VOLUNTEER, LOW BUDGET WORK
Quakers in Enfield had problems. Our delightful Grade 2 listed 1790 Meeting House had subsidence and poor-quality facilities. Some felt overwhelmed by the fundraising need, others wanted to launch into high-effort low-reward fundraising activity ‘so we’re doing something’. The profile of the group locally and across Enfield was low.
I convened the fundraising group and insisted on a strategy that would raise funds, raise profile, and present the organisation as a community asset. We engaged the whole group in the task. The plan included
- Robust messaging
- Targeting different groups who might support us for different reasons
- A lively campaign leaflet which used humour – ‘We’re cracking up’ – because we had subsidence…
- A social media presence with a campaign website
- Trying and largely succeeding to make fundraising a positive experience
- Sharing effectiveness measures with other Quaker groups.
We thought it would take two years – we greatly exceeded our initial target in nine months.
