The new year is a great time for nonprofit organizations to start thinking about how to ramp up their fundraising efforts. It's a fresh opportunity to reach out to donors, evaluate current strategies, and create new ones to see greater success throughout the year. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Assess Your Current Fundraising Strategies
Take a look at your fundraising strategies from the past year. Did they work as well as you hoped? What strategies could be improved? And don't be afraid to try something new. This is a great time to assess what worked, what didn’t, and what you should try so you can make changes for the new year.
Did you receive large end of year asset gifts? If not, why not? Make sure you are clearly and consistently offering the most tax efficient opportunities for donors to easily give to you. If you did, how was the process for you and the donor? Look for ways to add ease and efficiency. (Hint: we can help)
2. Reach Out to Donors
Proactively reach out to your current and potential donors to remind them of your organization’s mission and goals for the new year. Make sure to share stories and updates to keep them engaged and informed on upcoming projects and financial needs. Share new giving opportunities such as the ability to receive stock gifts, crypto currencies, or create a named endowment.
For your older, recurring donor base, make sure you have a legacy giving opportunity in place for them to easily grant larger gifts and ensure the process is easy to understand and easy to put into place.
3. Tell Your Story
Social media is one of the easiest ways to reach out to potential donors in the new year at a mass scale. Utilizing platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share stories, updates, and fundraising campaigns are important touch points. But don't stop there.
Often a short personal note mailed to a donor acknowledging their part in your story builds the ever important relationship to keep donors giving and large gifts accessible.
4. Organize Fundraising Events
Fundraising events can be a great way to engage with donors and the public. Consider hosting a fundraising gala, golf tournament, or even a virtual event to help you reach your goals.
Not ready for a large scale event? Consider hosting a series of small, exclusive dinner parties with strategic donors to engage in intimate conversations and build authentic rapport through a shared experience. Often a board member or recurring donor is happy to host,, and encourage them to fill the invite list out with their community who may be like minded and interested in supporting your mission.
5. Utilize Online Fundraising Platforms
Consider using an online fundraising platform or changing the one you have to make it easier for donors to contribute both small and large gifts. Platforms like Infinite Giving are a great option to collect all kinds of donations with ease, all in one place.
With zero transaction fees, and all of the administrative and backend support, we can set you up to easily receive stocks, crypto, endowments, and DAF grants in minutes. With a 5 minute set up time, and an an exceptional donor gifting experience, don't miss out on strategic gifts.
The new year is the perfect time to evaluate and improve your fundraising efforts. By following these tips, you can ensure that your nonprofit organization is well-positioned for success in the coming year. We can help.