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Fundraising Tuesday: 3 Online Fundraising Ideas to Engage Remote Supporters

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A guest post by Steve Lausch of OneCause

Looking for new ways to inspire donors to support your cause? We’ve got you covered!

Your organization’s audience consists of diverse individuals with different preferences and characteristics, so the key to capturing everyone’s interests is to host a variety of fundraising campaigns.

As you plan your annual fundraising strategy, remember to include opportunities for those outside your local community. You want to ensure that remote supporters feel seen and appreciated just as much as if they were located near you.

There are many ways to involve remote supporters. Let’s look at three top online fundraising ideas you can incorporate to leverage the generosity of supporters near and far.

1. Online Donation Page

Engage your remote supporters by accepting online donations. This is the first step to successful fundraising! An online donation page allows you to receive a reliable stream of revenue from your nonprofit’s website.

Keep in mind the following tips when setting up your donation page:

  • Design: Build awareness by having your organization’s colors and logos throughout your site.
  • Donation options: Retain donors by providing the option of one-time or recurring donations to support your cause.
  • Payment options: Enhance the giving experience by accepting Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, and other forms of digital wallet.
  • Impact statements: Emphasize the power of donations with images, videos, examples, or a brief explanation of how they help your cause.

The best software will allow you to effortlessly personalize and create impactful donation pages to maximize your giving. Once you’ve created your donation page, make sure to embed it in your nonprofit’s website for supporters to find easily. If you don’t have a website, consider working with a web design company to start the process.

2. Online Auction

Auctions are a popular fundraising event for nonprofits, so why not take yours beyond the ballroom? Enable bidding from your remote supporters with an online auction! Hosting such an event provides various benefits for nonprofits, including:

  • Cost savings: Invest in flexible software so there’s no need to book a venue, catering services, or entertainment.
  • Increased participation: Have a link to your auction to make it simple for supporters to share your cause with their social network.
  • Improved accessibility: Move to an online auction to allow anyone to participate from anywhere without traveling for your event.
  • Better use of resources: You won’t have to worry about costs associated with in-person events, such as renting a venue, booking a caterer, or purchasing decorations.

Usually, online auctions take one of two forms:

  • Live auction: An auctioneer facilitates bidding on your auction items through a live stream. This event can be held either entirely virtually or in a hybrid format, where you invite major donors to the in-person auction and provide other supporters with the live stream link.
  • Silent auction: Supporters place bids on auction items they want through an online auction site without an auctioneer present. This type of auction relies on well-written descriptions that clearly communicate what the item is to entice the viewer to make a bid.

Regardless of which type of online auction you host, bidding usually takes place through mobile devices. Be sure to purchase auction software that streamlines online bidding and makes the process smooth and convenient for remote supporters.

3. Online Peer-to-Peer Campaign

Tap into the power of peer-to-peer fundraising with your loyal supporters. You can recruit your most committed champions to fundraise on your behalf. These individuals will create their peer-to-peer fundraising site and then use their social networks to spread the word.

There are many types of peer-to-peer campaigns, including:

  • Runs, walks, rides: Engage participants with physical activity, friendly competition, and social giving.
  • DIY supporter-driven: Empower supporters to create their own unique campaigns on behalf of your cause.
  • Giving and Awareness Days: Capitalize on dedicated giving and awareness days to boost the visibility of your campaigns and secure more donations.
  • Tributes and memorials: Offer supporters the opportunity to honor loved ones with personalized fundraising pages.

Peer-to-peer fundraising is an easy way to strengthen your existing relationship with remote supporters while expanding the possibilities of new supporters not local to your organization. Once you’ve recruited supporters to act as your peer-to-peer fundraisers, prepare them for their role with training sessions, templates for marketing materials, and more. Then, stay in contact with them throughout the process to provide them with any support they need.

 

Steve Lausch head shotSteve Lausch

Steve Lausch brings over 20 years of marketing experience to his role as the Director of Product Marketing at OneCause. He leverages his expertise in product evangelism, marketing communication, and strategic product planning to deliver innovative solutions that empower nonprofits. A storyteller at heart, Steve is energized by the opportunity to tell compelling stories that move people to action. He is dedicated to supporting nonprofits in their journey to make a positive impact on the world.

Fundraising Tuesday: 3 Event Management Tips for Nonprofit Fundraisers

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A guest post by John Killoran, Clover Leaf Solutions

Did you know that nonprofits are more likely to reach their fundraising goals when they host in-person or hybrid events? Planning a face-to-face fundraiser is a big job, but it pays off. With solid event management tips, your nonprofit can do more than reach its fundraising goals—you can inspire continuous support and secure donor loyalty for the long haul.

That’s where this guide comes in! Let’s review three event management tips to help your nonprofit’s next event exceed expectations.

1. Create an event-planning calendar.

Most event management activities happen before the event even starts. To host a successful fundraiser, your team must have plenty of time to plan it.

This means you’ll need to create a timeline for when each event-planning task will take place. For example, let’s say your nonprofit is hosting a silent auction. Your calendar may look something like this:

  • 10 months before the event 
      • Define the purpose and goals of your event
      • Create an event plan, including logistics like event date and venue
      • Establish an event budget
      • Choose fundraising software
      • Set up a procurement committee to acquire auction items
      • Create an auction marketing plan
  • Six months before the event 
      • Choose auction items for your item catalog
      • Reach out to potential event sponsors
      • Plan volunteer roles and schedules
      • Start promoting the event on social media
      • Order any custom printing service items, like event signage
  • Two months before the event 
      • Open event registration
      • Recruit volunteers
      • Plan your follow-up materials to thank donors and volunteers
      • Test event technology
      • Finalize catering
  • Two weeks before the event
    • Close registration and finalize attendance headcount
    • Finalize your timeline for the day of the event, including set-up and breakdown
    • Organize day-of supplies
    • Train volunteers on event procedures
    • Make a final event promotion push on social media

Remember, this calendar is dedicated to all your pre-event tasks. Create a separate calendar for day-of activities to keep your to-do list organized.

2. Engage with your audience.

When it comes to generating excitement about your event, you’ll have to do more than just tell people it’s happening. Your communication strategy should get donors excited about your fundraiser!

To do this, use a variety of outreach types, including:

  • Direct outreach. Many nonprofits focus their marketing efforts on general swaths of donors, volunteers, or potential supporters. While this audience is important, don’t forget the individuals already in your corner! Personally reaching out to stakeholders already invested in your nonprofit’s success, like existing donors, volunteers, board members, and corporate partners, makes them more likely to attend.
  • Personalized outreach. Custom outreach hones in on why specific audiences should be interested in your event, making them more likely to attend. Use what you know about individual donors to create personalized messaging that appeals to them. For example, tell a college-aged supporter about the dorm decorations you’re auctioning off at your fundraiser.
  • Broad outreach. Use communication channels that target entirely new audiences. For example, social media posts can appear in front of users who don’t follow your nonprofit’s account. Also, internet searchers can stumble upon your nonprofit’s website if you market it correctly. As NXUnite explains, search tools increase your nonprofit’s visibility online. By driving more traffic to your website, you can engage a bigger audience than ever before.

Beyond spreading the word about your event, you can also use these strategies to follow up after the fundraiser. For example, broad outreach might include sharing photos and fundraising results on your social media channels. Save your personalized outreach to thank attendees individually.

3. Use fundraising software.

There’s plenty for your team to do when planning your fundraiser. But the right tools can make the difference between simply executing your plans and improving overall efficiency.

Fundraising software can handle everything from event registration to payment processing and donor communications. How do you choose the right tool to manage your event? It depends on what type of event you’re hosting.

Let’s think back to our example of an auction fundraiser. Snowball’s auction software guide recommends following these three steps:

The three steps to choosing nonprofit auction software, which are listed below.

  1. Determine your nonprofit’s needs. Think about how you’ll make your fundraiser happen. For example, what tools do you need to run it? What features would help you engage donors? Answering these questions can narrow your search for a tool that meets your nonprofit’s specific needs.
  2. Set a budget. The amount your nonprofit spends on fundraising software depends on the features it offers—but you should still spend wisely. If you purchase all-in-one software, you can use the same tool to host different fundraisers. In other words, you’ll get more bang for your buck.
  3. Compare products. Gather a list of potential software providers and choose the one that stands out the most. To ensure you make the right choice, schedule a demo and meetings with product experts first to see your favorite tools in action.

For the best results, choose fundraising software with multiple capabilities. A solution that can manage auctions, mobile giving campaigns, and a host of other fundraisers will have more than enough features to run a successful event. This way, your nonprofit can diversify its funding streams and raise more overall.

John Killoran head shotAuthor: John Killoran

John Killoran is an inventor, entrepreneur, and the Chairman of Clover Leaf Solutions, a national lab services company. He currently leads Clover Leaf’s investment in Snowball Fundraising, an online fundraising platform for nonprofit organizations.

Snowball was one of John’s first public innovations; it’s a fundraising platform that offers text-to-give, online giving, events, and peer-to-peer fundraising tools for nonprofits. By making giving simple, Snowball increases the donations that these organizations can raise online. The Snowball effect is real! John founded Snowball in 2011. Now, it serves over 7,000 nonprofits and is the #1 nonprofit fundraising platform.

Fundraising Tuesday | Nonprofit Marketing: How to Build and Maintain Donor Trust

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A guest post by Mike Snusz of Tatango

The success of your nonprofit hinges on the relationships you build within your community. To inspire donors, volunteers, and corporate partners to join in your collective impact, you must first establish a foundation of trust.

Your donors want to make a difference. Before they decide to give to your organization, they need to be sure that you’ll deliver on your promised impact. In fact, according to Independent Sector, 83% of U.S. donors state that nonprofits must earn their trust before they support them, and 80% need to see proof of impact to continue their support.

In this guide, we’ll discuss four essential marketing strategies to build trust and strengthen your donor relationships.

1. Use text messaging for one-on-one communication.

Modern technology has fundamentally changed how people interact with one another. Think about the most recent interactions you’ve had with your friends and family. Chances are, many of them occurred over text messages or phone calls.

Smartphones provide a convenient and personal way to stay in touch with your audience. After all, 46% of Americans spend five to six hours a day on their phones. By incorporating text messaging into your nonprofit’s marketing strategy, you can open the door to more authentic, one-on-one conversations with donors.

According to Tatango’s nonprofit text messaging guide, this communication channel is particularly powerful due to benefits such as:

  • High open rate. Subscribers open 99% of the text messages they receive from organizations they support, which is four times higher than the open rate for email marketing messages.
  • High read rate. 90% of text subscribers open messages within just three minutes of receiving them.
  • Personalization. Your nonprofit can segment its text subscribers and only send them messages that are personally relevant to their interests and preferences. In doing so, you can illustrate how much you value them as individual contributors to your mission.
  • Maximized reach. With the right tools, you can mass-send tailored text messages to your entire audience, saving your staff time without sacrificing personalization.

Beyond sending fundraising appeals and broadcasting important updates via text, you can make the most of the channel by encouraging donors to share feedback and ask questions. This type of direct engagement can make them feel like you care about their input and bring them closer to your nonprofit.

2. Make transparency a priority.

When donors give to your nonprofit, they want to know what happens to their generous dollars. By focusing on improving transparency across your marketing communications, you can enhance your organization’s reputation and convince donors that your mission is worth supporting.

A few key ways to boost your nonprofit’s transparency include:

  • Presenting detailed financial information. Make it easy for donors to find your Form 990 and other financial documents, such as your balance sheet or income statement, by adding them to your website. Consider adding infographics to help them visualize your financial performance.
  • Providing frequent impact updates. Through email newsletters, social media posts, and blog articles, inform donors about your latest accomplishments and how their contributions made them possible. If you encounter any challenges or setbacks, be open about sharing them with your audience, along with the steps you’re taking to address them.
  • Publishing annual reports. An annual report allows your donors and other community members to view a snapshot of your nonprofit’s activities, accomplishments, and financial health over the past year. These reports hold your nonprofit accountable for the goals you set at the beginning of the year and allow you to celebrate your most impressive wins with your community.

To ensure that you’re only communicating accurate progress and results to your donors, keep your nonprofit’s database organized and up to date. Double the Donation recommends following data hygiene best practices such as developing data entry standards and using data appends for more effective internal and external reporting.

3. Collect and share authentic stories.

Facts and figures can go a long way toward persuading donors that your nonprofit is a reliable and powerful force for good within the community. However, compelling stories are what leave a lingering impression in the minds of your donors.

To keep your donors invested in your mission, collect personal stories from:

  • Beneficiaries
  • Donors
  • Volunteers
  • Board members

Once you’ve curated a collection of stories that demonstrate your impact and the importance of your cause, share them on your nonprofit’s website and social media pages. Then, use text messages and email newsletters to encourage more donors to explore these stories and connect with the people within them. Just be sure to ask for permission before sharing someone’s name or picture in your marketing materials to respect their privacy and preferences.

4. Promote multiple ways to contribute.

As you spread the word about your latest fundraising initiatives and ask for donations, ensure that donors feel comfortable giving to your nonprofit by providing them with several ways to contribute. For example, you could create a “Ways to Get Involved” page on your website, where you describe various opportunities such as:

To provide options that appeal to your specific donor audience, send out a survey to gather their direct input. You may learn that your donors are interested in giving through their smartphones, using donor-advised funds, or exploring cryptocurrency donations.

As you prepare to infuse your marketing materials with transparency and build trust through meaningful donor conversations, make sure you have the right tools to support your efforts. Research nonprofit text messaging platforms, website builders, and other innovative marketing solutions to equip your team for success. Before long, you’ll have a well-developed multichannel marketing strategy that nurtures strong, lasting relationships with your nonprofit’s donors.

Mike Snusz, Director of Nonprofit Customer Experience at Tatango

Mike Snusz brings 19 years of digital fundraising experience to his role as Director of Nonprofit Customer Experience at Tatango, a text messaging platform for nonprofits and political campaigns. Prior to Tatango, Mike spent 15 years at Blackbaud leading a team of digital consultants that helped nonprofits improve their online fundraising, monthly giving, email marketing and peer-to-peer fundraising programs. Mike started his nonprofit career managing the Ride For Roswell from 2003 to 2005 in his hometown of Buffalo, NY.

 

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