Online giving is steadily on the rise, especially since the emergence of the pandemic, and it has accounted for 22% of all online fundraising revenue for 2021, according to M+R Benchmarks. This presents a huge opportunity, especially for the smaller nonprofits that might not have access to large annual donors.
Don’t get me wrong, traditional social events and campaigns are not going anywhere but with the modern world we live in and easy access to the internet, e-fundraising strategies will create opportunities to reach a larger audience, attract a new audience and donors, integrate new campaigns and stewardship techniques, and build stronger relationships with current donors while also reducing the overall cost of the fundraising “event” allowing for more dollars received to go towards and impact the cause.
There’s no denying the fact that e-fundraising has, without a doubt, changed the nonprofit donation landscape and what organizations can do, but because there are so many different types of applications to start a digital nonprofit fundraiser, how do you know which ones to use for your nonprofit?
Well, there’s certainly no one-size-fits-all strategy, but in order to determine which strategies will work best for your nonprofit, you’ll need to have a clear understanding of the different e-fundraising strategies available to you. Below you’ll find a few of the more popular strategies.
Host a Virtual Gaming Tournament
If there’s one thing about a virtual gaming tournament that will make it successful, it’s that gaming is an industry that already has a loyal audience dedicated to playing video games.
You’ll definitely want to do your research on the best games to host for this event, simply because a game that’s popular right now, may not be in seven months at the time of your virtual gaming tournament.
Once you’ve decided on a game, you want to get set up on a streaming service to promote your event. The donations come in by setting a dollar amount for an entry fee for players.
Additionally, you can encourage the viewers watching the competitors play to donate as a way to show support for their favorite players. If you’re going to have 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, reach out to your local business and see about donations for the winning participants. Trophies or medals work great as well!
Create a Donation Form or Page for Your Nonprofit’s Website
A donation form or page isn’t necessarily a fundraiser in the traditional aspect, however, it’s a convenient and effortless way for people to make donations for all virtual fundraising events you may have.
Whatever virtual event you have, incorporating a simple link or button that redirects the online user to the donation form or page will streamline the donation process without donors having to click around to find out how to make a donation.
Host an Online Auction
Charity auctions aren’t a new event or concept but hosting virtual auctions does bring about a new flare of ease and convenience of the process. With an online auction, you don’t need to book a physical location for the event; a simple picture of the item or listing of the service can be uploaded to your bidding platform. Just be sure to find sponsors, write clear and concise prize descriptions, and properly promote the event via social media, email campaigns, and through local media.
Once the auction is over, you want to get in contact with the winners and discuss payment options as well as delivery options for the prizes. And, of course, thank them for participating in the auction and making their nonprofit donation to your organization.
Getting Your Nonprofit Out There
When it comes to getting donors and reaching new audiences, you have to get your name out there, because if people don’t know who you are and what your nonprofit represents or its mission and vision, your odds of acquiring donations are going to be lower. This particular aspect is how e-fundraising strategies make the biggest impact and difference for nonprofits. There are a lot of free and/or low cost options to help get your nonprofit and its mission out there. One free resource to help get your nonprofit out there is the FREE Google ads campaign they offer to nonprofits. Never heard of this? We are happy to provide you with information about this service. There are also events like “The Big Payback” that your nonprofit can participate in as well as the Amazon giveback program.
There are also local initiatives in your area that provide free platforms for your nonprofit to register for that brings donors and recipients together, providing a greater reach.
At KM Clark, we work to help your nonprofit grow and thrive by implementing strategies to do just that. Though we don’t provide funding, we do provide resources. Contact us today for a free discovery call and let’s see how we can help you!
We offer four primary services:
Depending on where you are with your nonprofit, you may need one or potentially all of these services to truly take your organization to the next level, and that’s what we’re here to help with.
We understand it can be frustrating when you have great work to do for your community but are struggling to reach enough people to make the difference you know you can make. Don’t get discouraged. We are only a click away!
Contact KM Clark Consulting today to jumpstart your nonprofit and make the difference your community needs.