Getting the Best Return on Investment for Your Fundraiser
Return On Investment (ROI) is a fundamental business concept. It's also a concept that fundraisers should take into consideration.
A business investment consists of working capital, physical assets, and volunteer time.
ROI is the net gain that results from a business spending money and using physical assets, along with the expenditure of employees' time, in an effort to produce a profits.
So, the investment in a fundraiser consists of: any up-front expenditures that are required, the costs associated with the assets that are used, and the value of people's time spent fundraising
Some key points about ROI in fundraising:
1- Analyse your up-front expenditures vs. your net gain
2- Lowering costs boosts your ROI
3- Always consider the hourly value of each volunteer's time
Put an ROI value on upfront expenditures
The most important point is to analyse all of your up-front spending versus the net gain from each expenditure. Obviously, don't spend money if nothing is actually gained.
One example would be evaluating advertising expenses for a campaign. Before you commit to it, run a small series of test ads to determine the response rate.
If you don't get the desired response, either revise your ad campaign or consider not spending any more money on advertising.
Look for areas where the returns are greatly magnified for every dollar spent. This generally includes effective publicity, quality communication, targeted prospect lists, and timely reminder campaigns.
Put an ROI value on cost reduction vs. net profits
Lowering costs boosts your ROI measurement, but your net can be impacted by the lack of investment. If there is an area where money spent in the past produced excellent results, then be sure that this year's plan provides additional investment capital for that effort.
Remember, it doesn't always take money to make money, but not spending money where it is really needed can seriously impact your results.
Put an ROI value on your fundraising volunteer's time. Each volunteer-hour worked to raise money for your fundraiser should at least be equivalent to minimum wage. Otherwise, your group may not be using volunteers in the most effective manner.
An example would be spending a total of 1,000 volunteer hours coordinating an auction event that only raised $5,000. Chances are that many groups would be happy with the $5,000, but the ROI on everyone's time was marginal.
Put a time value on your merchant partners. In this instance, you want to maximise the value of everyones time by giving them specific tasks and full instructions. Don't take a scattershot approach by going to all the area merchants and asking for donations of merchandise.
Instead, develop rapport with those merchants by providing value for them all year long before you ask them for sponsorship or support.
To improve your fundraising ROI, focus your efforts where you'll get positive responses and avoid wasting your time on unproductive endeavours. Each person who helps out in a fundraiser is offering their time in exchange for something that benefits everyone. Give them specific assignments that focus on maximum results. Don't waste people's time or you will discourage future participation.
Your ROI is a good indicator of the health of your group and fundraising efforts. If the number is too low, your group will be constantly recruiting people to replace those who aren't interested anymore.
Your volunteers may not return because their time wasn't valued, they saw their money being wasted, or that there could have been a better solution.
Design your organisation to maximise your fundraising ROI and you'll position your group for success for many years to come.
A business investment consists of working capital, physical assets, and volunteer time.
ROI is the net gain that results from a business spending money and using physical assets, along with the expenditure of employees' time, in an effort to produce a profits.
So, the investment in a fundraiser consists of: any up-front expenditures that are required, the costs associated with the assets that are used, and the value of people's time spent fundraising
Some key points about ROI in fundraising:
1- Analyse your up-front expenditures vs. your net gain
2- Lowering costs boosts your ROI
3- Always consider the hourly value of each volunteer's time
Put an ROI value on upfront expenditures
The most important point is to analyse all of your up-front spending versus the net gain from each expenditure. Obviously, don't spend money if nothing is actually gained.
One example would be evaluating advertising expenses for a campaign. Before you commit to it, run a small series of test ads to determine the response rate.
If you don't get the desired response, either revise your ad campaign or consider not spending any more money on advertising.
Look for areas where the returns are greatly magnified for every dollar spent. This generally includes effective publicity, quality communication, targeted prospect lists, and timely reminder campaigns.
Put an ROI value on cost reduction vs. net profits
Lowering costs boosts your ROI measurement, but your net can be impacted by the lack of investment. If there is an area where money spent in the past produced excellent results, then be sure that this year's plan provides additional investment capital for that effort.
Remember, it doesn't always take money to make money, but not spending money where it is really needed can seriously impact your results.
Put an ROI value on your fundraising volunteer's time. Each volunteer-hour worked to raise money for your fundraiser should at least be equivalent to minimum wage. Otherwise, your group may not be using volunteers in the most effective manner.
An example would be spending a total of 1,000 volunteer hours coordinating an auction event that only raised $5,000. Chances are that many groups would be happy with the $5,000, but the ROI on everyone's time was marginal.
Put a time value on your merchant partners. In this instance, you want to maximise the value of everyones time by giving them specific tasks and full instructions. Don't take a scattershot approach by going to all the area merchants and asking for donations of merchandise.
Instead, develop rapport with those merchants by providing value for them all year long before you ask them for sponsorship or support.
To improve your fundraising ROI, focus your efforts where you'll get positive responses and avoid wasting your time on unproductive endeavours. Each person who helps out in a fundraiser is offering their time in exchange for something that benefits everyone. Give them specific assignments that focus on maximum results. Don't waste people's time or you will discourage future participation.
Your ROI is a good indicator of the health of your group and fundraising efforts. If the number is too low, your group will be constantly recruiting people to replace those who aren't interested anymore.
Your volunteers may not return because their time wasn't valued, they saw their money being wasted, or that there could have been a better solution.
Design your organisation to maximise your fundraising ROI and you'll position your group for success for many years to come.