Not-for-profit organizations exist to champion a good cause. Their common mandate is always to improve lives. It can be a humanitarian cause, environmental campaign, or even to work with animals. The biggest challenge for most of them is always raising money. Since they mostly depend on donations, they always have to depend on fundraising and marketing to get funds that will keep them moving. To ensure they are successful, they should:
Have a Clear Goal
People will only contribute to a cause if they understand their goals. That is why before nonprofit organizations start to plan for a fundraiser, they should list down the major goal. Why are they having the fundraising? Why the time they have chosen? How will they spend the money? Once they have the answers to these questions, it makes it easier for them to approach potential donors and contributors to start giving them funds. People want to feel like they are donating to people who are accountable.
Humanize Campaigns
One mistake that not for profit sector does is to make the campaigns about themselves, rather than the people or cause they are championing. If they want people to get into their pockets and contribute, they should have messages that resonate with potential donors. People who give to such causes need to feel like they are part of changing the world. They do not want to feel like they are doing it for the not for profit organization, but rather, the beneficiary. The organizations should have a compelling story that illustrates the problem they are facing, and how donations can help them address that challenge.
Use Social Media
Non-profit organizations that want to get their message spreading far and wide should not ignore the role of social media. There are many campaigns that have gone viral on social media due to the fact that they reached many people. There are billions of people on social media, and if the not for profit sectors learns how to curate their messages, they will be able to reach a wide population within a short time. It helps to hire someone or get a volunteer who helps them with social media management.
Get Partnerships
Partnerships go a long way in getting more people interested in fundraising. These partnerships could be with other non-profit organizations. It can also be with individuals such as established sports personalities, actors, musicians, or even social media influencers. The more partners come on board, the higher the chances of reaching more people and getting more contributions.
Have Timing Right
The timing for the fundraising matters a lot. For instance, it would be easier to get people to contribute immediately after a disaster, than a few weeks later when news of the event has ended. People are likely to connect with something as it happens. The right timing means that marketing campaigns and fundraising should be done towards the end of the month when people have some money to spare. The fundraising drive should also have a variety of options on how people can contribute. There should be an allowance for people to make international donations through different means.
Establish Good Track Record
Nobody wants to spend money on a non-profit organization that has a history of misusing funds or getting involved in scandals. People want to have peace of mind in knowing their money will be well spent, and the organization will be responsible enough to put their contribution into good use. This includes how the not for profit company treats its employees and volunteers. People will only donate when they trust you and believe in your cause.