5 Ways to Maximize Donations Online

As the year draws to a close, there’s a lot of talk in the nonprofit sector about year-end fundraising. Traditionally, the end of the year has brought in those final bits of money as donors have sought to leverage last-minute tax optimization strategies. That said, it's changing, and many nonprofit fundraisers realize there are better ways to go than year-end fundraising. Fundraising is a year-round effort. Still, it's essential to get those last-minute online donations.

So, how could nonprofits do it successfully, particularly with limited resources? As we know, most organizations in the sector have small budgets . As the nonprofit sector goes through its paradigm shifts and restructuring, maximizing donations online is still critical for ongoing success. It's not as complicated as you think to get people to support your cause digitally—so long as you're always putting people first. Let’s chat about 5 tips to maximize donations online.

1. Invest in creating a community of supporters on social and in person.?

Developing a community of supporters is essential to maximize donations online. One of the fundamental things to realize is that the definition of a community has changed. For one, nonprofits have followers on social media, so they should focus on nurturing them in one, two, or at most three social platforms. However, some people also care about being a member of your in-person community. And the social media and in-person communities may be different. So, how can you leverage the two? One approach is to have donors share their stories of why they support your community and cause. When they do, they see themselves in a community of donors around a cause.

1. Embrace Technology to Get Donations Online

Do we have to say it? Invest in technology, but not just in any technology. You have to invest in the right technology. Often, smaller nonprofits need more support with tech and learning. However, the information age requires ongoing education, testing, and benefitting from the power of tech. There are many ways to leverage tech to create a community, promote your brand, and fundraise. Many platforms have integrations so that tools can work together and be even more powerful. For a quick list of small nonprofit tools, do a little research . Also, remember to have a major donor underwrite the investment.?

2. Ask a Major Donor or Two for Contributions to Capacity-Building

As I mentioned, a donor can fund your investment in technology. To support the investment in your future, ask a major donor or two for a capacity-building gift . In structuring the request, include in your proposal an investment of advertising spending dollars for social media, funds for purchasing a robust CRM that uses AI, and whatever other tools necessary to ensure you maximize your online donations. In short, present donors with a vision—especially a big dream. Ultimately, the initial investment will provide dividends that could double or triple the donor's gift, and donors love making a gift that pays dividends.

3. Develop Your Storytelling Abilities

Storytelling is both an art and a science. As marketing professionals know, people support nonprofits because of an emotional connection. That drives approximately 80% of the decision. The remaining 20% gets driven by logic (e.g., how much to give, type of gift, etc.). Therefore, nonprofits need to master storytelling. Many companies, including Classy and OneCause , share great resources freely and on demand because of digital technology. You can also attend the Nonprofit Storytelling Conference . Do storytelling well, and you’ll maximize fundraising.?

4. Discover a New Fundraising Hack

Finally, get creative with your fundraising hacks for contributions. For instance, look at your CRM and identify people with a giving history of $1,000 and $3,000 annually. Once completed, create a campaign specifically for them to increase giving. Remember, it should involve a multi-channel approach for maximum impact. For instance, create a drip-email campaign with specific reasons to consider upgrading their gift, but add to it. Send them texts, instant messages, or invitations to special invitation-only events for upgrading.?

5. Maximize Nonprofit Online Donations Now?

Finally, remember that even though we live in a world of tech, the human-to-human connection matters. Think of fundraising from a donor's perspective to maximize your online donations. Feel free to mix things up and figure out ways to create hybrid opportunities to raise funds and get people involved with your nonprofit and each other. When people feel that they're part of something bigger than themselves, that's where the magic happens, and your nonprofit can be at the center of their journey.?

? 2023 Wayne Elsey . All Rights Reserved.