Countdown for Nonprofits: Top 5 Ways to Boost Fundraising in Your Social Networking Community
Posted by:
Walter Roark on
May 19, 2009 at
3:58AM AFT
5. Reach out to Donors with Regular Emails
Socially-enabled private label communities should have a full
palette of tools to help administrators connect with members regarding
fundraising objectives. But email is still a viable and essential way
to stimulate donorship. And it doesn’t have to be about asking for
money. Moreover, email communications should be
wrapped around a specific cause with a request for support.
Accordingly, know precisely which causes are most important to your
online membership. A weekly emailed newsletter is another productive
way to tell your constituents about all of the new activity happening
in your community. By integrating your email and social media
activities, you’ll drive more supporters to your community and create
more engagement.
4. Make Click-to-Donate Simple on Highly-Trafficked Pages
It may seem that this advice would be self-evident, but be certain
to give donation buttons major priority in the design of your community
pages. First, engage online visitors with compelling content in the
form of a mission goal, popular campaign or ongoing cause. Communicate
clearly what a member’s donation is for, where it is going and why it
is critical to the mission’s success. Once that message is succinctly
relayed, position the donate button in close proximity—always above the
fold. After clicking, your member should discover a process that is as
secure, quick and simple as possible.
3. Supplement Online Donating with Additional Methods
Even in 2009, everyone isn’t comfortable with donating online.
People have preferences about technology and performing a monetary
transaction. Believe it or not, some donors may want to send you a
paper check in an envelope with a stamp. Why should they be left out?
They shouldn’t. So make it easy, painless and of corporate matching
programs that their employers might offer. worry-free for your
constituents to use snail-mail, toll-free number,
online click, or even instant message, if possible. Remind them too of
corporate matching programs that their employers might offer. Make
every method convenient.
You can also consider having a button for people who wish to be
contacted by phone. With a click on “Please contact me about donating,”
your supporter can specify a date & time to speak with you. With
all of your donation pathways, include an option for a flexible payment
plan.
2. Highlight Real Donors within Your Online Community
Connect openly and honestly with the empathy and sense of belonging
in your community. Display profiles and photos of committed members
who have given generously. Let them tell their story—why they believe
in the cause, what they are doing about it and the feeling they have
after donating. Inspire your constituents. Give them ascending tiers of
recognition such as silver, gold, platinum and so on. Display real
donor stories linked to multiple levels of donation.
be
wrapped around a specific cause with a request for support.
Accordingly, know precisely which causes are most important to your
online membership. A weekly emailed newsletter is another productive
way to tell your constituents about all of the new activity happening
in your community. By integrating your email and social media
activities, you’ll drive more supporters to your community and create
more engagement.
online click, or even instant message, if possible. Remind them too of
corporate matching programs that their employers might offer. Make
every method convenient.