Tag: Donations

Fundraising Tips for Nonprofits

On May 26, 2022

A successful nonprofit fundraising campaign is a vital part of any organization’s operations. It can help raise awareness for a cause and attract more donors.

It can be a daunting task for a charitable organization to raise money. Since it’s likely that your primary source of income is through donations, fundraising can be a long and challenging process.

Nonprofit fundraising should be learned and mastered. Having a well-designed fundraising plan can help prepare your volunteers and ensure that the organization is successful. Here are some crucial steps to follow.

Set Goals and Plan Messaging

Before you start a fundraising campaign, it’s important to set goals and objectives. These should include the end goal and the overall plan for the year.

Before setting a fundraising goal, it’s important to determine the organization’s needs. Then, return to the mission statement to figure out what the money will be used for.

Your mission statement should also be written to guide the donors’ questions about the organization’s goals and mission. Having a clear and concise mission statement can help raise awareness about the organization and its work.

Make sure to also tell the stories of the people who you help. A study conducted in 2010 revealed that most donors choose to give due to their own preferences and personal experiences. A partiality for certain causes can also be triggered by a donor’s personal experiences. Having a compelling and uplifting story can also help motivate people to give.

Most donors research a charity before giving, so having a well-written and uplifting story on your website can also help boost donations.

Make a List of Potential Donors

Before you start a fundraising campaign, it’s important to identify the people who are most likely to give to your cause. You can also enlist the help of your board members and volunteers to create a list of potential donors.

Having a well-written and uplifting story on your website can also help boost donations. Having a prospect list can also help guide your campaign promotion. It can be done through various forms of fundraising, such as social media, direct mail, and sponsorships.

Plan Your Campaign

This step will help you determine the exact strategy and tactics that will help raise money for your cause. Having a clear understanding of the goals and the various ways that donors can give will help boost your fundraising efforts.

Before you start a fundraising campaign, it’s also important to determine how you’ll promote it. This step will help determine the various elements of the campaign that will be used to raise money for the organization.

Although the goal of a fundraising campaign is to raise money, it’s also important to determine how you’ll promote it. This step will help you develop a strategy and tactics that will work for your organization.

One of the most important steps that you should consider when it comes to establishing a fundraising campaign is to establish a recurring donation program. This can help boost donations and prevent you from having to spend a lot of money on ongoing fundraising. A monthly giving program can allow you to receive a steady stream of donations.

Thank Donors

Although it’s important to establish a fundraising campaign, it’s also important to thank your donors and supporters. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as by sending a thank-you note. However, it’s also beneficial to build a stronger relationship with your donors.

Being loyal to your donors is as important as maintaining a good customer relationship. Having a strong relationship with them can help alleviate the pressure of fundraising. By being transparent about the details of the donations, your organization can continue to grow.

Small Steps for Community Improvement

By Muhammad Babangida

On March 31, 2022

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy

Many people don’t have time to volunteer for community projects amidst busy work schedules and family demands. However, even with busy schedules, there are still ways to make a difference in the community. Here are some small steps you can take to have a positive impact on your community.

1. Shop Local

You can also save money by shopping with local businesses. They often offer free gift-wrapping and delivery services, and a portion of their sales go to the local community.

2. Speak Positively of Your Community

Share positive aspects of your community with other people. Doing so will help boost the local economy and encourage more people to shop locally.

3. Attend Local Events

You can also support local organizations by attending a festival or other event. These are usually fundraisers for local non-profit organizations. By attending, you can help raise money for the organizations.

4. Speak Up to People in Power

Write a letter to your local elected officials and encourage them to make good decisions for the community. Doing so will make them feel valued and encourage them to make better decisions.

5. Cultivate Beauty

Put a plant on your front porch to spruce up the appearance of your home. Doing so will make it look better and make the whole neighborhood look more attractive.

6. Be Neighborly

Take time to cook dinner for an older neighbor and deliver a plate to her next door. Doing this will let you get to know the people in the neighborhood and ward off crime.

7. Collect Donations

You can also help the community by participating in school programs that collect toys, clothes, and food for the less fortunate.

8. Embrace Volunteer Opportunities

If your company has a volunteer program, encourage them to participate in local events and join a civic organization. Having employees represent the company at large events will help boost their visibility.

9. Pick Up Trash

Walk around the neighborhood and pick up any litter that’s left behind. This will help build up your energy and get in some exercise while also cleaning up the neighborhood.

Doing our part to improve the community strengthens our ties with our neighbors and demonstrates what it means to be a good citizen.

Why Risk is Necessary in Philanthropy

By Muhammad Babangida

On September 30, 2020

In Community Engagement, Muhammad Babangida, Philanthropy, Youth Philanthropy

It is sad to note that philanthropy is not as impactful as it should be. This is due to many philanthropists being afraid to be bold and take risks. Many want to stick to the traditional form of philanthropy of giving out funds without creating meaningful impact.

Also, there is no open discussion about risk in philanthropy. In the world of philanthropy, calculated risk is essential. Philanthropists invest money to achieve specific results. And just like any other investment, there is an interplay between risk and return in philanthropy.

There is a system failure in the world today in that philanthropists do not get the impact they intend. For instance, MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, may not achieve philanthropy’s societal impact even though she makes considerable donations to organizations.

Why? Even with her good intentions, MacKenzie Scott is conservative with her approach. She falls into the regular donations rather than fund an unconventional idea that she has passion. Her donations cut across organizations fighting racism, climate-sensitive organizations, and pro-democracy groups. She may be creating an impact but not to the extent the colossal donations should. She can do much more.

Scott is not the only one taking this traditional philanthropy approach. Others, like Jack Ma and Larry Ellison, have followed suit. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with their intentions. However, they can achieve much more impact.

You might be wondering how they can do this. Donors can disrupt the philanthropy world through catalytic philanthropy. This approach is different from charitable donations. It goes beyond writing a cheque. The philanthropist goes a mile further to research the source of the problem facing society. Instead of pouring money into the problem, the philanthropist establishes the root cause first. That’s results in using the power of money responsibly.

Catalytic philanthropists do not ignore the aspect of risk. Otherwise, this would jeopardize the impact of their funding. They, however, assess and measure risk vis a vis the return of their donations. This strategic philanthropy embraces risk through progressive risk management systems. With this approach, they develop disruptive solutions to the world’s challenges.

To wrap things up, philanthropy is not as simple as just giving donations. Until risk-taking becomes the norm, philanthropists will miss the chance of maximizing impact. Risk is about being quick and reacting to the environment to provide customized solutions.