As a nonprofit, one of your organization’s challenges is coming up with enough capital to fuel your efforts. Fundraising isn’t easy, but it can be incredibly rewarding. When brainstorming ways to raise funds to support your cause, you want to do something that’s proven to provide you with a strong return on your investment. After all, fundraising requires resources that could otherwise be used somewhere else. We’ve put together four fundraising ideas for nonprofits to help you grow your organization and continue advocating for its cause.
Explore how each of these fundraising ideas may fit your next win-win-win event. Win for the cause, win for the fundraisers, and a win for the donators.
1. Host a Fundraising Event
The most common way to raise capital for your nonprofit organization is to host a fundraising event. Fundraising events can be anything from a charity auction to a 5K race. When coming up with your idea for a fundraising event, plan something you can easily accomplish that won’t take too much of your resources. Something like a charity auction is great because the items you offer can be donations from local businesses. You can even charge for tickets to attend, giving you another way to draw revenue. The major challenge that comes with a fundraising event is generating the buzz surrounding the event. If you do plan to host an event to raise capital for your organization, make sure to market your event properly to attract the right audience and get supporters involved in your organization. Most importantly is putting your organization at the forefront of your event, making sure that each supporter attending recognizes your brand and makes a positive association with your brand’s image. When supporters recognize your brand, they’re more likely willing to come out for future fundraising events.
2. Donation Letters
Writing a letter may seem like something that’s too simple to get a response, but this method is a surprisingly effective way to entice organization members to contribute to your cause. You would be surprised at how well a strongly written letter can rally supporters of your nonprofit to contribute to your organization when you make your intentions clear and concise. When writing your letter, you want to make sure to appeal to your audience’s emotion and put your cause at the forefront of that letter. Remind your contributors what your cause is all about and detail how you plan to use their donations to continue advocating for your organization’s goals.
3. Online Donations
Online donations allow nonprofit organizations to raise capital passively with little ongoing effort. Additionally, communities can contribute cash donations directly to the nonprofit’s treasury. This ensures a supporter’s contributions go directly towards helping the organization stay operational. Online donations also expand your organization’s reach, able to reach people from all around the world and receive contributions from anyone. The best thing about online donations is the ability for users to subscribe monthly. This feature allows your organization members to donate to your cause passively, ensuring recurring contributions.
4. Merchandise
Last, organizations can create branded merchandise that they can sell at various events. Merchandise is an excellent way to get supporters to contribute to your organization’s cause while showing an appreciation to your supporters. What’s more, merchandise can act as free marketing in many cases. If your organization sells shirts, stickers or any other merchandise with your nonprofit’s logo, you benefit from free marketing. Each time one of your supporters wears your logo, they promote your brand to other individuals and organization. With more people aware of your nonprofit, your organization is more likely to success in raising capital for your cause. To create your own merchandise, add your logo to everyday items like coffee mugs or clothes that you can sell at your nonprofit, online or at different events.
