If food is nourishment to a person, money is sustenance for most
nonprofit organizations. Yet many small organizations rely on one-off
efforts and get-rich events in place of real fundraising strategies.
Just because an organization is small, or volunteer-run, or located in a
rural area, does not mean its leaders can't professionalize their
fundraising, establish effective processes, and build genuine
relationships that will lead to the ultimate goal: people giving to
people. Beyond the Bake Sale: Fundraising for Local History
Organizations meets organizations where they are, cutting through all of
the assumptions and mumbo-jumbo, taking professional fundraising
strategies and scaling them to an accessible level. Designed
specifically for small cultural heritage organizations, this book is
written with their unique challenges in mind. From caring for
objects-based collections to succeeding with minimal (or no) permanent
staff to grant writing for those who've never written grants, this book
is for local history organization leaders doing critical work to care
for our shared history. Complete with explanations, examples, and
thought-provoking questions, this book challenges local history leaders
to brainstorm, communicate, experiment, and plan. Blank worksheets
encourage readers to put ideas down in writing and establish processes
to build upon. Whether read cover to cover or used as a reference text
for specific topics, users will find material that begins with a broad
overview before narrowing to focus on tips and tactics that will help
grassroots fundraisers feel more comfortable, confident and confident in
their efforts. Above all else, this book is grounded in the idea that
fundraising is an intentional, people-focused process built on genuine,
personal relationships. This philosophy should be as accessible to
leaders at small cultural heritage organizations as to anyone else doing
important nonprofit work in their communities.
