3 Ways to Supercharge Your Nonprofit’s Fundraising Efforts

If you live in the United States, you likely have gotten help from a non profit whether you realize it or not. With so many different nonprofits in the US—a recent study shows that 1.97 million nonprofits operate in the US, their services are abundant. However, many operate without a lot of recognition as only 5% of Americans believe they have been helped by a nonprofit.  Because visibility can be low, it’s no surprise that donations have been on the decline—less than half of American households currently donate to nonprofit charities, down 60% from the early 2000s.

Suffice it to say that fundraising is a never-ending task for nonprofit organizations. With many nonprofits all vying for the same dollars and cents it’s extremely challenging for nonprofits to catch donors’ attention. Small nonprofits don’t have the staff, and it’s hard to get new grassroots nonprofits off the ground without significant manpower.

Fundraising is the lifeblood of a nonprofit and without it, they couldn’t survive. Every dollar counts and every penny these organizations can raise goes to carrying out programming, staffing, and serving their community well. You must stand out from the crowd if you are to be successful at fundraising.

Here are 3 Ways to Supercharge Your Fundraising Efforts:

1. Be crystal clear on your message and how you are serving your unique community
   Sometimes, especially when you’re just starting out, it can feel like you’re spinning your wheels. I’ve been in the nonprofit industry for a while, and when fundraising really isn’t working, usually, you are doing one of two things wrong. Either you are ineffectively relaying your message or vision, or you are unable to show how your organization is serving the community.

   That’s why it’s important to become crystal clear on what your organization’s mission is and how you uniquely are positioned to provide unique services to the community. It’s going to be impossible to get donations and find corporate sponsors if you aren’t able to concisely explain your value.

   Recently, at a fundraiser, I was the keynote speaker. There were many people in the room who hadn’t heard of our organization. I shared my story about my experiences as a special needs mom to a child with medical issues authentically. At times, I became very emotional, but I received an overwhelmingly positive response. By sharing the “why” behind my organization and explaining our mission, I received attention and support from a new audience.

2. Plan an interactive community event 
   They say you sometimes have to spend money to make money, and nonprofits are no exception. Investing in an interactive community event that will help spread the word about your organization can be a great idea if you are struggling with both visibility and fundraising.

   When you first create your event, set a goal that you want to achieve. Find out who you need to target to achieve that goal, and what those people are looking for. Everyone has their own idea of what they want to do. Once you know your audience, create an event for them. If your target is families, have a face painter and bounce house at your event. If your target audience is women, hold a brunch with complimentary babysitting.

   Make sure to incorporate multiple ways to raise money from the event. This can include selling tickets, creating a raffle or silent auction with the help of community businesses, or selling food. Get creative! Not only will you meet new people and grow your community, but you will raise money to support your programming at the same time.

   I’m planning a luncheon fundraiser in October, and one of our main goals is to create a pleasant ambiance at the event. We’re holding the event at a nice hotel with flowers and a formal table setting. These details do make the fundraiser cost more, but we want our guests to have a memorable experience so that they are eager to attend more events in the future. Our hope is to educate them about our organization while they enjoy a nice lunch and get the opportunity to network with other professionals, community government officials, and other nonprofit organizations.

3. Pursue corporate sponsors
   Corporations gave more than 22 billion dollars to nonprofit organizations in 2022. There’s a lot of money out there, you just need to know how to find it. First of all, it’s important that you’re involved in the community including being a Chamber of Commerce member and attending meetings and networking events. Most Chambers have both small businesses and large corporations represented and having the commonality of living in the same community is a great way to make connections.

   Next, look for corporate partners whose values and mission align with yours. Additionally, instead of going after huge corporations, try to find other businesses close by that are also interested in investing in the community. Another benefit to corporate partners is that often, once you’ve secured the partnership, the support is ongoing.

   Recently we secured a partnership with a local credit union that is also a nonprofit. Like our organization they are community and mission driven. Many of the families we serve have financial difficulties, and when they came on board, they started providing financial literacy workshops and classes. They serve our community and have also been generous with donations and are even donating some silent raffle auction items for an upcoming event.

I hope the tips I shared will help you supercharge your fundraising efforts. There will be highs and lows and challenges along the way.  Remember, the key is to be clear and concise on what it is you are trying to achieve. Then all you have to do is work consistently to fulfill that mission.

Written by Madean Gilzene.

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