Raising money for non-profit organizations and charitable causes is a noble cause. However, it can sometimes be tricky to think of how you are going to ask for donations and encourage people to give to the charity you are fundraising for.
We have come up with a guide to some ways that can help you to approach asking for donations when fundraising for charity.
Make the Most Out of Social Media and Online Platforms as Valuable Fundraising Tools
Everyone is hooked on the internet nowadays. The internet is a great place to fundraise and collect lots of donations for your cause. Using the internet to your advantage is a great way to connect with people and spread the word about your fundraising efforts so you can hopefully receive some more donations.
You can use special fundraising platforms to inform people about your funding event and what you will be doing, provide potential donors with a bit more information about the non-profit organization you’re running for and what they do, and as a platform people can use to securely give donations online.
Do you want to learn more about how to ask for donations when fundraising? You can take a look at Givebutter’s guide on how to ask for donations.
Think of Fun Fundraising Event Ideas So That People Want to Donate
A good way to encourage people into donating without you having to work hard, is by coming up with creative fundraising ideas. Fun fundraising ideas where others can take part and enjoy themselves should lead to you hopefully receiving a higher number of donations.
So, whether you decide to dress up in a silly costume and do run a twenty kilometer run, host a fun packed trivia night, or put on a glamourous gala night, there are definitely plenty of fun ways that you can raise money for charity.
Come Up with Ways You Can Collect Donations Offline
Sure, it’s easy to collect donations online through card payments and electronic transactions on fundraising platforms. But what about ways you can collect donations for your charity of choice without using online banking?
At fundraising events, you can decide to use the old school method of having a donations box that people can put their dollars and cents into.
Alternatively, instead of collecting donations in the form of cash, you can also get those wanting to donate to write checks as a way of giving money to the charity. The internet is not the sole place you can raise money for charity.
Be Polite
When asking for donations, you should, of course, always do so in a polite manner. Make sure your posts on fundraising platforms and social media and written in a polite way which is easy for people to understand.
Try to refrain from getting frustrated in your fundraising efforts and making comments and judgements about your supporters’ donations. You should be grateful they have chosen to donate, and not get into looking too much into the amount they have given to your charitable cause. After all, Coronavirus has had a significant impact on the income of many households across the USA, and as a result you must show compassion and understand that some people now have far less money; it’s perhaps harder for them to donate as much as they would have liked to.
Encourage People to Donate but Also Avoid Being Too Pushy
To get plenty of donations, you have to promote your fundraising efforts and encourage as many people as possible to donate so you can help out your chosen charity. However, you should avoid coming across as overly pushy and almost seeming as if you are trying to force people into donating to your cause. Being overly aggressive and pushy in the way you encourage people to donate to your charity can in fact put people off donating all together, as they might find it all a bit too much and feel pressured into donating.
Be Consistent with Your Messaging When Telling People Why You Are Raising Money
You should consistently and clearly let people know why you are fundraising for a particular chosen cause. For example, if you are running a marathon for a children’s mental health charity, keep your messaging the same when you let people know in your online posts about why you are running for this children’s charity. People who donate often understandably like to know where their money is going and who will benefit from it. Just make sure you remain clear about why you are raising money for a cause.
Remember it’s not only causes that help humans out that you can fundraise for, but you can also choose to fundraise for animal and environmental protection nonprofit organizations for example.
Be bold and brave when asking for donations and try not to feel too timid and worried about doing it. The most crucial thing is to raise money for your chosen charity.
