Raising funds for a cause or campaign is not always easy, but there are lots of things you can do to make your efforts a success. This article will focus on the most effective strategies to use to ensure your fundraising campaign’s success.
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Have a Fundraising Plan
Before you do anything, come up with a fundraising plan. The plan will include the causes you are fundraising for, how much you wish to collect, how you will collect the funds, and potential donors. Do your homework to find out the types of people and organizations that would be interested in your cause or campaign. Having a fundraising plan will save you a lot of time and effort, and will go a long way in helping you hit your goals and reach your targets.
Know How Much to Ask for
While you may know how much you need, that number might be too high and jarring for donors. Some donors might choose not to donate because they do not think you will raise enough to meet your goals. They end up seeing your cause as a zero-sum game. One way to work around this is to ask for a smaller amount. Doing so makes people more likely to donate and helps you hit your goals quicker. If you are having a hard time hitting your goals, find areas where you can trim down and pick a lower number.
Spread the Word
One of the most important things to understand about fundraising is that the number of people who learn about your campaign is directly related to how much you can raise. Increasing the number of people reached increases the possibility of higher donations.
There are so many ways for organizers to spread the word about their campaigns. The most obvious choices are social media and email marketing. Both of these are very effective and cost-effective which is what makes them such a great option. SMS also works very well for nonprofit and political fundraising campaigns. If you use SMS for fundraising, there are a few things you need to know. Tatango has a detailed guide on political fundraising which explains what you need to know, the rules to follow, and how to make it as effective as possible.
Boost Year-end Giving
Studies have proven that people are a lot more generous towards the end of the year. For startups that want to raise enough money, December cannot be ignored. Nonprofits have reported seeing an increase of up to 30% in their donations during the last month of the year.
Start by organizing a fund drive towards the end of the year and getting the word out. Then, find ways to make it fun for people to donate. Gifts can be given in other people’s names or for a specific cause if your organization focuses on multiple causes.
Make it Easy for People to Donate
If you want to raise enough money, make it as frictionless as possible to do so. Use collection options that are intuitive and simple to use. Also, consider options that many people use like ewallets and credit cards as these are already familiar to a lot of people.
Strategic thinking is important for organizations that want to hit their fundraising goals. There is no right or wrong way to go about fundraising, and the tips above should give you an idea of some strategies to keep in mind when fundraising.
