This past week, a friend asked if we had any documented fund raising guidelines for either churches in general or for mission trips in particular. This particular church is sending out a medical mission team in the Spring. In addition to normal supplies and funds to raise they are raising funds for expensive medical equipment and supplies. So this is more than what the typical mission trip does, according to my friend. He wrote, “We keep getting questions about selling things and donating funds to buy equipment, but some of these folks are getting more creative than our guidelines.” So — would anyone happen to have anything already written up or documented that would also address some of these sticky ethical wickets?
Seven Golden Rules of Fundraising:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/217223
Another site: Basic Guidelines
http://managementhelp.org/nonprofitfundraising/sources.htm
There are lots of things out there that promise great returns but you want to choose wisely.
I have personally spent time selling candles, collecting cell phones and printer ink cartridges only to find myself spending a lot of time with little or no financial gain.
So the first guideline I would give personally is to choose wisely.
Sounds like you need major fundraising…so the nickel and dime stuff won’t work for what you are setting out to do in the time frame you have set for yourself.
Basically you have to make guidelines to fit your group, your cause and your donor base.
It will take some time to set things up but in the long run it will pay off with what it saves in confusion and chaos.
Good luck and God bless.
Fayo