Fundraising (PPS)

Program Basics

• Program Name: Fundraising
• Program Description

This program oversees and coordinates all FG's fundraising activities. It also informs and supports other FG committees that need money to accomplish their work. Right now, it is being run entirely with volunteer labor, so it actually needs no funds. An overview of the goals of this program can be found here: Meta Fund Raising

• What best describes this program?
  1. Administrative In general, this program is expected to support other programs that generate income and/or meet program needs. If fundraising is defined as any activity geared toward bringing financial resources into FreeGeek, then it is already being done well, and on a large scale. Free Geek fundraising occurs through crafting unique and creative interactions between volunteers, the high tech waste stream, and onlooking donors who are deeply impressed by the ensuing spectacle. Future fundraising will probably continue to take advantage of this great set of interactions.
• Why does Free Geek need this program?

Fundraising is needed so Free Geek asks for what it needs to serve its mission. Free Geek depends on its focused coordinating groups. Each of them keeps an eye on issues related to their specific topic areas. The fundraising program is needed to coordinate Free Geek's focus on financial and other resource wrangling. It can, for example, nudge along the Long Term Planning process with an eye on developing clear and authentic statements of Free Geek's financial and program needs. With plans up to date, grant writing and other income is easy to state, easy to ask for, and easy to raise.

Job Position Basics

• Would there be a dedicated staff position associated with this program? NO
• Position Title:
• Job Description:

Financial costs

• What are the expected financial staffing costs of the program? (Include all costs to the organization such as salary, payroll taxes, and benefits.)

Free Geek has not yet established enough success in fundraising by volunteers to justify hiring staff to perform these duties. Successful nonprofits generally demonstrate that they have exhausted all non-paid avenues of involvement before committing to adding a staff position.

• What other costs are associated with the program? (Include costs of materials needed, etc.)

Our goal is to have all fundraising costs be paid by donors, either in money or services rendered. Once we have expanded our activities we may need to add a budget item for this.

• If there will be a dedicated staff position, how much time would be needed for training?
  • How much time would existing staff need to put in? _____________ hours @
  • How time would existing volunteers need to put in? _____________ hours @
• Once the program is up and running how many staff how many hours per week would it take?
  • In paid staff time? _____________ hours/week @
  • In volunteer time? 40 hours/week @

Drawbacks

• Outline the intangible costs for the position and program:

The major costs at this time are the time and attention of volunteers and staff members who pay attention to them.

• Are there any possible negative impacts on Free Geek's mission, and if so what?

@ add info

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions currently in effect?

Realistically, many on the Outreach Committee will participate, so some energy will be taken from there.

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions being considered?

@ add info

Benefits

• Would the program generate income? That is the goal.
  • If yes, how much income would be expected once the program is up and running? :TBD ((The following is completely made-up, but good for now? ks) It might be reasonable to aim at a 30% increase in cash donations, and to more than double current income from sales. In-kind donations of hardware and volunteer labor is probably limited by scale issues of organization and building size.
  • If yes, how long would it take for the program to get to that point? TBD
• How does the program support the mission of Free Geek?

in every possible way

Measuring Success

• How can the success of the program be measured?

Compare categories of income generated over time

• For most income generating positions, the costs initially outweigh the benefits. If this is an income generating program, how long until it is expected to break even?

@ add info

• Outline a plan for implementing the program:

Currently, semi regular meetings have been attended weekly, mostly by outreach and some volunteers.