Effective Virtual Fundraising and Engagement
Many nonprofits, particularly those focused on expansion, stopped their fundraising plans during the COVID-19 era to deal with the pandemic’s aftermath. In-person fundraising was practically impossible to accomplish securely because of social distance requirements, and the economic slump decreased the number of generous gifts people were prepared to provide.
This isn’t, however, a reason to give up hope! On the contrary, your nonprofit can continue fundraising and engaging supporters throughout the global pandemic by adapting to social changes and reformatting its strategies.
Importance of Virtual Fundraising and Engagement
You’ve probably worked continuously, like many other nonprofits, to expand your nonprofit’s support network and improve ties with all of your supporters. This is a crucial component of your fundraising efforts because it aids in donor retention.
Nonprofits can raise enough money by increasing donor retention. Not only is it less expensive to keep existing donors than to find new ones, but donors also tend to raise the amount of money they give to NGOs over time.
Despite the fact that in-person interaction with supporters has decreased, your nonprofit must continue to offer donor engagement opportunities to create and retain relationships during these challenging times.
The virtual fundraising initiatives presented in this post are meant to be fun for your supporters available during and after the pandemic. When you launch a virtual fundraising campaign, make sure to capture any pertinent data in your nonprofit’s donor database so you can keep track of your supporters’ activity.
- Virtual Tour
Nonprofit supporters who feel more connected to your organization and mission are more inclined to give again and in more significant amounts.
Hosting a live stream or recorded virtual tour of your various sites allows supporters to see what your group is doing in the community firsthand. As an example, let’s say your organization runs a local homeless shelter. In that situation, you may broadcast a tour of the facility while describing the services you provide to homeless men and women on a daily basis.
- Annual Day of Giving
Giving Tuesday is the most popular yearly giving day, and it’s likely that you participate in it every year. However, this is by no means the only charitable event you may organize each year. You can start your annual giving day, organize it once a year, advertise your organization, and tie the event to your objective.
Giving days provide your supporters a sense of urgency by limiting the amount of time they have to give to only 24 hours. You might, for example, send out messages like “Only 3 hours left in the giving day!” to encourage people to keep contributing to your campaign.
- Wish List Fundraiser
Many of your nonprofit supporters may opt to make in-kind donations rather than monetary donations. However, many organizations find it challenging to provide traditional in-kind gifts while delivering virtual opportunities to their supporters. A wish list fundraiser is a simple way for you to provide in-kind giving opportunities to your fans.
You can quickly express your supporters’ effect by providing a list of items you’d like to have given to your organization for a specific purpose relevant to your mission by providing a list of items you’d like to have donated to your organization.
- Facebook Fundraising
You’re probably aware of your nonprofit’s presence on Facebook and other social media platforms as a nonprofit professional. However, while you may be aware of your organization’s presence on these platforms in general, you may not be aware of Facebook’s fundraising possibilities.
Facebook is one of the few fundraising sites that does not charge a platform fee, and the business will reimburse the processing fees for charity donations received through the platform.
- Matching Gift Drive
Matching gift drives are a fantastic way for organizationss to take advantage of unused corporate philanthropy money through virtual fundraising. In addition, many firms offer to match employee donations to approved charitable groups as part of their corporate social responsibility programs.
The procedure is straightforward: the supporter makes a donation and then provides the necessary paperwork to their employer. When the employer receives confirmation that the donation was made to the organization, they match the initial amount. Make every supporter aware of these programs and encourage them to check their eligibility during your matching gift campaign.
- Product Fundraising
Product fundraising allows your group to brand and sell certain retail items to your supporters. It’s a successful fundraising technique since it incentivizes donations, broadens fundraising opportunities, and raises brand exposure by having supporters wear your merchandise. Personalized gear could be precisely what your supporters need to start a conversation about a subject they care about!
T-shirts and face masks are two of the most popular items that your nonprofit can employ during this time. T-shirts are a classic fundraising item. They last for years and are ideal for use in the lead-up to a special occasion. Face masks, on the other hand, are a new fundraising trend that promotes health and safety while generating dollars!
- Online Gala
Galas are a traditional significant fundraising event held by numerous Nonprofits each year. Many, though, were forced to cancel their fundraising galas this year. Consider moving yours to the virtual realm if you’ve postponed it or have one planned for later in the year.
Online galas are a type of virtual fundraising event that allows your supporters to dress up at home, listen to your keynote speaker from the comfort of their couch, eat a meal via video conferencing, and donate to their favorite charity (yours!), usually through an auction.
- Virtual Cooking Night
COVID-19 is causing problems for more than just nonprofits. The economic downturn and the closure of facilities are putting a strain on small business owners, particularly restaurant owners. However, virtual cooking events in collaboration with local companies can benefit both parties!
Virtual cooking events allow local chefs to demonstrate their skills, your supporters to enjoy a delicious meal, and your organization to generate donations in collaboration with a local business. In addition, the chef conducts a video conference with your supporters and instructs them on how to make the dish at home (producing a video is also an option!).
- TED Talk Virtual Events
TED Talks are conferences held to disseminate information and education. A single person takes the stage in front of the group and uses slideshows to discuss their knowledge about a specific topic.
By recruiting a speaker to film their lecture on a specific topic, your nonprofit can conduct your own TED Talk-style event. One of the fantastic benefits of this fundraising approach is the opportunity to debate mission-related subjects! In addition, you can utilize this event to illustrate the cause’s factual and historical backdrop to further emphasize the significance of your objective.
- Invest in Nonprofit Training
Investing in your employees is sometimes the best strategy to raise more revenue. Staff employees can enhance skills such as effective management, financial savvy, communication, and, yes, fundraising by encouraging or funding nonprofit-specific learning opportunities.
While this may not be a fundraising concept in and of itself, investing in nonprofit training courses can help you better manage your finances and use them more efficiently in the long term.
- Online Classes
Even if you don’t realize it, you probably have some brilliant people on your team that is incredibly amusing and artistic, even if you don’t realize it yet! They may practice yoga, paint, or play music in their spare time. So invite your staff members to put their skills to the test by creating and teaching their online classes on behalf of your nonprofit.
Learning a new skill is a great way to pass the time while you’re in quarantine. Your nonprofit will provide a learning experience for your supporters while also giving your team members a great teaching experience by offering online courses.
- Crowdfunding Campaign
Crowdfunding is a traditional online fundraising approach that allows nonprofits to gather a large number of small donations from a large number of people. These campaigns thrive on social media platforms because donors can share their donations with their friends and family, encouraging them to give as well!
Many of these fundraising strategies allow for smaller-scale gifts that are less financially burdensome for your supporters, which is ideal for individuals who have been hit hard by the recession.
However, by adopting new creative virtual fundraising ideas, your nonprofit will find that those smaller-scale gifts will add up to a significant amount of funds.
Author: Jay Love – https://bloomerang.co/blog/virtual-fundraising-ideas/