The premise of the play Six Degrees of Separation centered on the idea that everyone is connected to each other in some manner by no more than six links. The same theory holds true for resources. Anything you need to locate can probably be found through six connections or less. The trick is making lists of the people you know who might know people who have what you need.

Making connections is easier than ever with social networking. For example, on LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), a social networking site for professionals, members often peruse the connections of others, and they can even ask for introductions if they see potential for a positive relationship. Members can also pose questions to their connections, asking for assistance in whatever area they see fit. Facebook similarly allows members to ask friends to join causes. The potential for rallying others to pitch in are virtually limitless.

Still, in general, people tend to give up too easily. Remember that your chains of connection can come up with remarkable results; this is something you need to emphasize to your organization. Auctions have brought in celebrities and raised thousands of dollars for schools because one child's father's boss was good friends with a TV celebrity.

As for available resources, there are usually items in the school, church, temple, community center, or homes of your members or volunteers (or their friends or families) that can help make a fundraiser work. It's not necessary to go out and buy or rent everything. The key is to make a scavenger hunt kind of plan and send everyone on a mission to look for what is necessary in advance. Too often groups realize they need supplies at the last second and have no choice but to buy them at retail price, only because no one took the time to make a detailed list well in advance. From paper clips to pickup trucks, if you search for most items, you'll find them.

Successful fundraising organizations report that upward of 75 percent of their resources, including manpower, goods and services, and venues, come from sources within the organization. The most common resource needed from the outside is entertainment.