The ongoing COVID-19 crisis continues to challenge the status quo, exerting a substantial impact on diverse sectors across the globe. Among the hardest hit are nonprofits, where the ability to garner crucial funds is continually thwarted by the pandemic’s repercussions. Beneficiaries affected by the crisis are at the mercy of these funds, making the situation dire and demanding swift adaptability.
The traditional fundraising methods, characterized by personal, face-to-face events, have turned obsolete in the current climate. The unforeseeable future seems to lack the promise of a return to these conventional practices. This reality undercores the urgent need for nonprofits to pivot and embrace new, inventive ways of raising funds and preserving donor engagement.
Indeed, the fundraising landscape is shrouded in uncertainty. An actionable, flexible approach to fundraising event ideas is a necessary lifeline. This means nonprofits should not only anticipate change but also craft strategies that will thrive in this change. They should be ready to reinvent their fundraising blueprint at a moment’s notice, ensuring they can navigate whatever challenge that comes their way.
As we embark on this enlightening exploration, we aim to arm nonprofits with community outreach ideas that are adaptable to the prevailing social distancing norms enforced in 2021. Read on to discover creative approaches that will bolster your fundraising efforts, ensuring that your cause remains vibrant and your supporters substantially engaged throughout the year.
Ingeniously Design a Dedicated Giving Day or Week
Many nonprofits often find themselves grappling with the fierce competition that comes with the renowned #GivingTuesday, as they fight for standing out among innumerable organizations seeking funds on social media.
However, this competition can be successfully sidestepped by innovating their own unique giving day or even an entire week dedicated to focused fundraising goals.
In the past year, several organizations, like Southern Wesleyan University (SWU), resorted to this unconventional approach, aligning their dedicated fundraising time with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Taking the innovative route, SWU launched ‘SWU Cares’, a week-long event in April 2020, aimed at offering sustained financial as well as spiritual support to their students. By taking their fundraiser entirely online, they not only managed to navigate through the pandemic restrictions, but also exceeded their fundraising targets. Astonishingly, the funds raised matched their previous year’s total, indicating that virtual fundraising can be as successful as in-person events.
Explore the Power of Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Campaigns
One fundraising strategy that never loses its charm is Peer-to-Peer (P2P) fundraising. This multi-layered technique facilitates crowdfunding by allowing supporters to set up personal fundraising pages promoting your cause. These personal pages can be shared with their friends, family, or even on social media, reaching a broader audience.
What makes P2P fundraising particularly appealing is its adaptability. It can function as a solitary online event or form a complementary part of a larger virtual fundraising campaign. An extra edge to this method is that it enables your organization to tap into new pools of donors through the social networks of your present supporters.
On average, individual P2P fundraising pages raise around $538, with the common donation sum being $95, attracting an average of 5.2 donors.
Consider the impressive achievement of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. It raised more than $37,777 in its inaugural, entirely virtual P2P fundraising event- a Turkey Trot 5K run/walk. The event witnessed participants from 40 distinct states, further highlighting the reach and impact of such campaigns.
Here are a few tips to implement a successful P2P campaign:
- Encourage Personalization: Motivate your fundraisers to personalize their pages. Encourage them to share their connection with the cause and why it matters to them;
- Provide Resources: Equip your supporters with all necessary resources – guidelines, graphics, sample posts. This ensures consistency across all personal fundraising pages;
- Acknowledge and Appreciate: Recognize your fundraisers’ efforts. Publicly appreciate their contribution to motivate them and others.
Champion Virtual Volunteer Initiatives
In the midst of a public health emergency, civil rights movements, and ongoing environmental issues, many individuals seek impactful ways to contribute to their communities beyond financial donations.
Fortunately, a myriad of volunteer opportunities conform to social distancing guidelines. From participating in community park cleanups to helping distribute groceries at drive-through points, and even providing companionship to seniors through phone calls, there are plenty of avenues to contribute.
Consider COVID-19-specific volunteer tasks, such as assisting at testing sites or offering shopping assistance to seniors and other high-risk populations. In this digital age, these volunteer openings can be efficiently promoted through various online channels like email newsletters, social media, and mobile messaging.
Embrace the World of Virtual Fundraising Events
As the shifts forced by the pandemic continue to take precedence, numerous organizations are demonstrating their adaptability by transforming their traditional in-person fundraising events into socially distanced versions. There’s an array of socially distanced activities that might serve as brainstorming springboards, from drive-through charity runs and golf tournaments to virtual concerts or movie screenings.
Take the case of Grand Teton National Park Foundation, which converted its annual fun run into a virtual event in response to the pandemic. Participants could run or walk a 5K route at a location of their choice, promoting engagement, raising funds, and ensuring the safety of all involved.
Supporters, mostly homebound due to pandemic restrictions, may be more willing to participate in such activities than you’d expect. Even without the familiar extravagance of your traditional in-person events, these socially distanced fundraisers offer a welcome break from the virtual meeting fatigue and provide a fun, interactive way to support your cause.
Mobilize Donor Engagement with Smartphone Outreach Campaigns
In a world increasingly driven by digital communication, and with a pandemic enforcing social distancing, more and more individuals are reliant on digital platforms for interaction and engagement.
Statistics highlight a compelling fact: an impressive 98% of all text messages sent are read, and a whopping 90% of them are read within the initial 90 minutes of being sent. This makes mobile messaging an incredibly direct and efficient channel to connect with supporters when in-person interactions are restricted.
Mobile messaging has the flexibility of complementing an array of fundraising events, volunteering opportunities, or special days of giving. For instance, the nonprofit organization Advocates for Children, which strives to provide aid to child victims of abuse and neglect and their families, frequently update their supporters via mobile messaging with meeting invites and reminders.
Here are a few tips to effectively employ a mobile outreach campaign:
- Tailor Your Message: Personalize your texts according to the recipient’s history of interaction with your organization, ensuring the message resonates with them;
- Be Concise: Keep your messages short and to the point. Aim for a clear, compelling message that prompts action;
- Implement Two-Way Communication: Encourage recipients to respond or engage with your messages. This can foster a more personal, interactive connection.
Propagate a Mutual Boost through Local Business Collaborations
A smart and effective approach to bolstering fundraising efforts lies in forging partnerships with local businesses. Such affiliations offer a dual advantage – they enhance visibility for the cause and simultaneously propel the company’s sales and community reputation.
A great application of this method can be observed in the charity work of Feeding America. Similarly, your nonprofit can tap into the potential of cause marketing, where businesses set up donation boxes at their premises, or a portion of their proceeds are contributed to a cause. Alternatively, corporate sponsorships can significantly boost funding for your virtual or in-person fundraisers.
Here are a few tips to construct productive partnerships with local businesses:
- Identify Suitable Partners: Seek businesses that align with your cause and share similar values. The synergy of interests can drive a more successful and engaging campaign;
- Propose Mutual Benefits: Frame your proposal highlighting the mutual benefits. A business partner should see the value in terms of positive publicity, customer engagement, and community goodwill;
- Promote the Partnership: Publicize the collaboration through various channels to maximize reach and engagement.
Host a Virtual Fundraising Event
In light of the recent paradigm shift towards digital solutions in the face of unforeseen circumstances such as a global pandemic, virtual events have surfaced as an effective and versatile tool for fundraising. This trend is predicted to persist in 2021 and beyond, as more organizations enjoy the convenience and far-reaching capabilities of online platforms.
Virtual fundraising can take on various forms and cater to a broad audience. From online galas and music concerts to art performances and informative Q&A sessions, the options to engage your audience are almost limitless. You can even organize digital versions of traditionally in-person events such as dinners or conferences, thus expanding your reach beyond geographical limits.
Here are some ways to make the most out of your virtual fundraising events:
- Broaden Your Horizons: With geographical constraints out of the way, utilize the opportunity to reach out to a global audience. You’ll be surprised how many people worldwide are willing to contribute to your cause;
- Interactive and Engaging: Digital platforms offer countless ways to keep your audience engaged. Use polls, quizzes, or breakout sessions to make your event lively and interactive;
- Leverage Social Media: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube can be used to live-stream your event, while Twitter can be used for live updates and discussions;
- Monetize: Explore different ways to monetize your event. This can be through tickets, donations, or even organizing an online auction;
- Don’t Forget the Follow-up: The event doesn’t end when the virtual curtain falls. Be sure to follow up with your audience, thanking them for their attendance and contributions. This not only shows your appreciation but also helps build a lasting relationship.
Conclusion
In today’s rapidly evolving world, nonprofits need to constantly innovate and adapt their community outreach strategies. Whether it’s collaborating with local businesses, hosting virtual fundraising events, harnessing the power of social media, or investing in capacity building, every effort plays a significant role in enhancing their outreach and impact. By embracing these transformative strategies, nonprofits can achieve their mission more effectively, drive sustainable development, and herald meaningful change in their communities.