[Community] [Imc-bookkeeper] IDEAS? Fundraisers Mtg tmw

[Elizabeth Simpson]

Hi Austin and all, 

The key piece that I don't yet see in the plan (which looks great) is general outreach (sounds boring, without it you can't do fundraising). Really, this is the cornerstone of development, and may be already included in your development stuff, but the very basics of developing identity, creating infrastucture: verbage, sign in sheets, newsletters, nametags, logo, brochures, pins, business cards, and then making contacts: letters to the editor, city council presentations, person-to-person- are super key... and much of it doesn't cost money to do. 

So, first is the brianstorm of 'what is the imc and what does it offer?' Which is my suggestion for a starting point/activity:

The IMC has chronically been a victim of its own self-supporting nature- people who aren't involved in a particular project don't know about it, and almost no one had a good answer for 'what is the imc?". Really, how many people are aware of the many groups we fiscally sponsor? Of what the working groups do/offer? Of what the working groups are?!? Of the list that Mike L brought to the GMM? (Is that list handy, BTW?) Of why it's beneficial to be a member?

Community connections started doing this work (some of it was captured on our backpage... contact chris r for access)  by brainstorming for each group: what do you offer to IMC members? To the community? To other IMC groups? What does the IMC offer to you? 

I recommend this as a starting place. Once we know who we are and what we offer, we can promote that to people who might find it interesting both for participation and to gather support.  This process is called 'developing message' and 'developing audience'. (this 'marketing, and it's not evil unless, like Coke, you are trying to coerce/brainwash people into things).

One VERY important piece is that it is vital for people to have a way to support the IMC without being members. Not everyone wants to be a member, but they might still want to support us- we should allow for this. 

Yay IMC!
elizaBeth




 

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--- On Tue, 11/30/10, Austin McCann <austinmccann at ucimc.org> wrote:

From: Austin McCann <austinmccann at ucimc.org>
Subject: [Imc-bookkeeper] IDEAS? Fundraisers Mtg tmw
To: "Bookkeeperlist" <imc-bookkeeper at lists.chambana.net>
Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 1:33 PM

Hi Finance folks,

I'm going to be hosting the 1st UC-IMC Fundraisers Mtg tomorrow. Here's the project info I wrote up:



The
 Fundraising working group is a collaborative development group aiming 
to support the financial health of the UC-IMC and its constituent 
working groups. This group will work with the Development Adviser and 
seek support from the Finance working group.



Projects:

Grants


Learn & teach the grants process to members

Seek out project-specific and general grants for both working groups & UC-IMC 

Write grants for working groups & UC-IMC

Development Plans


Brainstorm UC-IMC Development Plan with an eye towards long-term financial stability

Work with individual working groups on development plans

Support other fundraising-related projects (e.g. website redevelopment, communications) as needs arise

What do you think might be some smart 1st meeting activities for tomorrow? 

Thanks,
Austin

-- 
Austin McCann, Development Adviser
Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center


Digital Arts Service Corps
202 S. Broadway Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801
austinmccann[at]ucimc[dot]org



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