Our reality right now has most people thinking about crisis and feeling consumed with the unknown. Yet fundraising – even in the unknown – is critical for an organization’s success and sustainability. Your mission and those you serve are counting on you! Join Maximizing Excellence, LLC for “Fundraising in Times of Crisis.” Gain valuable insight in how to elevate your mission and raise funds despite an atmosphere of uncertainty. This conversation will cover key fundraising fundamentals including: • Giving motivations • Articulating your organization’s need, value, and differentiation • Crafting your fundraising messaging The call will conclude with “AMA” (Ask Me Anything) around all things fundraising, with a special emphasis on fundraising during the COVID-19 pandemic. Come prepared to share with us – ask our professional fundraising staff the most pressing questions facing your team!

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Fundraising in Times of Crisis
Cindy Elifrits Petersen
Founder & CEO
Brianne Schuler
Consultant
April 23, 2020
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§ Founded in July 2010.
§ Partner with organizations that want to improve
effectiveness and achieve high impact.
§ Serve South Dakota, Nebraska, western
Minnesota, and western Iowa.
§ Our Philosophy: Successful fundraising is a by-
product of an organization’s ability to show its
relevancy and provide meaningful programming
that has measurable impact.
About Us
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Objectives
§ Using your mission to inform messaging.
§ Leveraging donor giving motivations.
§ Reframing your message to evoke a sense of
urgency.
§ Ask Us Anything! “AUA” about fundraising
during COVID-19.
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Expectations
§ Actively participate.
§ Relate content to your own organizations.
§ Stay optimistic.
§ Own your next steps.
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Fundraising is about
raising money.
Organizations are
entitled to community
support.
People give because
organizations have
needs.
People give when they
feel inspired.
Fundraising Mentality
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Individuals Give Because…
§ 97.2% - Belief in mission.
§ 94.3% - Belief making a difference.
§ 92.3% - Support same causes year after year.
§ 83.5% - Spontaneously in response to a need.
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Fundraising in Crisis Formula
Mentality
+
Motivators
+
Message
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Your Mentality
§ This is not about you.
§ Mission prevails.
§ Acknowledge where your mission fits on the
hierarchy of needs.
§ Have a plan. Be specific.
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Leveraging Motivators
§ Belief in mission.
§ Impact.
§ Loyalty.
§ Sense of urgency.
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Message Components
§ Educate how the needs have changed;
evolved because of COVID-19
§ Focus on the solutions you provide.
§ Acknowledge how your mission fits.
§ Make it about “right now.”
§ Remind them why they support you.
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Fundraising in Crisis Formula
Mentality + Motivators
+ Message =
An Invitation
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Ask Us Anything!
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When everything happening feels
out of your control …
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What You CAN Do
§ Revisit your strategic & development plans.
§ Rewrite your strategy through September.
§ Revise timing of gifts.
§ Call donors to check in on them.
§ Be creative … especially with technology.
§ Know the resources available to you.
§ Keep working on your plan.
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Ask Us Anything!
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brianne@maximizingexcellence.org
cindy@maximizingexcellence.org
www.maximizingexcellence.org
605.271.9970
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