Gaining Support for the Organization

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How Do You Receive Money?
As a non-profit organization, the majority of your funding, comes from small, individual contributions. These are people that you have reached who believe in what you're trying to do and want to support your cause. It's essential that you make it easy for them to contribute financially. If the process of donating is too arduous, they're less likely to help.

Have an Account
It's important to register your non-profit name. OMISTA Credit Union can start an account that's right for your organization. This will allow you to more easily budget the amount of money that comes in and goes out. Another benefit to having a separate account is that you can cash cheques made out to your organization, lending a sense of legitimacy.

You can also establish a merchant credit card account. Just contact the financial institution that services your business and tell them that you want to be able to receive credit card contributions. Once you have this option in place, it will make it very easy for people to contribute financially.

Making Contact
If you are approaching members of the community through a face-to-face campaign, they can simply make cash donations, or pay with personal cheques. It's easy for you and for them, and there are no service charges involved. If you're using a mail-out campaign, people will be able to pay with cheque or credit card.

Use the internet. There are many websites in existence designed to help people make charitable donations to non-profit organizations online. If you register with one of these companies, you can reach countless people that potentially want to help your project. If you create your own web page, people will have myriad options if they decide they want to contribute.

There are also websites that allow users to make monthly contributions, which are directly deducted from their paycheques.

Look into all of your options. The easier you make it for people, the more likely they are to make a contribution to your cause.