501c3 Fundraising Ideas

• Non-profit organizations can solicit financial and in-kind donations. Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images

  Charitable organizations can file for tax exemption status under the 501c3 section of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS provides this tax break for non-profit organizations since they operate for the purpose of helping people and not to make a profit. Charities fulfill their mission through donations made from supporters such as individuals, corporations and foundations and they solicit support in different ways.

Online Auctions

• Create an auction website or page on your existing website. Supporters of your charity can donate items such as books, jewelry and antiques which will be displayed on the website with a beginning bid. People can browse the website for items, register and place their bids. You can place time limits on the bidding and the highest bid gets the item shipped to them. The proceeds go to the charity and the online auction provides a way for people from all over the country to support your charity, whether you are a national or local non-profit organization.

Planned Giving

• Getting people to include your non-profit organization in their estate plans is another fundraising idea. Long-term supporters may want to continue contributing to your cause after their demise and keep their legacy of giving alive. They can include your charity in their will by leaving it a certain amount of money, real estate and/or personal property. Some donors make their favorite charities beneficiaries to their life insurance policies and annuities. You can promote planned giving by including articles in your newsletter that describe what it entails and the possible tax benefits. Donors that want more information should be advised to contact a financial adviser to help them make the best decision. Supporters that notify you of their planned giving intentions should have the option to be recognized for their generosity. You can include their names in print recognition as well as have their name engraved on a plaque or wall, depending on the size of their contribution.

Capital Campaigns

• When charities need to construct new buildings or add on to existing structures, they usually raise money through capital campaigns. This money is used to pay for the construction which is usually fairly costly. Your non-profit organization can have a feasibility study completed to ascertain the possibility of taking on the task of a capital campaign. Next, you will need to determine the cost to build and how long the campaign will need to run to acquire the funding. Capital campaigns usually extend over a period of three or four years and the organization solicits a corporate sponsor to kick it off with a substantial financial gift.