nonprofit.about.com/od/fundraising/ht/proposals.htm How to Build a Gift Chart http://nonprofit.about.com/od/fundraising/a/giftchart.htm Foundation Center http://foundationcenter.org/ How to Write Better Fundraising Materials http://nonprofit.about.com/od/fundraising/fr/writematerials.htm Prevention First: Funding Resources and Opportunities Resource Guide http://www.prevention.org/ProfDev/Resources.asp Prevention First Tutoring Toolkit http://www.prevention.org/ProfDev/Mentoring_Tutoring.asp

This News Flash is the fourth in a series aimed at spotlighting key elements of successful Mentoring programs. Feedback is always welcome! Contact the Professional Development Services Coordinator at 800.252.8951, ext. 122, if you have a topic idea or resource to share.