writingWA Case Study
Artsupport Australia reassured writingWA that their instinct to focus its fund-raising efforts on a select group of individuals within the corporate sector might be the perfect strategy for them.
writingWA is a small but significant not-for-profit organisation delivering services and resources to the writing and publishing sector throughout Western Australia.
Instead of pursuing the corporate dollar, the writingWA team decided to focus their efforts on raising funds through private donations by targeting individuals within the corporate sector who had consistently expressed support and enthusiasm for the work writingWA was doing.
The board contacted a select group of individuals, explaining that they wished to raise $30,000 through minimum donations of $3,000 per person.
An event for 20 guests was hosted in the home of a board member and a low-cost donor brochure was distributed explaining writingWA’s story, outlining what the donations would be used for and incorporating a pledge form.
At the event, guests were addressed by two passionate speakers – both acclaimed writers in the WA literary sector – who put forward the organisation’s ‘case for support’. Guests were then asked to contribute at the minimum level.
The event raised $27,000 and the idea of an annual drive was established in both the guests and donors’ minds.
Importantly, it was not an issue that writingwa did not have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. They simply listed the company on the Australia Cultural Fund, administered by the Australia Business Arts Foundation, and were able to offer donors a tax deduction for donations made through the fund.
More information
For more information please see writingWA, www.writingwa.org
Published 2011.
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