How do you keep your fundraising communications transparent and confidential for advocacy and policy?

1 Know your audience

Before you craft your fundraising messages, you need to know who you are talking to and what they care about. Different audiences may have different expectations, preferences, and sensitivities when it comes to transparency and confidentiality. For example, individual donors may want to know how their money is used and what impact it has, while institutional funders may require more detailed reporting and compliance. Similarly, some supporters may appreciate being informed about your advocacy and policy goals and activities, while others may prefer to keep a low profile or avoid controversy. Knowing your audience helps you tailor your communications to their needs and interests, while respecting their privacy and confidentiality.

2 Choose your channels

Another factor to consider when communicating your fundraising for advocacy and policy is the channel you use. Different channels may have different levels of security, privacy, and reach. For example, email may be more secure and private than social media, but it may also have a lower open rate and engagement. Social media may be more effective for reaching and mobilizing a large and diverse audience, but it may also expose you to more scrutiny, criticism, and censorship. Choosing your channels wisely helps you optimize your communication strategy, while minimizing your risks and vulnerabilities.

3 Use encryption and passwords

One of the most basic and essential ways to keep your fundraising communications confidential is to use encryption and passwords. Encryption is the process of transforming your data into a code that only authorized parties can access and read. Passwords are the keys that unlock your encrypted data. Using encryption and passwords helps you protect your fundraising data, such as donor information, financial records, and campaign plans, from unauthorized access, theft, or tampering. You can use encryption and passwords for your email, cloud storage, online platforms, and devices.

4 Follow the law and ethics

Another important aspect of keeping your fundraising communications transparent and confidential is to follow the law and ethics. The law and ethics are the rules and principles that govern your fundraising activities and communications. They may vary depending on your location, sector, and issue. For example, some countries may have laws that regulate how much money you can raise, who you can accept donations from, and how you can spend your funds. Some issues may have ethical guidelines that define what is acceptable and unacceptable in your advocacy and policy work. Following the law and ethics helps you avoid legal problems, ethical dilemmas, and reputational damage.

5 Communicate with care

Finally, keeping your fundraising communications transparent and confidential requires you to communicate with care. Communicating with care means being respectful, honest, and responsible in your fundraising messages. It means being clear about your purpose, goals, and methods, and acknowledging your challenges, limitations, and mistakes. It means being mindful of your tone, language, and imagery, and avoiding exaggeration, manipulation, or deception. It means being responsive, attentive, and grateful to your supporters, donors, and stakeholders. Communicating with care helps you foster positive relationships, build loyalty, and inspire action.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?