Competition for resources in the nonprofit community is fierce, forcing nonprofit organizations to look beyond traditional fundraising strategies, such as applying for grants and contracts. Although there are a myriad of ways to raise funds, this article focuses on generating revenue through your organization’s website. If you haven’t used your website to raise funds, this might be the ideal time to turn it into a revenue generating tool.

Consider developing and selling different levels of advertisement, such as the following:

a. Friend level – list the advertiser on your Home page, with a link to his/her general email box and website. The advertisement period could be for one quarter or more, depending on how you want to set it up. The Friend level should be the lowest priced level.

b. Platinum level – Includes what is under the Friend level, but they would also be able to post their links on an additional page. This fee for this level should be slightly higher.

c. Silver level – Includes what is offered under the Friend and Platinum levels, but they would be able to post their links on all of your website pages. The fee for this level should be higher than the Platinum level.

d. Gold level – Includes everything that is offered under the three packages listed above, but they would also be able to have a featured article on one of the pages, for a set amount of time. The Gold level should be the highest priced level.

Of course, the website advertisement level fees are simply suggestions. Consider developing fees and levels that work best for your organization, stakeholders, and potential advertisers.

In addition, you could charge fees for ads on your website. Fees could 1) be set for one ad, multiple ads, or ongoing/recurring ads, 2) vary depending on the size of the ad (of course, the larger the ad, the higher the fee), 3) be based on a plain (black and white) ad versus one with colors and/or graphics, 4) vary depending on the placement of the ad (is it on the first page of your website or on another page?, and 5) be based on “who” is placing the ad (Is it an individual, a corporation, or another nonprofit? Would you be willing to provide a discount to an individual or other nonprofit organization versus a “for profit” corporation, or not?).

It is important to note that you should develop a disclaimer stating that your organization doesn’t support or endorse any of the products or services available through an advertiser. A disclaimer not only removes you from choosing which products or services you support or endorse, but it may provide legal protection as well.

Selling different levels of advertisement or ads on your website may not generate thousands of dollars, but it is one additional method in which to raise funds. Consider taking advantage of this opportunity, if you feel the effort will be worth the benefit.

Copyright 2009 (c) Sharon L. Mikrut, All rights reserved.

If you want to make positive changes in your personal and/or professional life, and create the life you desire and deserve, then working with Executive & Life Coach, Sharon L. Mikrut, is the solution. Although her specialty is in partnering with nonprofit executive directors and managers to maximize their resources in a competitive environment, she is passionate about working with all individuals committed to personal and/or professional growth.

Visit her website at http://www.createitcoaching.org and sign up for her free monthly messages, tidbits, and resource information. In addition, visit her “Nonprofit Professionals” blog at http://www.createitcoaching.com Sharon is also available to speak to your group, association or organization.

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An esteemed jury declared seven winners from a field of hundreds of local winners that went on to compete via photography at the International level. The body of work represented at the competition was expansive. Canstruction sculptures reflected current events and issues, musical legends and artistic luminaries.

“Orange you Glad you CAN e-Lemon-ate Hunger” by Arlington, Virginia’s Samaha Associates took Juror’s Favorite award with a striking rendition of colorful fruit that left the judges anticipating summer’s refreshment. The design was crisp and clean, exploding with freshness and realism.

The Structural Ingenuity award went to Fluor Canada from Calgary with “Two-Point Canversion.” This eight feet tall football was precariously balanced on a point and exhibited beautiful symmetry, simplicity and massive scale.

Musical legends were a winner in Best Use of Labels. “We Get By With a Little Help From Our Friends” by New York City’s Ted Moudis Associates depicted the four faces of the Beatles. John, Ringo, Paul and George were depicted in four separate planes using an ingenious optical effect. Each plane was built through the use of staggered steps which when viewed from distance created a single frame.

The Waterloo Architecture Student Association from the University of Waterloo in Canada took the Best Meal category with their sculpture of the “Parthenon-Building a Long Lasting Community.” Standing high on the Acropolis, this Parthenon could sustain the ancient residents of Greece through a famine. This wonder of the world was packed with nutritious food and symbolism.

Two winners in the Honorable Mention category captured the judges with beautiful compositions. “Shuck Hunger” created by HDR, Inc. from Dallas, Texas and “War(hol)on Hunger” created by BRR Architecture from Kansas City, Missouri received the honors. A shucked ear of corn stood six feet tall with its husk flowing down to the floor. One of the most important food staples, corn is the most highly cultivated crop in the world. The iconic Marilyn Monroe was depicted in a 360 degree pixilated composition. Three colorful pictures were engaging from every angle and interactive at the human scale. Beguiling in cans as she was on the canvas.

A Most Cans award is given every year to the local winning structure that incorporates the largest number of canned foods. This year’s winner, with 12,394 cans, was created by NK Architects of Newark, New Jersey. The enormous “Zamboni Ice Resurfacer ” was large enough to sit on and drive.

The esteemed jury included:

Randy Lavigne, AIA – Executive Director of the AIA Las Vegas

David Baird, AIA – Director of the UNLV School of Architecture

David Spero – Executive Chef of Tableau at Wynn Hotel

Kent Barber, P.E., S.E. -Structural Engineer of LR Consulting Engineers

Roy Burson, AIA – Partner in Charge of JVC Architects

Sean Coulter, AIA – Partner Pugsley, Simpson & Coulter Associates

View the rest of the 2010 winners at www.canstruction.org.  

• Ask your employer if they will host a PJ Day for a good cause.
• Charge a fee to wear PJ’s (and support your cause) on a casual Friday.  Consider a fee such as $20 per person
• Make a sign for the lobby of your office to be displayed on the chosen day.  This way any clients/customers will be aware of the fundraiser.  Make sure to have a change jar available in case anyone feels led to contribute to your cause.
• Make sure to write a thank you note to your employer on behalf of your group!

If you want to raise money with this idea, consider raffling off some of the books, having a silent auction for some book related items, or having a free-will offering for the refreshments served.

Let people’s curiosity help you raise money for your cause, after all curiosity killed the cat.

Have your group bring a wrapped package, big or small, to the auction. They can place anything they want in the box from tickets to the game (perhaps weighted down or wrapped in a huge box) or the wedding gift that was not quite right (a dreadful thing really).

As each box is brought in, label it with a number and place on tables that have been set up. People should be allowed to examine the boxes, picking them up and shaking them. NO PEAKING!

You can either run a silent auction or have a live auctioneer. In a silent auction, people would write down their bids on a piece of paper kept near the box and try to outbid each other.

Make sure you have a few really great items that have been donated by local stores or memorabilia to keep bidding high. Let each winner open their box in front of everyone to show off if they got a great treasure or a turkey.

Teams are formed, and over several weeks, tasks are given, such as selling baked goods, or putting on a talent show, and for each task half of the money raised is given to the winning charity.  At the end of the period of time, the winning team would receive the other half of the money from the previous tasks.

Each week a different department would be in charge of selling their raffle tickets for their basket/service, with the money being donated to a designated charity, or if the holidays to a family in need.

Companies in the UK are partnering together to sponsor such an event. Corporate teams are invited to test their business knowledge and entrepreneurial skills in a contest to raise the most money for charity over a six-week period. Read more here…

Teams from various businesses compete against teams from other businesses. Only one team per company should be allowed so there is not competition among co-workers. After all, part of the objective is to build teamwork within your company.

Start each corporate team with a small amount of seed money, say $100, and see what kind of profits they can turn in a short period of time. The contest will require creativity, resourcefulness, and a lot of energy to win, but the bragging rights will be well worth it.

You can find bracket templates here to fill use. Set a deadline for entry and post status updates regularly throughout the tournament.

Note: Gambling is not allowed in some states. Check with your attorney before pursuing this idea.

Offer members, supporters, and donors ad space at a discount. Sell full-page, half-page, quarter-page, and business card size ads. If your publication already prints in color, set a different price for color versus black & white ads. In online publications, charge differently for text links, logos, and banner ads.

To market your publication to advertisers, create a flyer detailing the demongraphics of your audience. Include number of copies printed, number of people on your mailing list, other distribution channels, target age range, percentage of male vs. female subscribers, geographic coverage, and income levels (if known).

Advertisers will love the fact that they can reach a specific market of people interested in a particular cause who actively support it and are able to make financial donations.