There are several variables that determine your fundraiser’s success. But no matter how much you plan, fundraising challenges will always present themselves. If you’re having trouble with your fundraising, here are three aspects that you may need to improve.
All fundraisers starts with an idea and a desire to help. Putting that idea in motion may require you to be less idealistic and more practical. To set a realistic goal, be SMART.
“S” stands for specific. A simple plan works best, but pay attention to the details, too. Your objective should be clearly understood by the team.
“M” stands for measurable. You should be able to track your progress with a quantifiable amount or landmark.
“A” stands for achievable. Any goal can be doable if you have a clear idea on how to proceed.
“R” stands for relevant. Simply put, your fundraiser’s objective should be worth the effort, time, and money put into it. Who will it help? Is it timely? Will it be relevant a year from now?
“T” stands for time-bound. Set a date for your goal and set up landmarks. What can you do today? What can you do six months from now? What can you do in a year?
2. People
Another common issue is that you may not be using the available human resources as effectively as you could. Here are some tips you can try:
* Delegate more. Nonprofit organizations demand a lot of time and effort, but you don’t have to do it alone. Learn how to depend on your team by delegating more. List your desired outcomes, consider the expertise and skills of your staff, and then assign tasks accordingly.
* Find volunteers. A lot of people are willing to donate to charity, and not just money. With the help of social media, you can find people who might be interested in volunteering. Create a strong online presence for your charity, post engaging content, and enlist the help of your supporters. You can also ask your community by handing out flyers, using bulletin boards, or telling your friends and family to spread the word.
* Treat them right. One of the challenges of nonprofit organizations is managing people. Needless to say, be good to both staff and volunteers. Promote the importance of teamwork, give morale boosters, and give constructive comments.
3. Donors
The donors and supporters are the backbone of your organization, and you should learn how to properly communicate with them. Stay in touch and regularly send updates to your donors to keep them posted on your progress. You can set up a rewards or incentives system as a way of thanking them and motivating them to contribute more. It’s also a good idea to actively seek out more funders. Get more creative and proactive with recruiting new supporters and donors.
A successful fundraiser improves its weak spots, ceaselessly seeks progress and makes full use of all the available resources. These tips are broad enough that you can tailor them to your needs to address the challenges presented by different kinds of charities – for relief aid, education, and health, etc. To find out more, click here to read about fundraising related to keeping children healthy.
