If your organisation is serious about fundraising, chances are you’ve looked at engaging donors in the US. With private contributions to the charitable sector amounting to $410 billion p.a., the potential is huge, and Americans are famously philanthropic.
To make it easier for US-taxpayers to contribute, your supporters may have set up a dedicated 501(c)(3) – a “Friends” group – which has been up and running for a while. Or they may be making donations to other 501(c)(3) organisations that support a range of non-US charities.
But it turns out the streets aren’t quite paved with gold after all. Working with the Friends group has been more challenging than expected. Its independence has led to a complex collaboration, and relationships with your prospects have not progressed much. Compliance requirements and recent GDPR rules are a constant worry. And so US fundraising can come at a higher cost than imagined.
No wonder. Building a fundraising operation thousands of miles away and growing an effective relationship with a Friends group can be hugely rewarding; but it requires expertise and discipline. How can you create strong links with a legally independent group and maintain control of your fundraising operations? What role should the board members play? How do you choose and engage them carefully? Which are the common pitfalls of the regulatory landscape of Friends groups and how can you avoid them? Can data be shared between the Friends group and its home institution? Overall, what expectations should the Friends group and home institution have of each other?
During our decades of work with clients in the UK and across the globe, we have helped many organisations to navigate the regulations and their relationship with associated 501(c)(3)s, to realise US fundraising potential.
On Thursday 13th of June, 2pm-3pm (BST) / 9am-10am (EDT), join our webinar and learn about the specific steps you can take to address these most common and pressing challenges when raising funds in the US.
The Programme
Three expert More partners will present major aspects of effective fundraising in the US:
- Joanna Storrar on relationships: understanding the US context and keys to growing a healthy relationship with your supporters and the 501(c)(3) groups you work with.
- Ken Hoffman on structure and regulation: ensuring regulatory compliance and fitness for purpose in American Friends groups.
- Adrian Beney on data protection: sharing and using data lawfully outside the UK/EU in the GDPR era.
There will also be time for a Q&A session, so we can cover in more detail issues of particular concern to you.
