Image may not be everything but the right image may mean the difference between getting the funds you need and not getting them. In order to maximize your image, your organization should put forth an effort to portray an image suited to their long-term goals. Even while building the future, you should do your best to give the impression of being on your way.

If you are just starting out and are on a shoestring budget, look for ways to cut corners that will not negate the image that you want to portray. Take the long-range goals that the organization or group have set up. Consider what type of image would best be suited for that goal.

If your only goal is to have a car wash to help sponsor a particular event or group, then, casual is the way to go. You won’t need to pay a printer to do your signs or handouts. You could do them by hand or on a home computer and have just the right image you need. This type of goal is more personal and hard work oriented so the very casual image of advertisements and dress would be acceptable.

If your long-range goals are to develop an organization to help teen parents, then you will want to dress a little less casual than jeans and T-shirts. Slacks and a nice shirt would be adequate since most teens would feel more comfortable talking to the group in jeans and T-shirts than business attire. For this type of image, think casual Friday without going too casual. For stationary and advertising needs, you would want an image that is young, fresh and alive but still pulled together enough that it gives a hint of the mature adults that will soon be walking in their footsteps.

On the opposite range, if your goal is to set up an organization on a grand scale where a lot of funds will be needed, you may have occasion to require more business like or possibly even formal attire. For this type of organization, you would want to use a more polished stationary and advertising promotions. If you are not ready to do some major research and development, you may want to consider consulting a professional before going to a lot of trouble and expense if this is the type of organization you wish to set up or have in the future.

When you think about the types of organizations from a business standpoint, the casual one would be more of a sole proprietorship that is run out of the home possibly even by a teen. The Friday casual one would be more like a sole proprietorship or partnership formed by individuals in their 20’s and possibly 30’s. The more formal organization would be more like a corporation. It would have more paperwork and a stricter image to maintain, but it would also be more apt to have larger donations.

As with any thing else, there are always exceptions to the rules. But there are also cases of where not following the rules or in this case putting forth the right image, can prove to be a tough obstacle for your group to get beyond in their fundraising efforts. Take the time to figure out where you want to be in five or ten years, and then actively work towards it. Just don’t forget to take your image along with you on your trip to meet your goals.