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Field Tip 
Financing for the Long-Term
Bake sales just aren’t raising the dough like they used to.
Thankfully, there are other options—ones that lead to longterm sustainability.
January 2008 Growing competition for donor dollars is motivating many nonprofits to look beyond long-standing practices toward new revenue models. This issue of “Field Tips” highlights some innovative options and points you to resources. |
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| Finding a strategy that fits There are distinct patterns to the ways in which nonprofit organizations are funded. These patterns can provide important “guideposts” for similar organizations planning their fund development strategies. (See: Bridgespan “How Nonprofits Get Really Big”) |
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| Business ventures Nonprofit business ventures can be an important addition to your organization’s programs and revenue structure when they align well with your overall mission. They should be entered into very carefully, as most businesses struggle for some time before seeing success. (See: Chronicle of Philanthropy “Making Money With a Mission” — subscription needed to read article. New York Times “Businesses Try to Make Money and Save the World” May 2007) |
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For-profit partnerships |
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Capital funding resources
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The “Fourth Sector” |
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| Featured consultants Meet two of our consultants who specialize in helping nonprofits develop financial strategies for long-term sustainability. |
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Tom Triplett has graduated from bake sales to (somewhat) more sophisticated money-making venues. He helps nonprofits evaluate potential revenue sources that fit their unique situations, mission, and values. He also guides nonprofits to sustainable financing as major funding ends. Tom’s work tends to focus on non-philanthropic sources such as earned income, memberships, government, and “quasi-equity” (ask Tom about this). ttriplett@FieldstoneAlliance.org |
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“Checking under couch cushions for loose change is one way of generating revenue,” says Gordon Goodwin. But he prefers more robust methods such as earned income and increased giving from individuals and organizations. Gordon helps nonprofits assess their products and services by identifying everyone who benefits from them, pinpointing what they cost to deliver, and finding alternative ways to deliver them. ggoodwin@FieldstoneAlliance.org |
| Related Fieldstone Alliance Books Financial Leadership—Protect and grow your nonprofit’s assets. Venture Forth!—Reduce your dependence on grants. Find, test, and launch a successful venture. |
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| List of Resources
Funding/Giving Research
Business Ventures/Social Enterprise
4th Sector/For-Benefit Organizations
Fieldstone Alliance
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Photo courtesy of the U.S. National Archives. Photographer, David Hiser, 1972.
Copyright Fieldstone Alliance. For reprint permission, click here.
* Field Tips are "pebbles of wisdom" showcasing current information on a particular topic. This issue was originally sent as a greeting card to people on our mailing list.
