Let’s get into fundraising! Finding the best ways to let others know that their money is going to a good cause and for good reason. Winston Churchill once said, “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
Simplification, goal settings, and attention-grabbing imagery are pinpoints to gaining a contributor’s attention. The top seven fundraising tips I have for you are:
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Choose your charity, don’t pick one at random, you need an organization that’s close to your heart.
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Plan effectively, plan, plan, plan. Know your goals, know your audience and collaborate with your team.
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Create a realistic time frame. Romewas not built in a day, neither should your campaign.
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Share your story. People like stories we can relate to, stories that move and inspire, stories that make us see life from another perspective.
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Network. Make calls to relevant businesses, send proposal letters, arrange meetings and cultivate relationships with sponsors.
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Use Social Media. In addition to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram create a blog that documents your every move, it brings a face to your campaign. Fun fact there are 3.5 billion social media users worldwide. That equates to about 45% of the current population and each person spends an average of 3 hours per day on social networks.
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Be PATIENT! It takes an incredible amount of effort and perseveration and yes, sometimes it will feel like your enthusiasm is falling on deaf ears. But don’t be disheartened! The highs always outshine the lows.
After you’ve completed your fundraising, send your results to donors and thank them again for their help. One of the most often heard complaints from contributors to charitable fundraising events is, “They never even said “Thank You”. Make sure that your organization takes the time to send thank you notes to everyone who is involved in your event, including contributors, volunteers, staff and vendors. Keep your donors happy, you may be asking them for another donation down the road.
Hope to see you use these tips for a great cause!