No matter how noble the cause happens to be, without highly skilled fundraising professionals to drum up recognition and secure donations, nonprofit businesses will likely have a hard time getting anywhere.
Fundraising can be an immensely difficult job, particularly when trying to convince brand-new donors to hand over their hard-earned cash to a cause they have only just heard of.
In reality, people are more than willing to donate, ready to make a difference in the world, and wanting to help others where they can.
As a fundraiser, part of your job is to find these people and to convince them that your nonprofit is the vision of integrity it claims to be. Here are some effective techniques on how to reach your fundraising goals.
Show Donors Your Appreciation
Thanking your existing donors publicly can be a superb way to show your genuine appreciation, while hopefully showing others that your cause is well-supported.
Donors often provide the foundations of a nonprofit and it is important to let them know that. This not only encourages further donations, but helps to make new connections and strengthen working relationships.
If you wanted to make a thoughtful gesture, it might be worth checking out the fantastic BrickMarkers, as they make some beautiful engraved bricks that are great for commemorating donors.
How Does Your Cause Affect Them?
If you are met with a cold, “why should I care?” after telling your potential new donor about your cause, it is worth preparing a whole list of reasons detailing exactly why.
If people recognize that eventually the issue you are fighting against will negatively affect them personally without help from your organization, or donations from the public, they will likely be far more willing to listen to what you have to say.
Read More: Top Ideas For A Team Appreciation Event
Be Assertive, But Not Rude
Convincing anyone to do anything is difficult if you do not possess conviction in the words you are saying. Learning to be assertive, but in a way that does not come across as rude is a fantastic tool to have at your disposal.
An assertive fundraiser can represent integrity, truth, passion and drive. Plus, they sound incredibly convincing.
Events People Actually Want to Attend
Deciding on what type of fundraising event to throw and when, where and how to throw it can be exhausting, but they are important.
Choosing from an arbitrary list may be able to give you a framework of an idea, but it will not work if people are not interested.
To make sure they get interested, it is worth thinking about the traditions, interests and history of the locals in your fundraising area, then building your event around that.
This way, you may be able to host a fundraising event that people genuinely want to show up to, and happier event-goers might mean more donations.
Make It Easy
Even if someone wants desperately to donate, if it is not clear as to where they should go to make their donation, or they do not have access to the current platform your donation portal is operating on, they may be dissuaded before they get a chance.
Making it as easy as possible for people donate is a great way to start achieving your fundraising goals, and perhaps start accessing an audience that was already there to begin with.