In the rush to raise funds outside of our home countries, few of us stop long enough to see if we truly are ready to make this leap. Here are three questions to consider.
  1. Where should we focus our efforts? Trying to raise funds in too many places can be difficult — and even unwise. I will write more about this topic in future posts, because it is so important. For now, I will just say: start small. Focus your efforts on two or three countries.
  2. Are we well informed? I often see organizations make decisions about where to fundraise internationally based on data that is old or incomplete. This situation is particularly noticeable in educational institutions, where international alumni records may not have been updated for years, and incoming parent information may not tell the whole story. Does this situation sound familiar to you? If so, there are steps you can take to fix it. You will need to be able to collaborate with offices across your institution. Who collects which pieces of data? Are we collecting the right data? How can we share our data effectively?
  3. Are our prospect researchers prepared? International prospect research requires specialized search skills and a knowledge of data sources, which vary from country to country.  In order for prospect researchers to be effective on international projects, they will need time to learn new research strategies and familiarize themselves with the best sources.

What other questions should you ask before fundraising internationally?

 

Image by ToastyKen