FUNDRAISING IDEAS

Road Blocks to Successful Fundraising!

A lot could depend on the fundraising campaign you are planning to conduct right now (whether a child gets much needed medical attention, your boy scout troop gets to go to the national jamboree, or your choir gets to go to that worldwide competition). But you do not need to buckle under the pressure. Online fundraising has become the most used mode for solicitation primarily because of the wider reach and the ease with which you can establish contact with your potential donors.

While attempting to start an online fundraiser, many people fall prey to some of the common mistakes which can deliver a death blow to their campaign. It is important to stay clear of these roadblocks to make sure that your campaign runs smoothly.

Too often innovation is given undue encouragement. Yes, it’s a great idea to be unique. But trying to reinvent the wheel too much could be detrimental to your efforts (that old saying “don’t fix it if it isn’t broken” actually has quite a lot of worth to it). You should not throw in the towel on conventional modes of fundraising just because technical advances allow you to. As with most things, moderation is the key. You can successfully combine tried and true methods with new methods to enhance, and not replace, your current modes of fundraising.

Even if you plan to dive headfirst into online fundraising, it is too easy to forget the available resources in the search for a more lucrative and attractive option. Making use of the available resources to the fullest is the primary objective. If you already have an email or a blog, make use of these channels before you start thinking about newer modes. And make sure that you use them to the FULLEST extent possible.

In the age of social media there is nothing that escapes the Twitterati and Facebook fanatics. If you are not ready to embrace social media, you will miss out on a lot of opportunities to spread the word about your cause.

The second most important objective of a fundraiser is to bring in volunteers. Once you have recruited and drafted eager men, women and children to bolster your cause, it is up to you to keep them abreast of your plans. Keep in touch with them regularly, as they will look to you for guidance. Emails are the best way to stay in touch. Neglecting to communicate with them is a common mistake. (But never forget to pick up the telephone and give a personal touch to a conversation, offer encouragement, or just chat to keep lines of communication open!)

The “ask once and wait” policy is not the way to go for fundraising. While being polite and avoiding inbox spamming is important, it is necessary and indeed advisable to send follow up emails for those who have shown some interest. Just think of how many times you have forgotten to do something after being asked about it! Thanking them for their contribution is a great way of showing appreciation. This will help in expanding your spectrum of donors and repeat donors.

Your friends, relatives, relatives of friends, friends of relatives, colleagues and ex colleagues are all part of your target donors. USE YOUR NETWORK. You must be very sure not to miss out on reasonable opportunity. Hindsight is 20/20, but research and active networking will ensure that you don’t have any regrets about the way that you have conducted your fundraiser.

And then the most clichéd mistake! Sending a common and generic template to beseech for support from your donors will not work. You need to send a personalized request. Remember that emails and snail mail are only an alternative to an in person meeting. The letters should reflect your appeal, and appeal to the donor’s desire to be part of a larger cause!

With the use of Phoneraiser you can deliver a valid reason to your donors to convince them to support you. Avoid the common mistakes and achieve your goal with Phoneraiser!

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