10 Incredible Tips to Ask for Donations in Person Fundraising Blog for Nonprofit, Educational, and Faith-Based Organizations

We are so grateful for your continued partnership, advocacy, and commitment as we [nonprofit mission]. We all know that the internet can be kinda-sorta toxic, and there are already hints of sexism, racism, xenophobia, and all that incredibly unpleasant jazz on the metaverse. But it’s still in its nascency, so you have the chance to actually have an impact and change it!

We love the kittens in tutus and the renovated kitchens; we hate the FOMO and the constant barrage of information (and misinformation). But the siren call of social media platforms always lures us back, and that’s why you need to know how to ask for donations online. Next, we’ll cover how to write social media donation posts for all your favorite channels. This is a great way to ask for donations, whether you’re connecting with new donors or retaining current ones. Promote your event pages, campaign pages, donation forms, or any other web pages that will push your mission forward.

Text-to-give is a great way to collect donations in these situations. Just about everyone has their smartphone on hand, so use that to your advantage and encourage your audience to donate with just a simple text. Events are also an ideal place to make an appeal because you have a captive audience. When planning an ask for an event, be sure to share your organization’s mission and details about your programs.

1. Passion is contagious, and a big part of getting other people excited to contribute to a cause is sharing why it means so much to you.
2. Take note of this professional fundraiser’s key tips for raising money for your group — as well as our very own Cheddar Up insights about what drives the highest dollar amounts.
3. Now, you have a jumping-off point that should keep your donation request letter out of the recycling bin.
4. Select an intuitive eCard fundraising platform that allows you to craft engaging designs and offer them in exchange for donations.

Using social media as a fundraising tool is almost more about spreading the word about your cause. While the response rates might be lower than some of your other audience segments, you should be asking your social media following for donations as well. Again, anyone who shows a connection to your cause has some likelihood to give a donation. Your social media following is an easily targeted pool of potential donors. Volunteer time letters are requests for donations of time and effort.

Direct mail is the oldest mass-marketing fundraising channel, and it has lasted through time for a reason. This strategy has an incredibly high response rate when compared to digital channels and continues to be the driver for the majority of individual donations in the US. However, an annual fund is now considered to be a nonprofit’s overarching plan or strategy with many components and is crucial for fundraising success.

How to Ask for Donations: A Nonprofit’s Guide with Top Tips and Actionable Steps

You won’t get a donation from every person you ask, and that’s okay. Sometimes people get distracted or they don’t have the money to donate. Understanding this, politely follow up with anyone who didn’t donate the first time you reached out. You can also suggest other ways they can show support for free, such as sharing your fundraiser on their online social networks. Make it simpler for them by providing some pointers on how to ask for donations on social media. Using social media fundraising is a big opportunity to turn followers into donors.

Most of the time, an in-person donation appeal indicates that the individual has the potential to be a major gift donor. While this isn’t always the case, think about the times in the past you’ve had to meet someone in person to ask for a donation. Even the best fundraisers lose some portion of their donors over time. It’s so important to be continuously acquiring new donors to keep your budget from shrinking.

Get the Message Right

Many people are skeptical about online giving, and they feel more comfortable making large donations via check. Your nonprofit can still reap the benefits of online fundraising by marketing your online donation form to all of your donors. However, sometimes you need to ask for donations in person at fundraising events or other functions. In-person fundraising can be a great way to make a personal connection with your donors and drive incredibly high response rates. This can be used for high-value donors via personal meetings, or at a larger scale in the form of fundraising events. There is no better way to get your donors to feel a connection to your cause than to have a personal interaction with them.

Try some peer-to-peer fundraising.

It’s important to include storytelling, impact details, and a call to action in your fundraising appeal letters to encourage people to respond. Nonprofits that include a self-addressed how to ask for donation envelope with suggested donation amounts will see a better return on their investment. Effective donation requests, however, are more than just asking for funds.

Gratitude is where it’s at when it comes to asking for a donation. Even if someone hasn’t given, be grateful that they’re reading your email and considering a gift. Select an intuitive eCard fundraising platform that allows you to craft engaging designs and offer them in exchange for donations. With P2P software, your donors can set up their own fundraising pages that feed back into your organization’s efforts.

And don’t just ask for money—use social media to update, inform, and engage your supporters. Wild Apricot has online donation forms, a donor membership system, AND event software all in one place! If you’re ready to start receiving donations, sign up for our 60-day free trial. If you’re asking friends, try including a funny meme or joke to put them at ease. For newcomers to the cause, share a few key facts about why the cause is important to you or what specific things donations will support.

For Help With Your Fundraising Strategy, Hire a Fundraising Consultant

Now that you’re an expert on https://simple-accounting.org/s, you’re probably wondering what it actually looks like IRL. As you can imagine, it depends on who you’re asking, how you’re asking, and your nonprofit’s special sauce. When it comes to crafting donation messages, we encourage you to do some finger stretches, have a triple caramel macchiato, and unleash your inner Hemingway. (Scratch that; he’d probably write a terrible donation request.) If you’re still feeling stuck, here are some donation messages examples for inspiration. Yes, you’re looking for donations, but all donations are built on donor relationships.

Peer-to-peer fundraising tools let you empower your supporters to fundraise on your behalf. Show that gratitude by thanking them via email, phone call, or personalized thank-you card. Events are the perfect place to let donors know how their funds help your organization and remind them of why they should continue supporting your nonprofit’s cause. Within this acknowledgement, make sure that you also mention matching gifts and volunteer grants. Some organizations also host very effective pledge drives as part of a broader annual campaign.

Online payments are simply a payment method, not an outreach method — having a convenient way to pay doesn’t replace letting people know about your campaign. Custom apparel and swag brings your nonprofit’s brand into peoples’ homes! Having an object (or experience!) to connect with makes your donors feel more connected to your mission. And if it’s a fashionable bit of clothing, it could even be a conversation starter that brings in new donors.