Assessing Your Organization's Needs

The first step in getting your organization support is to review your own its program(s) and needs. Your objective is to think of your organization in ways that funders will best connect to. In order to do that, ask yourself the following:
1. Do I have a clear idea of what the program is that I’m trying to get funded? Good idea to have a proposal outline for the specific program in hand before beginning since the terms you use can be used to match those of any funding source
2. Do I know what my organization’s mission is?
For many, if not all, of you, this is an obvious question.
But, being able to translate what you think is self-evident is not always an easy task.
The more you can think of your mission in different, easily explainable terms, the easier it will be to match what you want to accomplish to those of a larger number of funders.
3. Who is being served by your program(s)?
Does your organization serve the general public or does it serve more specialized segments?
Who are they?
What are the racial, ethnic, gender segments of the population you serve?
Do you have demographic figures to support your claims?
4. What geographic area does your organization serve?
Is you’re your program local, regional, national or international?
5. What are the distinctive features of your organization?
Do you generate income?
Are you seeking to create a model program to be replicated elsewhere? Where?
Do you provide direct services or are you an advocacy group?
Other?
6. What is the total dollar amount you are seeking?
Do you know how this amount will be used?
If you can come up with an overall figure and if you can at least sketch out a preliminary budget, it will help you determine how many funders you will need to solicit based on the typical amounts they usually provide and how many different types of funders you can approach based on the categories of needs found in your budget.

What should one do to prepare to create a list of potential funders?

Your non-profit should not only assess things about a potential funder, but should also consider your own organization’s mission, goals, purpose and, especially, needs in order to make a match. You must have a complete understanding of what those needs are and how you can demonstrate that the support you are asking for is both crucial and central to your continued success. And, if you can project what accomplishing your goals will look like in demonstrable terms (i.e., numbers) the more solid your proposal will look like from a funder’s perspective. Successful fundraising depends upon making the right match between your organization and appropriate funders. Determine where your interests converge!