Running a nonprofit takes money, no matter how big or small your organization is. That is why getting donors is essential. In order to get donors to give, you need to employ a number of strategic fundraising methods. This will not only help you to attract new donors, but to retain the ones that you already have.
When asking people to give, give them various giving options. This will prompt them to want to give more money than if you were to let them decide on their own how much money to donate. It is also best to give them an option of indicating how much money exactly they want to donate if what they want to give doesn't fit within the options you suggested.
You will get people who will want to give you major one time donations and others who may want to give you small monthly gifts. As much as large donations are good, small regular donations tend to add up. In the long run, regular givers end up giving much more to your organization, since you will have created a much deeper relationship than the relationship you have with someone who wants to give only once.
Create credibility by proving that other people are giving to your organization. This encourages other people to give too since they will be convinced that your cause is worth supporting. The best way to show that you are legitimate is by showing how much money you intend to raise and then highlighting the amount raised so far. Also, show the number of people who have donated.
Donors want to know that the money they have given has not been misused. That is why it is important that you are transparent about what you do with the money collected. If possible, publish reports that show how money is allocated. Keep your operational costs low and try to direct as much of the money as possible to the cause being supported.
You need to recognize your donors. If you acknowledge them in public, so much the better. This will motivate them to give more since their cash is being appreciated. That is why it is advisable to come up with a way to acknowledge donors publicly. It can be by printing their names on your website or newsletter or in yearly financial statements.
Practice peer to peer fundraising. This involves getting your donors to fund raise for your charity organization. You can do this by using fundraising software. This will enable your donors to create their own fundraising pages and share it with their family and friends. The software will help you keep track of who has raised how much.
When talking to donors, you have to explicitly ask them to give you cash. Do not be ashamed to beg for the money. Donors want to give but if you do not ask them to do so, they might fail to get the cue on when to give and you will lose out on funds you could have otherwise received, so ask directly for cash.
When asking people to give, give them various giving options. This will prompt them to want to give more money than if you were to let them decide on their own how much money to donate. It is also best to give them an option of indicating how much money exactly they want to donate if what they want to give doesn't fit within the options you suggested.
You will get people who will want to give you major one time donations and others who may want to give you small monthly gifts. As much as large donations are good, small regular donations tend to add up. In the long run, regular givers end up giving much more to your organization, since you will have created a much deeper relationship than the relationship you have with someone who wants to give only once.
Create credibility by proving that other people are giving to your organization. This encourages other people to give too since they will be convinced that your cause is worth supporting. The best way to show that you are legitimate is by showing how much money you intend to raise and then highlighting the amount raised so far. Also, show the number of people who have donated.
Donors want to know that the money they have given has not been misused. That is why it is important that you are transparent about what you do with the money collected. If possible, publish reports that show how money is allocated. Keep your operational costs low and try to direct as much of the money as possible to the cause being supported.
You need to recognize your donors. If you acknowledge them in public, so much the better. This will motivate them to give more since their cash is being appreciated. That is why it is advisable to come up with a way to acknowledge donors publicly. It can be by printing their names on your website or newsletter or in yearly financial statements.
Practice peer to peer fundraising. This involves getting your donors to fund raise for your charity organization. You can do this by using fundraising software. This will enable your donors to create their own fundraising pages and share it with their family and friends. The software will help you keep track of who has raised how much.
When talking to donors, you have to explicitly ask them to give you cash. Do not be ashamed to beg for the money. Donors want to give but if you do not ask them to do so, they might fail to get the cue on when to give and you will lose out on funds you could have otherwise received, so ask directly for cash.
About the Author:
There are many sources on the internet that discuss the best strategic fundraising methods. Please look at our website http://www.cultivationcentral.org where you can find out all about this topic and what it can do for you.