Mercer County

It is important to keep clear in everyone's mind that any community fundraising effort has two components. One is the project itself, the goal to be accomplished and attained and the other part is the maintaining of that accomplishment. If you are trying to do a community building, the money to put up the building itself is called capital campaign. You are raising capital or money for a large need. The second part is the annual maintenance requirements. The need to keep these separate is very important. Many fundraising efforts have gone dry by the failure to keep these distinct and not showing people the need for each and how they interrelate.

What must be explained clearly is that a capital campaign is seeking funds for one specific and one time purpose. These funds are needed as well as the annual cost of operation. As your group funds new needs for your building, it is essential that the normal maintenance funds be obtained. The success of all organizations is based on the ability to educate the public to both needs. It is important to remember that even after a community building is built it will still be necessary to have capital campaign in the future for large dollar items that need to be added such as playground equipment or building improvements.

Always remember that people give to people so always personalize your project and it's impact. This communication will make a difference in your project. Often early on groups find they are spending a dollar to raise a dollar, but this new money raised is free to be applied to a worthwhile community project that all can feel good about. This then creates a willingness to be a part of the project. You will soon get to where you are spending a dollar to raise much more.

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		University of Missouri  Extension Mercer County Jincksk@missouri.edu This page was last updated 09/14/2009