Nonprofit Fundraising: How to Get More Donations

When you’re trying to get your nonprofit fundraising efforts off the ground, it can be hard to know where to start. You believe in your cause and you know that others will rally behind it, but how can you get them to actually donate to support your endeavors?

There isn’t a magic formula or a fast track to success, but there are proven tactics you can use to boost your funding. Today, we’re sharing a few of the easiest and most effective ways to increase your nonprofit donations, one step at a time.

1. Make an Online Giving Page

We live in the Digital Age, and most of us are used to the convenience that connectivity allows. We shop online for groceries, order takeout in an app, and even meet with our healthcare providers over telemedicine platforms.

This “always on” mentality translates into the nonprofit giving space. Gone are the days when the only way to donate to a charitable organization was to make a phone call or mail a check. Now, more than ever before, donors are firing up their favorite devices when they’re ready to give.

In fact, in one study of more than 13,000 donors from 133 countries, researchers found that only 8% of global donors want to give using cash while 55% want to use their debit or credit card online.

To meet these prospective donors where they are, make it easy! Create an online giving page that allows them to make a payment on the go, no matter where they might be. Then, embed it on your website so it’s easy to access.

No coding experience? No problem.

Our talented web designers and developers can take care of this step for you, taking the time to understand your concept, goals, and vision before turning it into reality.

2. Grow Your Social Media Presence

It’s easy to get so connected to a cause that you simply assume others are on board, too. You may wonder why you need a social media presence in the first place. Shouldn’t your message speak for itself?

The reality is that your donors are already using platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. They’re actively communicating with one another, sharing ideas, and looking for recommendations. If you can add your nonprofit name to the conversation, you have the potential to increase your influence and grow your community.

If you want to improve funding for your nonprofit organization, it’s time to beef up your social presence. You don’t have to join every platform but think of the ones your target donors are most likely using and start there. Then, use that space to get the word out about your cause!

Share articles on the topic, both ones you’ve written and ones from other authoritative voices in your niche. Ask thought-provoking questions, give relevant facts and stats, and encourage your followers to post and share if they make a donation! The concept of social proof is stronger than you might think and can give others the nudge they need to follow suit.

Not too keen on handling this part of the gig yourself? That’s what our social media marketing team is here for.

3. Set Up Recurring Donations

Once you have your online page set up, it’s time to optimize it!

Add an option that encourages online donors to set up recurring donations with a few simple steps. Allow them to choose how often they’d like to give (e.g. weekly, monthly, quarterly, annually), along with the amount.

A recent study found that recurring donors who give on a monthly basis donate around 440% more to charity over their lifetimes than one-time donors. They also give 42% more than individuals who create personal fundraising pages to support a cause.

Go ahead and populate this section with your nonprofit’s preferred donation intervals. This way, donors can see your suggestions and they’ll know where to start.

4. Say Thank You and Stay Transparent

It might sound overly simplistic, but one of the best ways to increase donations to your nonprofit is to simply say “thank you” when you receive one! While you’re certainly welcome to write each donor a handwritten note, your organization may eventually grow to the point where this step isn’t as feasible.

That’s why it’s smart to set up digital thank-yous as early as possible.

The best way to do so is to share your gratitude on social media! By posting or tweeting a short-out to recent givers, you can acknowledge their support and encourage others to follow in their footsteps. You can also set up an email template that makes it easy to send personalized emails to your donors as soon as they give.

As you recognize these gifts, it helps to stay transparent. Let donors know exactly where their money will go, and share updates on our organization as you receive them. This helps build brand trust and transparency, which are the cornerstones of long-term financial support.

5. Run a Text-to-Give Campaign

When the Red Cross initiated its Haiti Relief project in 2010, text-based giving was a major part of its campaign. In fact, the organization raised $43 million in support through SMS text messages alone. Donors simply texted the word “HAITI” to 90999 to give $10 to the cause.

You don’t have to be as massive as the Red Cross to make an equally impressive impact. Your donors are already on their smartphones most of the day anyway, so why not make it easy for them to text their support on the go? A web developer can help you set up this feature, providing you with the following:

• Your campaign ID
• Your text-to-give number
• Shareable giving instructions you can post on your site, social media, and email

The best part about enabling text-based donations? You could encourage your donors to spread the love elsewhere, too. According to the report linked above, donors who texted to provide Haiti relief went on to perform the same action on other, similar giving platforms.

In all, more than half (56%) of Haiti mobile givers made a later contribution to at least one of the following causes:

• Individuals living in the U.S. Gulf region after the 2010 BP oil spill
• Victims of the 2011 tornadoes in the U.S
• Individuals living in Japan after the Mach 2021 earthquake and tsunami

Promote this new option as a fun, user-friendly way to give to your nonprofit, and make sure the directions are clear and concise!

Optimize Your Nonprofit Fundraising Efforts

If you’re at the helm of a nonprofit organization, you know that donations are the lifeblood of your business. You rely on the generosity of others to keep your mission afloat.

If you’ve noticed that your donations have started to drag, or you’re a brand-new nonprofit owner, it helps to take it back to the basics. The five core nonprofit fundraising strategies listed above are simple, effective, and easy to implement.

Looking for a team to help you with every step? Our omnichannel marketing team at 46Mile can help. Contact us today to learn more and get started.