In the spirit of the new year, welcome to 2023, we are breaking down the top ways to raise funds. RallyUp is an innovative, forward-thinking fundraising platform where you can do just that. We are focused on the future and how to make it without running the risk of sounding cliché: brighter. Having said that, we believe there is much value in reflection, and that is why we are looking at what worked in raising funds successfully in 2022. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it and all that jazz. So, let’s get into it!
No.1: Remember your why
Fundraising can be overwhelming, with long task lists and high expectations for the goals you’ve set for your organization. A great way to approach your fundraising new year is to write down the inspiration behind your cause. Once you have your personal message reminding yourself why you are raising funds and how it will make this world a better place, include it with your first fundraising email to your community. This will motivate your supporters, reminding them why they care about your cause. It is easier to tackle all that needs to be done when we remember the why.
No.2: Get personal
We live in the age of the online world where your supporters and potential donors are checking their inboxes by the hour. This is why email marketing is a powerful tool, not to be overlooked. But how do you stand out in an oversaturated market where your community is being flooded with online activity? It is important to get personal.
Top fundraising platforms offer detailed donor profiles where you can get to know each supporter by name. A simple “Hi John” is the perfect way to personally reach out and not get bamboozled into the dozens of marketing schemes that are being deleted before opened. And if you want to take it one step further, send out physical letters before your first email automation goes out. In the spirit of looking back at past practices that have proven successful, receiving personal physical mail is a great way to build authentic relationships with your community. Let your efforts show your supporters how much you care.
No.3: Get creative with your fundraisers
If there is one thing 2022 taught us about successful fundraising campaigns, it’s that the more creative, the better. Remember, you are competing in the age of technology, where memes, gifs, and reels are grabbing your supporter’s attention by the minute. Rather than letting this overwhelm you, try launching a fundraising activity that will catch their attention – and keep it.
The key is to find top fundraising solutions that offer a variety of ways to raise funds, mix and max activities, and are easy to set up and send live. Find the kind of fundraising tool that will help you create innovative raffles, peer-to-peer fundraisers, live streaming, auctions, sweepstakes, a-thons, and so much more!
Delight your donors with the gift of choice and appeal to your whole network of supporters by engaging them with a variety of fun ways to give.
No.4: Go virtual!
You want your cause to be seen by anyone and everyone. Take the opportunity to reach potential donors that can’t attend an in-person event by taking your event online. This means factors like traffic, work schedules, time zones, and availability are no longer a problem. Now you can dissolve geographical boundaries with eye-catching virtual fundraisers they won’t be able to resist. Your donors can tune in from anywhere and anytime. It is the perfect opportunity to get your cause seen around the world.
No.5: Make giving easy
Your donors are busy. Make sure giving to your cause is not another task they have to tick off their to-do list. Instead, make it something fun and easy they can do on their lunch break, watching television, or while drinking their morning coffee. Find donation pages that reflect your brand and personality and are easy to navigate. Take it one step further and allow your supporters to give to your cause from the comfort of their own phone – or home, or both! Text-to-give features and embeddable donation pages will help you do just that!
No.6: Make giving fun
The “making it fun” part is the best part! Find a solution that allows you to pick the fundraiser you have been excited to create. You will also want to completely customize your fundraiser to reflect the exact experience and energy you are looking for. Find a fundraising tool that offers total custom branding. This way, you decide the tone and experience your donors will have when they land on your fundraiser. Whether you want it to be inspirational, fun, energetic, comedic, or moving – you will be in complete control of your donor’s experience.
No.7: Share impact stories
When it comes to giving to a cause you care about, you are doing so because you want to make a fundamental change. This is vital to remember when dealing with your donor network. These are not just numbers helping you raise the funds you need – these are actual people who want to help you make a big difference in this world. Your community will deeply benefit from seeing and hearing success stories from those whom their donations helped.
Send out short videos, letters, or case studies and show your community the difference they are making in the lives of others. This is a great way to initiate relationships and encourage your supporters to keep giving, caring about, and spreading the word for your mission.
No.8: Blast your fundraiser to the world
The best thing about social media is that you can take advantage of its free advertising. Be consistent about sharing your fundraiser across all social media platforms. To raise as much as possible, take your sharing strategy to every social platform you know. Utilize Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube. You can then even go beyond social platforms and write personal emails, send text messages, or get face-to-face. If you can’t get physically in front of your supporters, host a live session on your favorite social media platform and get face-to-face, virtually!
We know the new year and the pressure to fulfill new resolutions is mighty intimidating – so we hope these fundraising tips can help take the pressure off you with what we know already works and doesn’t need “resolving.”
It’s been said that there are two things you cannot heat up in this world – old love and potatoes – fundraising practices that work; however, you most definitely can! So, as you head forth, doing the work of superheroes, keep these practices in mind, and let’s have the best fundraising year yet.
