At 09:27 AM 03/12/2002 -0600, you wrote:

>Despite numerous calls to fundraisers and museums I was unable to locate a
>fundraiser willing to work on commission. In fact, I had several people
>warm me against employing a fundraiser working on commission.  One stated
>that this will bring "shysters" out of the woodwork who are in it only for
>the money and are not dedicated to the museum's mission and supporters.
>
>I will appreciate any comments or suggestions you can make!


The only comment I can make is to agree with the people who are telling you
to avoid percentage-linked compensation and go only with those who charge a
fee-for-service (which could be hourly or project-based.)

Among the many practical reasons to shun commissions in fundraising include
the fact that many institutional funders will not allow you to fund a
fundraiser from the grant itself and individual donors would also be
disaffected if solicitors received a direct cut of the gift.

If cost is the issue that is propelling this, there are many ways to get
qualified help at an affordable price.  You might choose a consultant who
has a lot of experience in fundraising, but is just launching an
independent practice.  You might look for someone who "moonlights" and can
therefore work for less than a full-time consultant needs.

But for the sake of your organization, avoid anyone who is eager to work on
commission!

Susan Ruderman
(AFP member)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Susan Cronin Ruderman, Ed.M., Vice President
VERITAS INFORMATION SERVICES, 9 Alton St., Arlington, MA  02474
(781) 643-7811; (781) 643-1136 (fax) mailto:[log in to unmask]
Fundraising Research Consulting http://www.veritasinfo.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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