Funding Chamber and
Economic Development Programs

Where to Get Help

About Fundraising Professionals
There are a variety of professionals that can help your organization with strategic planning, feasibility studies and campaign organization. Before you hire any outside counsel, be sure to consider the following factors:

	Look for a firm with a solid history of successful campaigns and experienced leadership. They are more likely to know factors for success and should be able to spot potential trouble spots in your campaign and navigate around them. Make sure the professionals who will lead your campaign have a proven track record with business leaders and can “speak their language” comfortably. Business investors will be more comfortable dealing with professionals who can intelligently discuss ROI, accountability, benchmarking, etc. as they relate to your case. Beware of fundraisers who offer to work for a percentage of the dollars raised. They are more likely to concentrate on short-term dollars rather than on helping you develop the most attractive program, cultivating the most strategic long-term investor relationships and developing community-based buy-in.