Every charity organization is looking for the magic pill to fundraising and although we wish our R & D team had that capability, let’s be real, we are not there yet.
One thing’s for sure, fundraising events are the pillar of any charity organization. However, it’s important to have a strong brand identity to help your organization stand out from the rest. The fundraising strategies you take on will be critical to your short and long-term success. It’s never too late to sharpen your strategy, so here are 5 ways to increase your brand awareness, create and connect with donors, and take your nonprofit to the next level!
Start Early
Generating a buzz prior to your next fundraising event can ensure lots of interest. For instance, social media can really come into use because you can share posts about your preparations for the event, raise awareness and encourage people to get involved. Using hashtags allows and encourages people to engage with your posts, word about your fundraiser will travel much faster! So go crazy with your hashtags!
Network With Other Charities
We have all been guilty of spreading a rumor or two, right? So for a good cause, spread the word about your charity event with other charities by connecting with them on social media or in-person through industry gatherings. Engaging in collaborations and developing a relationship with other charities can provide guidance and opportunities to represent your cause and receive other invitations to exclusive events. Ultimately, you may even receive additional donations through referrals and your brand will continue to grow.
Work On Your brand
Just like people judge a book by its cover, donors will judge your company by its brand. That’s why good branding is important as it can provide more opportunities to spread awareness that can lead to more donations. Branding equals identity and it’s how people perceive your cause, so it needs to be appealing enough to attract donors. Image, tone, and even color scheme can contribute to making a charity event more compelling, however, it’s always important to include a human element. Successful charities have the most donors when reaching their audience at an emotional level, so make sure to keep the charity’s mission at the heart of everything you do!
Charity Must Stand Out At The Event
Being over-the-top is an understatement when it comes to standing out during an event, so make sure you have as many marketing displays as possible such as banners, flags, table covers, tents, and signs that have your printed charity name, logo, and color scheme. The goal is to ensure that your brand looks professional and creates an impact, so attendees will feel more compelled to donate and those that don’t, will get all the charity information at a glance and remember it later!
Connect With Your Donors
Attendees will be more appreciative and willing to donate when provided with more information regarding your charity and the donation process. Therefore, having representatives interact with the crowd at your events is very important. Furthermore, they should be passionate, educated, charismatic, and able to answer any questions from potential donors.
There should also be a table or gazebos that can act as information points, so donors can approach you rather than wait for a representative. Lastly, make an impression by giving away promotional items such as pens, wristbands, and sticky pads, because who doesn’t love free stuff?
As mentioned above, there are many ways to enhance your charity fundraising strategies. It’s important that you keep in mind that your fundraising events are always a work in progress. Don’t dwell on the misfires or the events that don’t bring in as much as planned. Make sure to turn a critical eye toward your analytics. Pay close attention to your metrics. Take time to plan your communication outreach and events. Lastly, always keep honing your craft.
