e fundraising process itself. Yet this method, or a slight variation, is one of the most commonly used methods of trying to fundraise.

Every organization looking to fundraise can follow this three step path to fundraising success:

I remember the early days of my fundraising. I was an aspiring Winter Olympian and a young man inexperienced in the ways of the world - let alone the fine art of fundraising. After struggling financially in my first two years of competition, I realized I needed to devise a new plan for fundraising.

Initially I began the same way as any amateur athlete would: I put together a nice portfolio full of wonderfully spun phrases on how I was going to be an Olympian and all I needed was the support of ABC Corporation. I followed up and followed up and had conversations with many people who thought what I was doing was great - but they had no idea who I was and had little interest in supporting an unmarketable amateur athlete.

Had I continued on that route, I would have starved my way out of competition! I barely received enough money to pay for rent and keep the cupboards stocked. Portfolios are a small tool in the entire fundraising process - NOT the entire fundraising process itself. Yet this method, or a slight variation, is one of the most commonly used methods of trying to fundraise.

Every organization looking to fundraise can follow this three step path to fundraising success:

1

I realized I needed to devise a new plan for fundraising.

Initially I began the same way as any amateur athlete would: I put together a nice portfolio full of wonderfully spun phrases on how I was going to be an Olympian and all I needed was the support of ABC Corporation. I followed up and followed up and had conversations with many people who thought what I was doing was great - but they had no idea who I was and had little interest in supporting an unmarketable amateur athlete.

Had I continued on that route, I would have starved my way out of competition! I barely received enough money to pay for rent and keep the cupboards stocked. Portfolios are a small tool in the entire fundraising process - NOT the entire fundraising process itself. Yet this method, or a slight variation, is one of the most commonly used methods of trying to fundraise.

Every organization looking to fundraise can follow this three step path to fundraising success:

was the support of ABC Corporation. I followed up and followed up and had conversations with many people who thought what I was doing was great - but they had no idea who I was and had little interest in supporting an unmarketable amateur athlete.

Had I continued on that route, I would have starved my way out of competition! I barely received enough money to pay for rent and keep the cupboards stocked. Portfolios are a small tool in the entire fundraising process - NOT the entire fundraising process itself. Yet this method, or a slight variation, is one of the most commonly used methods of trying to fundraise.

Every organization looking to fundraise can follow this three step path to fundraising success:

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Had I continued on that route, I would have starved my way out of competition! I barely received enough money to pay for rent and keep the cupboards stocked. Portfolios are a small tool in the entire fundraising process - NOT the entire fundraising process itself. Yet this method, or a slight variation, is one of the most commonly used methods of trying to fundraise.

Every organization looking to fundraise can follow this three step path to fundraising success:

e fundraising process itself. Yet this method, or a slight variation, is one of the most commonly used methods of trying to fundraise.

Every organization looking to fundraise can follow this three step path to fundraising success:

1.) Forge relationships - People aren't just going to hand over hundreds or thousands of dollars to you if they don't know who you are, what you are doing and then developing a reason to believe in your cause. Relationships are the key to any sort of marketing and sales - and fundraising is no different.

2.) Change your business structure - This may seem a little odd to see in a fundraising article. However, you offer your donors more benefits if you are a sole-proprietorship, partnership or a corporation than you do if you are a charity or a non-profit organization.

3.) Instill passion in others - Once people see the passion you have for your organization's cause, it becomes contagious! When I talked passionately about my quest to become a Winter Olympian people's eyes lit up when I spoke. Their brows raised and they smiled - they were touched by the passion that I had for the endeavor I was undertaking.

This is just the start. Building a sol