Picture this: You have a great cause, you have a great story, and you need to raise funds. Sound familiar? As a fundraiser you are working for the greater good, and unlike marketers who entice customers with the latest fashion accessory or tech gadget, your mission is to spark interest in a cause and motivate donor support.
Category: Fundraising insights

Marlene recently got a $4,000 haircut. Before incredulity sets in, allow me to clarify. As a passionate supporter of Chai Lifeline Canada, an organization that supports the families of children facing serious illnesses, Marlene chose to turn a simple haircut into a fundraising opportunity. After deciding to grow her hair and donate it to make a wig, Marlene invited her friends, family, and colleagues to sponsor her efforts and the work of Chai Lifeline Canada. Reaching out on-line through a personalized fundraising platform, Marlene’s haircut garnered close to $4,000 in support for the charity within a very short period of time.

Every morning I check my email, scanning the countless “pitches” I’ve received, from sales notifications and subscription requests, to charity updates and feedback surveys, and I send most of them to the trash. You, and your donors, are likely doing the same thing. These days, we are inundated with constant requests to buy, like, or support something. So, with your potential donors being asked for something so often, how do you cut through the clutter, present your cause in the best possible way and even include an “ask” prompting them to take action?

You’re a good fundraiser. It shows. The people you meet respond to your words, your actions and your belief in the cause. So beyond shared values and your relationship building skills, to what do you attribute a successful canvas?

“Wow” is all I can say after witnessing such an incredible act of generosity and community engagement.
This morning marked the 4th annual First Foundations Children’s Academy Move-A-thon fundraiser which raised a record $12,619 in just a couple of weeks.

Having a professional, well branded website is still one of the most important tools for any nonprofit organization as it remains the central hub of information and engagement opportunities. That being said, the habits and expectation of website visitors have evolved considerably over the past number of years. As modern society has shifted towards the convenience of mobile phone usage for many of their daily tasks, it has become even more important for charities to tailor their online presence towards mobile-friendly capabilities.

“Thank You” letters are a wonderful tool in expressing gratitude and making other people feel great about themselves. For fundraisers, these thank you letters have the potential to carry a much more powerful role. As modern society has created a customer service culture where being polite is a basic level of service, there is a different level of etiquette required when dealing with people who are willing to donate towards your cause.

First impressions can make a huge impact on whether or not potential supporters deem your organization worthy of their time and donation, and when it comes to online marketing, small oversights can risk a huge loss. This is why many charitable organizations have learned to invest substantial resources to developing an impactful web presence.
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