In today’s fundraising landscape, the possibilities and methods to raise funds for your organization are limitless. The implications? Non-profits have the opportunity to ensure their fundraising is in good working order, with multiple sources of incoming donation revenue. If one revenue stream is not as successful as it was in previous years, another revenue stream will hopefully make up for the loss, creating a balanced approach just as you would do with your own financial investments.
A diversified fundraising program offers advantages to non-profits and having one is becoming a competitive imperative. There are many exceptional organizations for donors to support. Allowing donors to give and connect with your organization in the way that suits them best is growing in importance, most notably as you seek to build relationships with your next generation of core supporters.
To ensure your non-profit has a steady stream of donation revenue, and is appealing to your core donors of today and tomorrow, here are four ways to diversity your fundraising program.
Promote Monthly Giving
Monthly giving can provide your non-profit with reliable and consistent revenue from your supporters, which will help you manage your monthly finances and enable you to plan and invest in longer-term initiatives. Not only does this steady source of donor revenue help strategic planning, monthly giving helps cut costs as less marketing is needed to drive one-time donations, and there are options on many fundraising platforms to automatically process gifts each month. Your supporters can also better manage their charitable donations through monthly giving.
To help your organization expand or implement a monthly giving program, download this free whitepaper.
Make sure you’re Mobile
In today’s technology driven world where everything can be done by the touch of a button, on a tablet or phone, giving could not be easier and it is important that your non-profit is mobile optimized so you don’t miss valuable opportunities to receive additional funds.
According to the 2015 Canadian Mobile Study, 68 percent of Canadians own a smartphone, with majority of smartphone owners between the ages of 25 to 54, and an increasing number of Canadians are using mobile devices as their primary device to perform actions such as paying bills, shopping for items, reading information from the web, and making charitable donations. If your website or donation page is not mobile friendly, you are missing out on donations and it’s time to make a plan to deliver your donors the convenience of easily donating to your organizations through a smartphone, tablet, or other mobile device.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising
The new era of fundraising is taking supporter involvement to a whole new level with increasing numbers of non-profits using peer-to-peer fundraising as a new way to engage supporters and raise funds for their cause. With over 275 million raised through the top 30 Canadian peer-to-peer fundraising programs in 2014, according to Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Canada, the possibilities are endless when it comes to how much can be generated through this newly popular fundraising method.
Whether it is a walk-a-thon, a marathon, a knit-a-thon, or another form of peer-to-peer participation and fundraising, there are no real limits when it comes to the amount raised from your participant’s fundraising efforts when managed effectively. On top of the added financial benefit, P2P fundraising can also help your supporters feel more invested in your cause. By participating in a run, a walk, or an event where participants have to call on their family, friends, or co-workers to donate to their fundraiser, your participants have a reason to share their affinity to your cause which will help you further spread your message and reach new audiences, therefore helping you cut marketing costs trying to reach out to new audiences on your own.
If your non-profit is considering launching a Peer-to-Peer Social Fundraising Event, download this free resource for all the getting-started tips and knowledge you will need.
Organize an Event
Whether you make the investment in hosting a gala, concert, or auction, ticketed events can also generate an additional source of incoming revenue for your organization. Ticket prices are the obvious source, but add to that the potential for raffles, auctions, door prizes, on-site event donations and more, it is clear there are many ways to engage participants. Beyond raising funds, events can help raise awareness for your cause. Events also have the tendency to attract more media attention, particularly ones that are unique with high profile spokespeople or a special anniversary to celebrate. As non-profits focus more on creating relationships with their stakeholders and attracting new potential donors, there is no better opportunity to build face-to-face time with supporters than at your events.
If your non-profit is planning an event, this free resource can help get you started and ensure you raise the bar and more money.
No matter what portfolio of fundraising methods you choose to undertake, making sure you have an assortment of incoming donation revenue will help ensure your non-profit sustains a steady stream of income to support your worthy cause.
Kathleen Grace is the Marketing & Communications Manager at CanadaHelps. CanadaHelps.org allows donors to safely donate and fundraise online for any registered Canadian charity and also provides charities the secure online fundraising platform and education resources they need to succeed. As a registered charity itself, CanadaHelps has facilitated more than $600 million in donations to Canadian charities online since launching in 2000. Over 16,000 Canadian charities fundraise online using the CanadaHelps platform. Stay connected with CanadaHelps on Twitter @CanadaHelps and @CharityLifeCA.
