Hey Nonprofits, Raise More Money!

How NOT to talk to donors on the phone. ???? If your goal is to raise money, then just get to the point... ? Don't pull the ole bait and switch ? Don't start with small talk ? And don't preface the conversation by saying "don't worry, I'm not going to ask for money" (even if you aren't). We learned these tips yesterday during an incredible part 2 webinar with Kel Haney, where we answered burning questions asked by fundraisers who were reluctant to just pick up the phone and call donors. It's a very common problem among all fundraisers, but with the right strategy and a bit of practice, it can become second nature. So, instead of fumbling through phone conversations just hoping to find success, start your phone calls with this: ?? Set the stage of what the phone call will be about ?? Mention who you are, and who you are with ?? Let them know how you know them. Did you meet them at a previous event? Did they previously donate to your organization? All of this should be said before they even get a chance to speak. That way when you do end up asking for money near the end of your call, they won't be blindsided, and will be better prepared to give. P.S. What is the #1 thing that makes you hesitate when calling donors?

Fundraising can feel like one big chase ??????♀?. You catch a glimpse of deep pockets and you run after them—often in vain. But there’s a smarter way. ?? Find the people who already care. These folks see the mission like you do, and want to solve the same problem your org is tackling. ?? Understand what they value. Is it community impact? Tangible results? Recognition? Get curious and figure it out. ?? Offer a solution—not just an “ask.” Let them see how your organization meets a need they’re passionate about. If you stop chasing and start solving, you’ll save time and a bit of sanity, and you'll even discover that supporters are happy to stick around—even those with deep pockets ??

Hey fundraisers ?? are you struggling with what to say and how to say it when donors miss or forward your call to voicemail? When you're prepared for a conversation then have to quickly pivot to a one-sided recording, it can be very tricky—especially when there's a script involved. But, we say DITCH THE SCRIPT. Be personable. Be human. Learn how to leave effective voicemails by joining our free workshop this Thursday, from 1-2pm CST. ?? Register below! https://lnkd.in/g3nXJGeF

Remove the GOTCHA. Instead, ask ?? better ?? questions ?? Can you relate to this? You just spent months prepping and stressing about your fundraising event, and are ready to feel that temporary wave of relaxation wash over you once it's over. But...little did you know, one of the auction items that sold had a sneaky little *gotcha* waiting in the shadows. Now, after your event, you're stuck fixing an issue in order to appease the winner, the donor, AND your organization so that everyone wins. ?? For your own sake, don't let this happen to you again. When procuring or receiving donated items for your live/silent auction, you must ask more questions. ?? Does it require my organization to deal with fulfillment? ?? Is the item large, requiring the donor to have a truck to haul it home? ?? Is it an HVAC system that doesn't include installation? Think about all angles of each auction item in order to prevent those after-event headaches. P.S. Have you experienced an auction item *gotcha*? Share it below!

I'm just going to come out and say it... It's a fact that all nonprofits need to know. ?? We are REALLY bad at self promotion. There, I said it! Frankly, we love helping nonprofits raise more money by teaching you all more efficient ways to grow your organization—helping relieve some of the stress that comes from working in the nonprofit industry. But here's the thing... If we're talking about the EASIEST way to raise money? Then that would be HGAFundraising. Like Jason mentions below, items that are super easy to use and fulfill will always be king when it comes to raffles, live auctions, or silent auctions. Ours are no different. If you're looking to raise more money at your event, our items: ?? Have zero upfront cost. ?? Are extremely simple to fulfill, only requiring a simple form submission after the trip is sold (we take it from there). ?? Had been sold in 1,300+ events last year, and are on track to sell in 2,000+ events this year. ?? Have helped nonprofits raise a combined $24M net for their cause. There are many more advantages to using HGA's trips and experiences, but we'll leave it there for now. If you'd like to see how we can help your organization raise more money, visit https://lnkd.in/gwjbvn8Q P.S. I'm sure we will remember to promote ourselves again in 5 months ??

? STOP ?? Before you hire an auctioneer, you must ask the right questions! Over the years we've worked with thousands of nonprofits, and see this time and time again. While planning your fundraising event, many go through the normal checklist: ?? Set a goal and budget ?? Find auction items ?? Hire an auctioneer ?? Promote your event .... However, when hiring an auctioneer, many nonprofits normally just ask, "are you available?", and "what do you charge?". Without answering the important questions below, your auctioneer could cause more harm than good—including failing to reach your fundraising goal, and leaving a sour taste in guest's mouths. Before you ask an auctioneer what they charge, you must ask them: ?? Have you ever done this before? ?? What's the most items you've sold in a single event? ?? When was the last time you auctioneered? ?? Have you ever sold [specific auction item] before? ?? What's the most expensive item you've sold? ?? What type of auctions do you do? Paddle raise? Live ask? ?? Do you have a team that will be working with you? ?? Are you bringing your own bid spotters? Without knowing these important details, your event is being set up to fail. You MUST ask the right questions beforehand. P.S. Are we missing any key questions to ask when hiring an auctioneer? ??

Overlook this one thing, and you can say goodbye ?? to potential long-term donors. Fundraising events aren't just about the money raised, but also about thanking those who were WILLING to donate. Say you sold an item in live auction for $5,000. Well, the winner wasn't the only one influencing the final price. The truth is...your donors don't always come first. ?? They come in second, third, and so on. The worst thing you can do with this information is to ignore it. Instead say THANK YOU ?? Thank each donor who left their name on that silent auction bidding sheet, and each donor who raised their paddle during your live auction. Why? Because they were WILLING to donate toward your cause. Thanking those who took action via phone call, or even a handwritten note (if they were willing to donate above a certain threshold) will increase the chance that they donate to you in the future. Who knows, that may even drive them to compete even harder next time, allowing your organization to raise even more money. Thank you to Susanna D. for the awesome conversation! Check out the episode here: https://lnkd.in/gDc9Q9Wa P.S. What other data do you like to track during fundraising events? ??

It takes a long time to cultivate a mid-level donor from scratch. But there are a few tricks to speed up the process. ? If you've been following our podcast recently, you'd know that we've been heavily invested in helping you raise more money from the mid-level. We believe mid-level donors can be an organization's superpower, but they can be very tricky to identify and retain. The hard truth...it's a marathon, not a sprint. But, by utilizing the simple strategies below, you will be able to start building a strong mid-level community for your own organization! 1. Pick up the phone ?? In our most recent episode (preview below), Susanna D. with the Muscular Dystrophy Association mentioned how phone conversations with donors, whether via video call or even voicemail can help mid-level donors feel more involved with your mission. 2. Say "Thank You" ?? Thanking donors who've given as little as $500 to your cause increases repeat donations, and BIGGER donations, in the future. 3. Don't just focus on the winners ???? Yes, thank the donors who have won an item via live or silent auction. But have you also thanked those who were WILLING to donate to your cause? Those 2nd and 3rd place bidders are just as fired up for your cause as the winner. So, be sure to thank them and let them know where they can direct future support. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you'd like to see our full episode with Susanna, check out our comment below! ?? P.S. What is your favorite strategy to kickstart the mid-level donor cultivation process? ??

"Auctions aren't just about raising funds on the night of an event. They're this touchpoint in cultivating long-term relationships with donors." Let's dive into 2024's data discovered and curated by OneCause. When preparing for an event, you should focus on WHY people give. It isn't only about what cool auction items you have, or what activities you planned. There is a HUGE opportunity to attract new donors, if you understand their primary motivator for donating. The 2024 Giving Experience Study by OneCause and their partners asked first-time donors, "Thinking about the last time you donated through social fundraising, how well do each of the following describe why you donated?" Here are the results (% reported as "describes perfectly"): ?? 62% "It was easy to do." ?? 59% "I was able to make the donation immediately." ?? 58% "I trust the org to do the right thing/use money wisely." ?? 58% "I care about the mission of the organization." ?? 57% "The money raised would make a difference." This data really shows how removing friction, and creating easy ways to donate (where they don't even need to open their wallet or write a check), can increase the amount of first-time donors for your cause. The clip below was from our most recent podcast with Sarah S. and Karrie Wozniak of OneCause. The link to the episode will be in the comments below. If you would like to explore more data from The 2024 Giving Experience Study, you can read it here ?? https://shorturl.at/sjFFE

Authentic 5-minute phone conversations ?? are the easiest way to build relationships with mid-level donors—resulting in more money raised for your cause. If you're struggling to maximize the potential of your mid-level donors, you need to attend next week's webinar. We've found that the majority of mid-level donors want 3 things: 1?? Recognition of their contribution. 2?? To be in-the-know about your org's mission-related achievements. 3?? To be treated like a person, not a piggy bank. All of these things start with building a relationship with the donor. ...and unless you have multiple hours to dedicate to this each day, you're going to need a framework to make this process efficient. Next week, you'll learn just that ?? A 5-minute phone conversation framework that you can use to build better relationships with your mid-level donors. We'll be joined by Kel Haney, an expert in "just pick up the phone" fundraising. Kel has spent 19+ years developing her 5-Minute Fundraising Ask Training Program, and has: ?? Personally made 20,000+ Fundraising Asks (over the phone). ?? Trained hundreds of fundraisers at 50+ Non-Profit Organizations. ?? Empowered fundraisers to raise over +$18M (almost exclusively in donations under $10K). Join us on Feb 20th from 1-2pm CST to listen, learn, and ask questions. ?? Register link will be in the comments!