HuTerra makes it easy to setup an online fundraiser that
tells a compelling story and shows the impact your organization can make with
help from supporters. Here are five top tips to get more donors and larger
donations:
1.
Show it—Use compelling images that illustrate
the need your organization is addressing and evoke emotional responses to the
issue.
For example, if your organization operates a shelter for
people experiencing homelessness, which image should you use on your fundraiser?
A. The outside of the building
or B. The homeless person
The second image is attention grabbing and visually shows
the need the organization is addressing.
2.
Say it—HuTerra Fundraisers provide a place to
include the organization’s mission statement and a place to include information
about the Fundraiser. Use this space to write a paragraph or two that describe
the need and the organization’s impact on the community. Include data on the
problem and data on how the organization has a positive impact. Take your time
and include emotion-invoking language that gets readers’ attention. Double
check for spelling and grammatical errors. You want your content to shine. End
it with a clear ask.
Which statement is more impactful?
A.
Our organization provides a safe place for
homeless families to sleep.
Or
B.
There are an estimated 500 homeless people in
Green Bay on a given night. Lack of nighttime shelter puts people at risk of
illness and physical harm. Our organization shelters 200 people experiencing
homelessness every night. We provide hot meals, counseling, and access to
healthcare. A donation of $50 will provide shelter for one night for a person
experiencing homelessness. Become a Charitable Superhero to hundreds of people
who rely on our organization for warmth and safety from the cold night streets.
Option B provides facts that tell the reader how big the
problem is, and the impact the organization has, then gives a clear call to
action in a positive manner that makes the reader feel like they really are
doing an amazing thing with even a small donation.
3.
Link it—Connect your free online Fundraiser in
HuTerra to existing social network pages. This will be useful when it is time
to share the link and Fundraiser progress with existing supporters and personal
contacts.
4.
Date it—HuTerra Fundraisers do not have to
include Start and End dates, and many general Fundraisers will remain active
indefinitely so supporters can quickly donate to the general funds for the
organizations of their choosing. Research shows that including Start and End
dates for Fundraisers creates a sense of urgency that promotes more giving,
sooner. When does the organization need the money? Consider the timeline of the
need and set Start and End dates accordingly. Refer to knowledge on your
organization’s existing supporters’ donor activity to determine how long the
Fundraiser should last. Too short, and you miss opportunities to connect with
new donors; too long, and giving declines because there is no sense of urgency.
Consider the time commitment necessary for different Fundraiser lengths. Can
you sustain a lengthy campaign, or is it a better use of resources to do a
shorter campaign with a lot of messaging out? Also consider the amount of money
needed. It takes less time to raise $5000 than to raise $30,000.
If the homeless shelter’s van
broke down and the mechanic says it’s on its last legs, the shelter can
estimate that it will have to replace the van in autumn. They know they have to
raise $30,000 to purchase a new van. Should they set the Fundraiser for the van
for:
A.
30 days
Or
B.
Three months
Setting the Fundraiser for three months instills a sense of
urgency to donors, but allows a reasonable amount of time for this small
organization to raise the necessary money.
5.
Share it—Now that the Fundraiser is setup, it’s
time to share, share, share the link and the information to the organization’s
existing supporters and personal contacts. Email the link directly to email
contacts by copy/pasting into an email message. Include images and information
that get attention and end the email message with a direct request that
supporters click the link and make a donation. Use similar storytelling and
direct asks when posting to Facebook and Twitter. Remember to post as the
organization’s Facebook page if you have Admin capabilities, as well as to your
personal connections. You’ll be surprised by how many people will help out,
simply because they support what you do! Remember to Share the link often, and
update supporters on the Fundraiser’s progress so they can see the need and the
impact they are making.
Find out just how easy it is to setup an online fundraiser for the causes you care at www.HuTerra.com
