Volunteer Resources
You have chosen to be part of something meaningful. You have chosen to donate your time and talent. Your effort will have a real impact on CSC students.
This page was designed to give you everything you need to be the best volunteer fundraiser you can be, and to hopefully make your life a little easier. Please take advantage of these resources. The Volunteer Guide, In-Person Scripts, Phone Scripts, Email Templates, and Handling Objectives documents are downloadable.
We are so grateful for your willingness to be of service to the Foundation and to CSC. We are truly doing good for the students of Chadron State, and we hope we can have fun along the way.
Near the bottom of the page are some cheeky flyers I designed in the hopes that you'd brag about your being a volunteer. I hoped to inject some humor, but I've provided a blank sheet in case you'd like to write something in yourself. If you have any questions about anything, please contact me. - Brandon Davenport.
Volunteer Toolkit
Download the Volunteer Guide, In-Person Scripts, Phone Scripts, E-Mail Templates, and Handling Objections, documents.
-The Volunteer Guide will take you through the process of being a volunteer and arm you with important things you'll need to know.
-The In-Person Scripts, Phone Scripts, and E-Mail Templates will provide you with a guideline for asking for donations.
-The Handling Objections document shares ways to answer common questions you might hear, and address concerns that might be motivating a potential donor's hesitance to donate.
Online Tools
Below are some helpful links. Feel free to share the address of our online giving form if you need to.
Online giving form: http://www.csc.edu/foundation/fall-fund-drive
Take advantage of these videos about how to be an effective fundraiser:
Fundraising 101: Rueben Mayes at TEDxWSU
Three ways to be a more effective fundraiser
Asking others to give (some tips)
The best advice I ever received about fundraising: We do not have to be ashamed of politely asking for people’s philanthropy. Our efforts have a positive impact on students.
-We are not selling used cars. We are connecting people’s philanthropy with Chadron State College. We are finding something at the college that is meaningful enough to them to donate to support it. We want people to donate in ways that are both meaningful to them and meaningful to the college.
-Make your contribution first. You can speak more confidently explaining your own reasons to give.
-Always be as personal as possible. Face-to-face is always the best option. Taking the time to meet with people will improve your success.
-Make it your own: Scripts always sound better when you re-word them to fit your own voice. You don’t have to follow them exactly, but download the documents and review them. They'll give you and idea of how the "flow" of the interaction should go and the points we'd like you to hit. But...if you struggle to put it in your own words, feel free to follow the script as closely as you'd like.
-Most people enjoy giving to a cause that is meaningful to them and will respond well to your outreach.
-Ask for a specific amount.
-“I see you donated $XX last year, would you consider increasing your donation this year?”
-For new donors, ask “would you be willing to donate $50 or more?” If no, then, “is there an amount you’d be more comfortable with?”
-Be respectful if the donor doesn’t wish to make an increase.
-Note: you’ll receive more points toward prizes for donors that increase their donation.
-Dr. Patterson has challenged the campus to reach 100% participation. We hope everyone will give at a level that is comfortable for them. Gifts of all size make a difference.
-Review all volunteer materials and scripts.
-Personalize the conversation, but be respectful of their time.
-You’re a volunteer and that means you don’t have to know everything. Connect the Foundation staff with the person for any questions you can’t answer.
-Don’t take it personally if they don’t want to give.
-Those on the fence can donate to the 1911 General Fund. Here’s a description:
- Gifts to general fund helped to contribute over $900k in support last year. Donations to the fund can be used for any purpose at the direction of the Foundation Board of Directors, not college administration. They are part of the general Foundation grant to campus. Minimum 60 percent is reserved for scholarship support and can’t be used for any other purpose. To date, 100% of Grant to Campus has been going to support students through scholarships.
General Flow of the Ask
Here is our simple format for soliciting donations. Please download the scripts above for better details.
-Start with a friendly greeting.
-**Hand them the rack card as you are transitioning (in person only).
-State that you are a Fall Fund Drive volunteer, provide fundraiser purpose/explanation if needed. If someone has never given (you’ll see this on the pledge sheet) you may need to describe the Fall Fund Drive to them. See a description of the Fall Fund Drive further down the page.
-Make a personal connection then make the ask.
-Overcome the objection if it’s respectful to do so.
-Fill out pledge sheet.
-Confirm the donation amount and everything on the pledge sheet.
-Thank them regardless of them donating or not.
-For anyone who says “no” or “maybe” (in person): “Go ahead and keep that benefits card. If you change your mind/decide to give there are instructions on how to give.
Key Messages
-Student impact – emphasize the importance of faculty and staff, and community involvement in raising funds for students.
-Over 80% of students at CSC rely on financial assistance for access to higher education.
-CSC’s scholarship support is underfunded compared with our competing schools.
-Private donations lessen the burden of student debt.
-We believe CSC students are worthy of our investment.
-Increasing donations is the best way to increase Fall Fund Drive’s impact.
-Emphasize that close-community financial support is a motivator for extra-community support.
During your time as a volunteer, you may be asked to explain what the Fall Fund Drive is:
Fall Fund Drive Overview
The Fall Fund Drive is one of the Chadron State Foundation’s major annual fundraisers. In essence it’s two fundraisers under one umbrella – a Chadron State College faculty & staff giving campaign and a local Chadron (and surrounding area) giving campaign.
During the drive, teams of volunteers are assigned specific donors from whom they’ll solicit donations. Volunteers from the CSC campus are assigned faculty and staff at the college, while community volunteers are assigned community members and businesses. While potential donors are assigned to volunteers, they are encouraged to look outside their list to gain new donors. Donors are encouraged to ask potential donors in person.
Depending on how you look at it, it’s either the final push to bolster donations received during the calendar year, or the first big boom to signal the beginning of fundraising for the fiscal year. Either way, it’s an incredibly important piece of our yearly effort to support Chadron State College students.
Donors are able to choose where their donations are allocated. The vast majority are designated to scholarships or program support.
Purpose and Goals
Private donations fill key gaps in funding to provide for the success of Chadron State students. Scholarships funded by private donations reduce student loan debt, provide prospective students access to higher education, and keep Chadron State College competitive with other colleges. Upward of 80% of CSC students rely on financial support to attend college.
Likewise, private donations made to support the programs of CSC provide additional funding to bolster the quality of education students receive. These donations fund things like equipment, student travel to unique educational opportunities, and many other things that ultimately lead to student success.
Our primary goal in 2024 is to raise $110,000 to support students at CSC.
Our secondary goal is 100% participation from prospective donors. Is this unrealistic? Yes. But it speaks to one of our philosophies: donations, regardless of the size, show students that we care about their aspirations.
Grants and donations from outside the community can be motivated by the level of support for the college within the community. High participation rates in local fundraisers shows that the people closest to the college believe that donating is a good investment.
Impact Statement
In 2023, the Fall Fund Drive raised about $108,000. Around $75,000 was allocated to scholarships and about $33,000 was designated to program support.
Between the Foundation’s 2023 Fall Fund Drive and 2023 Phonathon fundraisers, private donors provided over $250,000 in support of Chadron State students. Most donations came from Chadron alumni, faculty and staff, and community members, and averaged around $200. This is proof that every donation, no matter the size, counts!
Share Your Pride!
Committed to being a Fall Fund Drive volunteer? Share your pride with campus! Pick your favorite of the below flyers (or a blank one if you'd like to personalize it), click, download, and display it on your door or in your office!
