Fundraising for a Startup Nonprofit
Trevor and Tarren Bragdon discuss how to think about fundraising for a startup nonprofit.
We have a lot of people new to fundraising who find us through the podcast and we’d wanted to do a podcast specifically for fundraising for a startup nonprofit.
3 phases of a Startup Nonprofit
Idea phase - Finding the product and market fit
Read the book, The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
Proof phase - showing your idea works - pilot or small scale success
Scale phase - figuring out how to take things that work on a small scale and make them work on large scale.
Theory of Change Formula
What is the Problem
What is your Solution?
Why are you the best team to solve the Problem?
Write out your theory of change in less than 140 words.
Refine and edit.
You'll want to be able to explain it in about 1 minute
How to introduce yourself - to new people and talk about your nonprofit
Problem, Solution and then a Story
Introduction from The 1-Page Marketing Plan by Alan Dibs
“You know how [state the problem you solve]. Well I’m starting a nonprofit that [insert your solution here]. In fact, [give a story about your solution]”
Start working on your pitch
See our short video on How to Build a Pitch
We have a video on this and a short course on Udemy on how to build a pitch - almost 600 students enrolled
Phase 2 the Proof phase - showing your idea works - pilot or small scale success
Communication with donors key
Start thinking about the size of the nonprofit you want to create
Building out your team
Wrap up
To grow your fundraising as a Startup, focus on these steps.
Idea Phase
Ask why isn’t this done already
Develop out your theory of change
Create your introduction and begin your pitch
Begin testing your idea on a small scale
Pitch donors and listen to their feedback
Expect a lot of No’s
Proof Phase
Decide the type of nonprofit you want to build
Build out your team
Figure out how to scale