In 2017 the Save the Bilby Fund were facing a harsh reality. Income from the sale of chocolate bilbies at Easter had dwindled and, since the passing of its co-founders, the fund was no longer receiving regular government funding. They were operating on the smell of an oily rag.

The Fund’s remaining income at this time covered around a third of operating costs, forcing a draw down on a bequest gift to cover the gap. It was at crisis point – that bequest gift would only last so long.

In 2017, Income was around $140k and operating costs were 3 times that. There was no database, no direct mail program and just a handful of philanthropic big givers.

But, by end of 2022 financial year the Fund had grown its income to nearly $1m and have been able to invest in extending the bilby breeding facility, as well as cover operating costs.

Using only low-cost online tools to fundraise, employing known direct marketing tactics (and trying new ones), with a combination of advocacy, digital appeals, giving day, not to mention a once again thriving chocolate bilby sales program – this session will take you through the steps that they took to become self-sustaining. Which means the Bilby gang worry less about income and more about bilbies.