Funding Your Volunteer Programs
To be eligible for funds available through the Student Union, you must be a Student Union-recognized club.
The Department of Community Service can help you identify possible sources of grant funding.
General Tips on Soliciting Funds or Donations
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Donations can come in many forms: food, money, services. Be creative about what you solicit!
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Use the entire Waltham community and surrounding areas.
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Remember, donors give for the following reasons:
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It is hard to turn down students
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Tax-deductions
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Good publicity
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They can get rid of items they no longer need
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They are passionate about your cause or project
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How to Solicit Donations
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Start early; it often takes 2-3 months to arrange for donations, especially from corporations
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Making your first contact…
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Call the organization and get a contact name (manager, PR person, owner, etc) and a correct mailing address.
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Talk to the contact person, introduce yourself, your position and what you are doing, mention why they might be interested in donating, for example, publicity.
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Tell them you are going to send a formal letter explaining the program and the donation request in detail.
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If it feels appropriate and they sound interested, ask for a donation then instead of offering to send a letter.
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Send Formal Letter. Samples letters are available on request from the Department of Community Service.
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Send Confirmation Letter/ Reminder Call
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“Hello, my name is _______ and I sent you a letter about a donation 1 week ago. I wanted to follow-up to see if you have had a chance to look at it and if I can answer any questions for you.”
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Find out if they need any information from you: tax id number, paperwork they need submitted, etc.
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Send a thank you letter. Include publicity materials, information about the program or event, photos, etc.
Final Notes on Fundraising
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The biggest problem in fundraising isn't getting people to give, but finding the right people to ask.
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People give money because of relationships, neighborhood or religious outlook.