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What Is Mobile Giving?

Mobile giving refers to donors using their phones and tablets to give to nonprofits, churches, and other organizations they care about. This way of contributing funds is becoming increasingly relevant as smartphones allow donors to give from anywhere, at any time.

If you’ve never heard of this type of fundraising, there are a few terms that you’ll need to know before you can start leveraging mobile giving. Explore these key vocabulary terms:

• Mobile-friendly: Mobile-friendly refers to how content comes across on a smartphone or tablet. Mobile-friendly pages are visually appealing and fit within the confines of a mobile device’s screen, providing an easy user experience.

• Mobile-responsive: Mobile-responsive donation pages are forms that look and function well on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. These pages are typically designed with larger buttons and are set up vertically as opposed to horizontally.

• Native texting application: Native texting apps are the text messaging portals that come standard on a person’s phone. For example, iPhones provide iMessage for texting capabilities. This is important in reference to mobile giving because organizations can send fundraising appeals and donation links in texts for easy mobile giving.

• Text-to-donate: At its most basic level, text-to-donate is a type of mobile giving that involves donors texting a donation amount to a nonprofit’s number directly from the native texting app on their phones.

• Text-to-tithe: Another name for text-to-donate, text-to-tithe is a term commonly used by churches that promote text-to-donate during their services and events. Despite the name, text-to-tithe can be used by religious organizations to collect not only tithes but also offerings and other charitable gifts.

• Information capture: When donors use mobile giving to contribute to nonprofits, they must input certain information for the donation to be processed. Nonprofits can use their mobile giving platforms to capture data such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, billing addresses, and engagement history.

• Short code/Long code: Short codes and long codes each refer to a type of mobile giving phone number an organization might be assigned when they register with a text-to-donate platform. Short codes are 5-6 digit numbers that donors can use from anywhere in the nation. They’re used to facilitate app-to-person communication. On the other hand, long codes are traditional phone numbers. Unique to each person, they consist of 10 digits that start with an area code.

• Trigger word/Keyword: Also known as a keyword, a trigger word is an easy-to-remember word or phrase that donors can type into their phones and send as a text to trigger a link to their phones. An example of a trigger word would be ‘GIVE’ or the name of your organization.

 

Mobile giving is steadily rising in popularity and has cemented itself as a fundraising strategy here to stay! Let’s take a closer look at the different types of mobile giving.

Text-to-Donate Trends

It’s no mystery that mobile giving is an increasingly popular fundraising strategy. Here are some factors contributing to the popularity of text-to-donate and the insights we can draw from these statistics:

• There has been a 50% increase in the number of transactions completed through mobile devices. Mobile giving is becoming increasingly popular and will continue to grow as the technology becomes more standardized.

 

• 84% of millennials give to charities and nonprofits but prefer to donate through online platforms. Nearly an entire demographic sees the value in mobile giving, and future generations will follow suit as its popularity expands.

 

• To discover new nonprofits, 1 in 4 donors use mobile devices. This means mobile fundraising can help new supporters find your nonprofit, even if they were previously unaware of your organization.

 

As mobile device usage increases, it’s clear that mobile fundraising is the future of charitable giving. In fact, Millennials and Generation Z are some of mobile giving’s primary demographics. Seeing as they’re the next generation of donors and mobile fundraising is their preferred giving channel, promoting this innovative giving method will allow you to secure the support you need for decades to come!

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How To Start a Mobile Giving Campaign

In five simple steps, your organization can plan and implement a successful mobile giving campaign to help meet your fundraising goals.

1. Evaluate your mobile fundraising logistics.

Introducing a new fundraising channel requires a reallocation of your organization’s resources. Prepare for your text-to-donate campaign by carefully planning logistics, such as:

• Which of your staff member(s) will oversee this strategy
• What you’ll be using the new platform for
• What the timeline will be for implementing mobile giving
• How you’ll let donors know about your new giving channel(s)

With a solid plan in hand, your organization will be ready to incorporate mobile giving into your fundraising plan.

 

2. Choose mobile giving channels.

Not every mobile giving channel is right for every nonprofit. It’s important to know which strategies you can easily implement and which ones your donors will most positively respond to.

To determine which channels work best for your organization, consider the following:

• What existing online/mobile fundraising strategies do you have in place? If you already have an online donation page, it might be easier to start with mobile-responsive donation forms than a mobile giving app.
• What channels have your donors expressed interest in? Poll your supporters and ask them what they think. You can send out an email survey to get opinions from your donors and plan accordingly.

Remember, you don’t have to just choose one mobile giving channel. There are a whole host of options to pick from. Find what works best for your organization and your donors.

 

3. Select a mobile giving provider.

Once you know exactly which mobile giving channels you’ll be using, look for a mobile giving provider whose services align with your needs. For example, you might want a text-to-donate provider that offers unlimited inbound text messages.

To identify the right provider, ask the following questions:

• What is our budget?
• What do available providers offer?
• How will this platform integrate with our other software?
• What platforms best suit the needs of our donors?
• Will we need training and support?

Use your responses to guide your search and narrow down your list of potential providers. Anytime you bring new technology into the mix, you have to be proactive about selecting your organization’s best fit. 

Don’t just focus on the now. Look for a scalable mobile giving platform with the capacity to grow with your organization.

4. Incorporate mobile giving into your fundraising plan.

Most mobile giving campaigns, like text-to-donate, are meant to be used in conjunction with your other fundraising strategies. For example, you might decide to:

• Promote text-to-donate at your annual fundraising event.
• Let direct mail donors know that they can give via your mobile-responsive donation page.
• Encourage new donors to try out your mobile giving app by mentioning it in your welcome email.

The most successful nonprofits recognize the value of letting their various fundraising techniques inform one another. Be sure to use the data gathered through your mobile giving technology to learn more about donors’ giving habits.

5. Track and adjust your strategies.

To maximize your mobile giving results, it’s important to keep track of your campaigns and goals. Monitor some key performance metrics (KPIs) such as:

• Average donation size
• Donation frequency
• Donation growth over time
• Frequently used giving channels
• When donations are being made

As you’re executing your campaign, note which strategies are working and which aren’t. Over time, you should adjust and correct where necessary.

Examples of Text-to-Donate Campaigns

Text-to-donate campaigns are not just easy and flexible, but they can be used by nearly any type of organization! Let’s take a look at a few examples of different text-to-donate campaigns.

Churches

Churches sometimes leverage mobile giving technology to offer text-to-tithe capabilities to their congregation. Consider how Passion City Church presents text-to-donate on its website alongside other tithing options:

Universities

Institutions of higher education can also use text-to-donate to make the giving process easier for busy students or disengaged alumni. For example, check out Wayne State University’s text-to-donate page, which clearly outlines the process for potential donors.

Disaster Relief Organizations

Text-to-donate first became popular in 2010 with the viral Red Cross text-to-donate campaign for Haiti earthquake relief, bringing in millions. Now, the organization accepts text donations to support its Disaster Relief program:

Snowball’s Mobile Giving Platform

Snowball is an all-in-one online fundraising platform with several features that make giving on the go swift, simple, and secure.

These features include, but aren’t limited to:

• Text-to-donate technology
• Mobile and online giving portals
• Responsive fundraising thermometers
• Donor management systems

 

These solutions touch on just about every aspect of mobile giving out there. If you’re interested in a comprehensive answer to your mobile fundraising needs–look no further.

Not only does Snowball offer all of these services in one neat package, but we also have a unique spin on mobile giving that makes it even easier and more convenient than it already is. Unlike other services, Snowball allows that same donor to give through an email or mobile donation page without having to type in their credit card information all over again.

That information is securely stored in a safe, 3rd-party vault and tokenized to eliminate the risk of identity theft and fraud. Plus, donors also never have to create an account or remember a password.

 

Above all, it’s affordable! Our software features a free online donation page and a low-cost premium plan for text to give. With this host of benefits, Snowball’s mobile giving option can help your nonprofit organization reap the benefits highlighted throughout this guide.

 

Final Thoughts On Mobile Giving

Mobile giving is an essential tool for nonprofit organizations in the 21st century, as your donors are highly likely to be smartphone owners. Meet your supporters where they are and offer the most straightforward option for contributing funds! Besides, your organization will have a secure and easy method of fundraising in your toolkit.

• Virtual Fundraising Ideas: 60+ Campaigns for Online Success: Virtual fundraisers have the potential to increase mobile giving. With these ideas, your attendees don’t have to be geographically near your organization or event to give money to your cause.
• Boosting Conversion Rates: A Quick Guide for Nonprofits: To get more mobile donations, ensure that your donor journey provides an intuitive giving experience for your donors. This guide will help you evaluate your current strategy.
• Auction Software: What To Look For + 14 Provider Reviews: Ready to make your other fundraisers mobile? Learn how you can manage your auction with top-of-the-line software in this guide.

The post How to Master Mobile Giving: An Actionable Nonprofit Guide first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

Content Generation and Marketing with AI:

 

• GPT models, like OpenAI’s GPT-3, have revolutionized the way we create content. These AI tools can generate high-quality, engaging content in various styles and formats, making them invaluable for non-profit organizations. Here’s how you can use AI-generated content to bolster your fundraising efforts:
  
• Blog Posts: AI-generated blog posts can help maintain a consistent online presence and inform potential donors about your organization’s mission, impact, and ongoing initiatives. This can improve donor engagement and encourage financial support.
  
• Social Media Updates: GPT models can create captivating social media updates that resonate with your target audience. By sharing compelling stories and updates, you can increase your organization’s visibility and reach, ultimately attracting new donors.
  
• Email Newsletters: AI-generated email newsletters can help you keep supporters informed and engaged, increasing the likelihood of repeat donations. Automated content generation can also save your team time and resources, allowing them to focus on other critical tasks.

Personalized Donor Communications with AI:

 

• Personalization is key to building long-lasting relationships with donors. AI tools can help you craft personalized donor communications that strengthen engagement and drive fundraising results:
  
• Data Analysis: AI algorithms can analyze donor data, including preferences, donation history, and engagement patterns, to create personalized messages tailored to each donor’s unique profile.
  
• Dynamic Content: Use AI-generated content to create customized communications that speak directly to each donor’s interests and values. This can include personalized stories, impact updates, and donation requests that resonate with individual supporters.
  
• Multichannel Approach: AI tools can help you optimize your communication strategy across different channels, including email, social media, and direct mail. By tailoring your message and approach to each channel, you can maximize donor engagement and response rates.
  
• Timely and Relevant Follow-ups: AI-powered automation can help you send timely, personalized follow-ups to donors, expressing gratitude for their support and updating them on the impact of their contributions. This can foster donor loyalty and encourage ongoing support for your cause.

Embracing AI tools, such as GPT models, can transform your non-profit organization’s content generation, marketing, and donor communications, ultimately boosting your fundraising efforts. By integrating AI-generated content and personalized communications into your strategy, you can build stronger relationships with donors, attract new supporters, and drive long-term success for your non-profit organization.

To explore the potential of AI and learn more about Snowball Fundraising’s cutting-edge fundraising solutions, schedule a demo with our team today. Propel your non-profit’s fundraising to new heights with Snowball Fundraising by your side.

The post Empower Non-Profit Fundraising with AI first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

SMS is a Good Instrument for Reaching Donors

You have probably heard the statistic before that it only takes three minutes for 90 percent of text messages to be read. Those numbers show you the power that text message marketing can have. If you want to get your information in front of people you should send it in a text. Text messages are convenient for your donors, and people love convenience.

Pew Reseach conducted a study that found 77 percent of adults owned and used a smartphone. Of those people, 46% said they couldn’t live without it. The majority of Americans are walking around with a tool in their pocket or purse that would allow you to get your message across. And, you can even provide them with a way to donate right from their phones.

Before you start sending out messages it is important that you understand the best way to develop an SMS plan to reach your donors. Here are some easy to implement tips to get you started.

Why It’s a Good Idea for a Nonprofit to Use Text Messaging

The ultimate reason that a text message campaign is good for your company is the fact that it is good for your donor. It is easier for them to access then emails or direct mail. It is more affordable to send a message out to multiple people on a list than to have volunteers or staff call each person individually.

Text messages also receive a higher click-through rate. While email shows only 6-7%, SMS messages have a rate that is nearly 36 percent.

Grow your list

Before you start texting out marketing messages you need to get permission first. There are a few easy ways to accomplish this. First, ask for numbers and permission on your website or social media. Let your readers and donors understand what kind of messages they can anticipate receiving. You can also collect numbers for your text campaign during fundraising events.

Grow your list by offering something in exchange for a number. Take advantage of the opportunity when you are hosting an event. Encourage attendees to text your organization in order to take advantage of some other free offer. This could be having them participate in a game, enter a drawing, or simply show their support. Have an auto message ready to be sent back to them as a response.

How to start a text-to-give campaign

Nonprofits are finding big success with fundraising campaigns through text. In 2016, $700,000 was raised to help young people with cancer by a text-to-give campaign run by the Young and Brave Foundation.

If you are looking for success like this you need to spread the word about your campaign. Announce the campaign. Share it on social media, put signs up around your organization, and include it in your donor newsletter. The more people that know the better, so don’t be afraid to put it in multiple places.

To start bringing in donations set a keyword that you encourage donors to text to your specified number. This simple plan starts the process by sending them the link to how they can donate right from their phone.

Write the perfect message

When you are ready to start sending messages to your donors you need to have a strategic plan, otherwise, you will not get positive results. You need to include four key elements in your message. The first is to communicate the need while being short and straight to the point. Next, you need to tell the donors how they can be part of the solution and what value it provides. Lastly, include a visual that will pull them in while supporting your message.

Create a banner that will display your message, and put it up on your website, distribute it on your event locations and any place where potential donors can see it.

Build a lasting donor relationship

It was found that 73 percent of donors only make a single donation. As a nonprofit organization relying on those donations, your goal is to build relationships with the donors. You want them to donate on a recurring basis. Here is how to cultivate that relationship.

1. Send a thank you note. Tell them how much you appreciate it and show them an example of the difference that they made.
2. Don’t push it. No one likes to be hit up for money constantly. Limit the number of times you ask for the donation to only once a month.
3. Invite them to your events. Putting a face or two with the name of your organization will help donors connect further.
4. Send notifications. Text your donors if you had to change information about an event they were going to be attending or simply want to remind them of it. Make sure you give them plenty of advanced notice if you are changing their plans.
5. Share general information. To keep donors involved include them in the current news of your nonprofit. Let them know about the new solutions your organization is working on and how they can be a part of it.
6. Ask for their opinions. Show your donors that you care about what they think and want to hear their opinions. Their donations are keeping your doors open, so allow them a role of importance. Without their donation, your organization will not continue.

Keep your donor in mind when establishing your text message marketing campaign. Think about how you can mutually help each other. You need to show the value that is behind their donation. Keep it simple and don’t overthink your plan. Follow the rules above and you will be well on your way to increasing your donors and growing your donations.

Author Bio

Anastasia Sviridenko is responsible for content creation and promotion at TextMagic – a mass text messaging service. When she’s not working on a new piece of content, you can find her buying the latest science-fiction novel at the nearest bookstore.

The post Attracting New Donors with Text Messaging first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

The end of 2017 is quickly approaching. At the start of this year, we listed the trends and predictions contained in the article below.

So, in looking forward to 2018, we decided to take a look back at what we’d stated and make updates as needed! Now, you’ll find an updated review of some of the most prominent trends impacting the world of fundraising.

In this article, we’ll take a look at nine developing trends:

1. Matching gifts will become more automated.
2. Crowdfunding won’t just be for creative projects anymore.
3. Nonprofits will become more tactical about their websites.
4. Fundraising software will be more integrated.
5. Donors will increasingly use mobile giving channels.
6. Organizations will use previously underused formats to engage donors.
7. The leadership crisis will become a major focus for organizations.
8. Nonprofits will leverage expert advice for specific fundraising campaigns.
9. Organizations will use text-to-give for more than just events.

Keep reading to learn more!

Trend #1: Matchings gifts will become more automated.

What if the matching gift process were easier for both you and your donors? You may already be aware that matching gift software can make it easier for supporters to search for their employers.

For example, Double the Donation’s matching gift search tool allows donors to find their employers’ matching program from a database full of hundreds of companies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

When searching for their company, donors will be directed to a page with details on that specific matching gift program. Everything from the matching gift ratio to the maximum matched amount to the submission guidelines is recorded for donors to see.

Think of matching gift automation tools as the next step in matching gift software.

Essentially, automated matching gift software is like a CRM for matched giving. It can help organizations:

• Send out automatic email reminders. If donors make a gift using their work email addresses, matching gift software can identify their specific matching gift programs as well as send them reminders about deadlines and information on how to submit a request.
• Filter donations by top matching gift potential. Your team has limited time and resources, so it’s important to focus on the opportunities with the most match potential. Matching gift software can help you find donations that meet that criteria.
• Track matching gift status. Using one-click notifications, donors can notify your organization when a request has been submitted. This way, you can track gifts through the process to gain a more accurate estimate of how much you’ve raised through matched gifts.

These are just some of the many features automated matching gift software can provide.

How it’s changing fundraising:

Automated matching gift software is changing how your nonprofit handles matching gifts. Most donors don’t know that this opportunity exists, and if they do, they forget to put in a request. By sending donors regular reminders, you can promote matching gifts and teach donors how to put in a request.

When your donors have more awareness of the program, they’re more likely to participate. Sending out matching gift reminders can potentially help you double your fundraising next year.

The bottom line: Automated software helps optimize your matching gift program so that your nonprofit can reach its full fundraising potential.

Trend #2: Crowdfunding won’t just be for creative projects anymore.

Crowdfunding uses social sharing to bring in support for any project, but nonprofits are starting to harness this powerful tool to raise funds.

Starting a crowdfunding campaign is simple. You just have to pick a platform, set up your page, and start sharing your goal with your supporters. Donors can give as much or as little as they want and will hopefully share your campaign with their friends and family to spread the word.

Crowdfunding campaigns work as great companions to other fundraisers, such as auctions, product fundraising, and so much more.

For example, Fundly has a long list of fundraising ideas that pair well with crowdfunding, including but not limited to:

• Selling custom calendars
• Charity auctions
• Walkathons
• Fundraising dinners
• Tree planting fundraisers
• Galas
• Concerts
• Art shows

If you’re hosting another event, you can use crowdfunding as a way to promote your fundraiser and raise more money to fund your event.

Let’s say you’re hosting a silent auction. You can create a crowdfunding campaign to help you raise additional money and more awareness. Those who can’t attend your silent auction can donate to your crowdfunding page, and all your supporters can share the page with their peers, spreading your reach even further.

Plus, since guests may be from varying income levels, crowdfunding gives supporters the opportunity to contribute any amount that’s comfortable for them.

Here’s one more example. Imagine that your nonprofit is a hospital that has an annual walk that funds the oncology wing of your hospital. Your walk to fight cancer is always a big hit and gets people out and moving while raising money for a worthy cause. You can actually pair that event with crowdfunding and raise significantly more money.

You can go the straightforward route and have a campaign page up and collecting donations as a lead in to the event, or you can set up team fundraising and ask your walkers and runners to create their own pages to run campaigns.

By multiplying the number of people fundraising, you multiply the number of opportunities you have to raise money.

How it’s changing fundraising:

Still not convinced crowdfunding is a great choice? Take a look at these advantages for nonprofits:

• Engage donors. Your supporters can give to your campaign and encourage their friends and family to give. Sharing their passion for your cause can strengthen their bonds with your nonprofit.
• Spread awareness about your cause. Crowdfunding has the potential to spread like wildfire. Supporters will share your cause on social media and other avenues. Who knows? You might just catch the eye of some important supporters or new donors.
• Gauge public interest. Not every project is going to resonate with donors. Creating a crowdfunding campaign can help you get a feel for how open the community is to your project.

The bottom line: If you haven’t thought about creating a crowdfunding campaign, you might want to start. Nonprofits can benefit a lot by following this trend.

Trend #3: Nonprofits will become more tactical about their websites.

The rise of online donations means that donors have more opportunities than ever to give to your nonprofit. However, that means your nonprofit needs to be more strategic about your online presence.

Your website is the headquarters for your nonprofit and the main point of contact donors have when they want to learn more about your organization.

It’s critical that you optimize your website so you can gain the most traffic, which can eventually lead to more donations. As such, if you’re accepting donations online via your website, it’s important that you find an online tool that will allow you to create the same look as your website’s design.

Having a consistent brand on your website and donation forms helps to establish trust, and donors will know exactly what organization is receiving their contribution.

If your nonprofit is looking for advice on how to design your website, Neon has a helpful guide.

How it’s changing fundraising:

With more emphasis on your nonprofit’s website, what can you expect to see in the new year? Let’s take a look:

• Donation pages that keep donors on your site. You want to keep donors on your site longer so they can interact with the information. When donors can fill out a donation form on your site, they can return to whatever they were doing before they decided to give.
• A creative design to target your donors’ emotions. Your nonprofit already knows the impact an emotional success story can have on your donors. You want to create that same effect with imagery on your website.
• Responsive design. Give your supporters access to your site on any device. Your supporters are looking at your nonprofit on their phones, so make it easy to navigate and donate.

The bottom line: Now is the time to improve your website so you can reach out to those online supporters.

Bonus: Part of optimizing your website includes looking for donation forms that are easy to use and can be customized to match your brand. Use this helpful guide to online donation software to find the right tool for your organization!

Trend #4: Fundraising software will be more integrated.

Since most tracking has moved online with the use of software, it’s now time for nonprofits to seek higher performing software that integrates with your other technology solutions.

It can be difficult to fully understand your fundraising if all your information is segmented on different software. Your nonprofit has to take the time to gather and compile all the information you need.

How it’s changing fundraising:

With more integrations popping up, the process of tracking and recording information is becoming easier. For example, your nonprofit may use different software to accept online donations and to collect donor information, but think about how beneficial it could be to combine these two features.

The more your software communicates with each other, the easier it is for you to see the whole picture when it comes to fundraising. Let’s cover three other reasons why integration is the way to go:

• Spend less time collecting information or gathering it all in one place.
• Track fundraising progress to see what channels are getting the most attention.
• Integration with email and social media marketing makes it easier for nonprofits to communicate with donors.

The bottom line: Segmented technology is out the door, and now more than ever, nonprofits are starting to welcome software solutions that talk to each other and make fundraising a more unified, seamless endeavor.

Trend #5: Donors will increasingly use mobile giving channels.

Mobile outreach and fundraising are becoming popular for supporters. Now that so many people have smartphones in their pockets, they have a tool at their fingertips which empowers them to do just about anything that would have traditionally been done on a computer.

Donors are using their mobile phones to:

• Make gifts. Options such as mobile-optimized giving pages, text-to-give, and crowdfunding campaigns make it easier than ever for your supporters to give from their mobile devices.
• Research and learn about your cause. Configuring your website so it is accessible on devices of all sizes, from mobile to computer, gives people more options for which device to research your organization  from.
• Interact with your nonprofit. Mobile channels open up more communication options with your supporters, such as text messaging or more specific email segmentation.

People are more commonly checking text messages, mobile email, and conducting research from their smartphones. “Mobile-izing” your organization will help you better connect with more potential donors and communicate more effectively with your current donor base.

With that said, you should consider incorporating more mobile options for your donors. Improving your mobile channels means you can interact with donors on the go using their preferred choice.

Most tech-savvy donors now expect a baseline of a mobile-responsive website and donation form.

How it’s changing fundraising:

With the increase in mobile supporters, you need to start appealing to their preferences. How? Use mobile donation forms, text-to-give, and other strategies that cater to mobile donors. 

The bottom line: Your donors are becoming more mobile in their donations and their interactions with your nonprofit. That means you need to cater to these donors with mobile donation forms and communications.

Trend #6: Organizations will use previously underused formats to engage donors.

Formats like the payment process aren’t something often considered by the donor or nonprofits for that matter. Payment processors work behind the scenes to protect and confirm gifts from supporters. 

Often, donors are hesitant about completing online donation forms because they want to keep their payment information safe. What most donors don’t realize is that online donations are just as safe any other form of giving. By educating donors on the process, you can put them at ease.

How it’s changing fundraising:

You’ll need to be more particular about what payment processor you choose to work with because your donors safety is critical. 

Additionally, nonprofits are starting to generate more conversations about payment processing to help donors and nonprofits become more familiar with the concept. The more you know about payment processing, the more you can engage with your donors on the topic.

That way, you make donors feel safe and comfortable about using online donations. And, when donors feel safe about giving online, they will have fewer concerns about giving.

The bottom line: Having more conversations with donors about the aspects of fundraising that are often left behind the scenes will help your nonprofit be more transparent about operations and help donors feel more comfortable about their contributions.

Trend #7: Organizations will focus more on the leadership crisis.

A recent survey by the Concord Leadership Group shows that 77% of nonprofits don’t have a secession plan or any leadership development.  Even though many nonprofit leaders are close to retirement, there are few nonprofits with plans in place for the impending transitions.  This dilemma is known as the leadership crisis.

Additionally, without any leadership development in place, new leaders have to figure out strategies for success all on their own. But, nonprofit leaders don’t have time for trial and error.

How it’s changing fundraising:

Luckily, nonprofits are starting to realize the problem and develop a process to help nonprofits build plans. 

Without a strategic plan in place, your leadership can have fragmented ideas about the organization’s mission and varying ideas about how to raise funds. The more nonprofits start to solve some of these concerns, the more clear direction they’ll have about how to raise funds.

The bottom line: Hopefully, with more focus on the leadership crisis, nonprofits can start putting plans in place to help future leaders so that fundraising can take precedence again.

Trend #8: Nonprofits will leverage experts for specific fundraising campaigns.

Sometimes your nonprofit needs the expertise of an outside source to help search deeper and create the best fundraising campaign. That’s where a consulting firm comes in. More and more nonprofits are seeking the help to gain greater insight into their supporters.

How it’s changing fundraising:

A consulting firm can help you with:

• Fundraising strategies. Consultants can develop a strategy to help you raise more funds — whether that means increasing your marketing or improving your online donation channels.
• Donor and prospect research. To improve your fundraising, you’ll need to develop a better understanding of your donors. A consultant can research your donors’ giving histories and create a plan to help you reach more supporters.
• Capital campaign planning and management. Launching a capital campaign is a huge endeavor; a consultant can be there to conduct your feasibility study or write your case for support.
• Board training and development. A successful nonprofit needs a strong board of directors. Many fundraising consultants offer workshops to teach your board strategies that will make them better members.
• Donation software. If you’re looking for other ways to accept online donations, you can hire a consultant to help you find new software, migrate information to your new program, and train your team members.

If you’re interested in hiring a consultant, you should use a consulting association site to find a list of reputable professionals. You can narrow down your selection by asking other organizations for references.

As more nonprofits use consulting firms, they can get advice to help address some of their fundraising concerns. With a better understanding of how to market and engage donors, nonprofits can refine their fundraising strategies to help them gain more.

The bottom line: Creating a fundraising campaign is no easy task. Using the help of a consulting firm can be a great way to invest in your future campaigns.

Trend #9: Organizations will use text-to-give for more than just events.

While text-to-give isn’t new, the way nonprofits use this donation channel is starting to expand. Traditionally, text-to-give is promoted during live events to get people to donate in the moment. But, as we mentioned earlier, mobile donors are on the rise.

How it’s changing fundraising:

Use text-to-give in many other ways to encourage donors to give. In fact, let’s go over a few ways nonprofits are using text-to-give other than just during events:

• Combine text-to-give with your text communications to encourage donors to give no matter the occasion.
• Use text-to-give in a reactive way. For instance, in response to natural disasters.
• Create campaigns entirely around text-to-give, encouraging donors to give on the go.

By promoting text-to-give in multiple ways, your nonprofit can maximize your donations and cater to donors who want more convenient giving options.

The bottom line: Mobile features and text-to-give are on the rise. When your nonprofit uses text-to-give in different ways, you can engage with mobile donors and make the giving process easier.

Now that you know the top nine trends for fundraising, your nonprofit can use them to improve your fundraising strategies. Consider these trends as you start to fundraise in the future. They may help you reach out to your donors or even help you exceed your annual fundraising goals.

For more information on fundraising trends, check out our list of awesome additional resources:

1. PayPal Alternatives for Nonprofits: If your organization is using PayPal or considering their online donation tools, you might want to think about using other options first. We’ve compiled a list of the challenges organizations will face if they use PayPal as well as solutions that other software providers offer.
2. Free Fundraising Software: Is your nonprofit on a budget? No worries! There are plenty of software providers on the market that make free or low-cost tools. Best of all, many are catered specifically for nonprofits. Keep reading to learn more.
3. Questions About Passwordless Login: A new trend in online fundraising is—you guessed it!—passwordless login systems. With this system, donors don’t have to enter a username and password every time they want to donate. Learn more about the different ways you can implement a passwordless login system.

The post 9 Brilliant Fundraising Trends (That can Help You Raise More) first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

That’s why we created our top six ways to increase your fundraiser proceeds, using modern fundraising methods. Please use this as a guide to understand the benefits of online and mobile fundraising, and as a starting point for your next fundraiser!

Brief disclaimer: When we mention modern fundraising, we’re mostly referring to online and mobile fundraising. This can be anything from online donation pages to mobile silent auctions and raffles, or even a peer-to-peer or social media campaign.

1. Utilize Modern Fundraising Tools

Lets face it. We’re all busy and you likely have far more on your plate than you’re able to handle. Try to work smarter, not harder.

Fortunately there are fundraising tools available for nearly every aspect of a nonprofit’s operations including:

• Silent auction and raffle tools (check out Accelevents)
• Text-to-donate tools (check out Snowball)
• Nonprofit CRMs and database management software (check out SalsaLabs)
• Crowdfunding platforms

The key is to pick an easy to use service and then invest the time on the front-end to better streamline your nonprofit’s operations.

• Choose a silent auction tool and use it diligently for your fundraising events.
• Choose a text-to-donate tool and use it as part of your core fundraising efforts.
• Choose a nonprofit CRM and use it daily as a way to keep up with donors.
• Choose a crowdfunding platform and use it for one-off campaigns in the lead up to events.

It can be tough to make time in your schedule but utilizing modern software is one of the best ways you can help your nonprofit grow in the long-term.

For instance, if you’re hosting a charity auction, you might want to choose a charity auction platform that enables attendees to register before the event itself and look at the items up for grabs before the auctioneer takes the stage.

Additionally, this software can help you capture more information about your donors, helping you to prepare for the next auction you host!

On the whole, you want to be proactive about identifying and engaging with cutting-edge software that can improve your organization’s performance. Your donors are embracing new technology trends almost daily, so it is crucial that your organization keeps up with the trends.

Learn more about different types of fundraising software available to nonprofits >

2. Expand Your Donor Base beyond Those Attending Your Fundraiser Event

One of the biggest advantages of modern fundraising methods is that they are extremely effective at increasing your donor base.

Online fundraising tools now make it easier than ever, to quickly and effectively create a customized fundraising campaign, which can then be distributed to a large group of potential supporters.

This brings us to our first tip – Try expanding your donor base beyond just those who are present at your fundraiser event.

Modern fundraising tools allow you to leverage the Internet, in order to dramatically grow your potential donor base. Rather than being reliant only on those people attending your physical fundraising event, you can share your online fundraising pages to your entire network.

Sharing your story online will amplify social reach for your cause, and will result in much higher awareness for your fundraising campaign.

To explain this, let’s consider how a crowdfunding campaign could bolster the performance of a nonprofit’s walkathon.

Imagine you work for an organization that funds critical research in cancer prevention practices and each year, you host a walkathon that is one of your biggest sources of funding. (For more on walkathons, crowdfunding, and medical fundraising, check out this resource.)

In the lead up to the actual event, you could have your walkers set up their own crowdfunding pages that feed back into the larger fundraising effort. This would serve two purposes. First and foremost, it would increase how much you’re able to raise. Second, it expands your network and showcases your walkathon to new prospects.

Online fundraising tools will also allow your potential donors to submit donations and and make payments online, meaning they do not need to be present at your event to show their support!

Learn more about using text-to-give tools to expand your donor base >

3. Maximize Your Donation Acceptance Period

Another common problem we see with traditional fundraising events is that attendees often think that they can only submit donations on the day or night of your fundraising event.

Our second tip is to encourage you to maximize your donation acceptance period beyond the day or night of your event!

A very simple way to increase your fundraising donation period is by accepting donations before and after your fundraising event.

Online fundraising tools make it extremely easy for donors to submit donations and make payment from anywhere, at any time.

What does that mean for a fundraising event organizer? It means that you can begin accepting donations before (and after) your event!

As an example, let’s imagine that you are including a silent auction as part of your fundraising event. Using traditional methods, you would probably have paper bid sheets, and collect cash or checks, meaning your donors can only participate if they are present at your event.

On the other hand, with online fundraising, your event host could share the link for your online silent auction or fundraiser to your attendees and supporters of your cause. This method elicits additional support and awareness for the cause, as well as early donations!

The goal here is to give your donors as much time as possible to support your cause. People are busy, and may need the extra time to ensure that they can support your fundraiser without time constraints.

4. Transform Your Supporters into Your Best Fundraisers!

As you may have figured out, the key to modern fundraising is taking advantage of online and mobile tools to remove potential barriers for your audience to donate.

This brings us to our final tip on increasing fundraising proceeds – Embrace your supporters and transform them into your best fundraisers and advocates for your cause.

Online fundraising has led to a new movement known as Peer-to-Peer fundraising. The basic premise here is that fundraising hosts and organizations should begin engaging their best donors in a way that turns them into their organization’s biggest advocates.

This involves engaging your supporters and empowering them to raise funds for your cause, instead of only donating to it!

Essentially, a peer-to-peer fundraising effort involves giving supporters each their own crowdfunding page through which they can solicit donations on your behalf.

In order to be successful, you need to equip your newly minted fundraisers with the right tools to raise money effectively.

As this resource on fundraising ideas explains, to set up a crowdfunding page you, “Set a fundraising goal, create your crowdfunding page, and promote your campaign.”

You’ll need to offer support and instructions for your peer-to-peer fundraisers during each step of that process.

By enabling your donors to become your best fundraisers and advocates, you will be leveraging a much larger group in order to create more awareness, a larger donor base, and a long-term increase in your proceeds!

Learn more about peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns >

5. Don’t forget to keep major donors engaged!

Despite modern technology increasing the effectiveness and reach of most nonprofit organizations, you still can’t forget the importance of keeping your major gift donors engaged in the philanthropy process.

Whether it’s making a donation on behalf of your cause, recruiting other major donors, or acting as a leader in your community, major donors can play a critical role in any modern fundraising effort.

Here are a couple really good examples of major donors making a significant difference to local organizations:

• Lloyd Claycomb, a Denver-based businessman, recently gave a major gift to fund autism research through the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center of Phoenix. Not only is he supporting the organization directly but he’s hosting a fundraising dinner to help connect one of his favorite nonprofits with his friends, family, and business partners.
• Joey Logano, a Nascar professional, recently donated $50,000 to Folds of Honor in Tulsa. It all started through an informal conversation but Joey took up the cause as his own.

The key for your staff is to understand who your donors are and engage with them over time. These major donations don’t happen overnight but it’s important to foster these relationships!

To ensure that you’re successful in reaching out, it’s important to keep up to date records on donor relationships within your nonprofit crm. By keeping a past donor’s contact information, giving information, and relationships all in one place, you make it easy for all your front line fundraisers to keep major donors engaged and happy in the fundraising process.

Learn more about engaging with major donors >

6. Empower your donors to submit matching gifts!

Did you know between 15-19 million individuals work for companies with matching gift programs? These corporate giving programs are an easy way for your donors’ gifts to go twice as far.

Through matching gift programs, companies such as Bank of America, Verizon, Home Depot, Microsoft, and thousands of others will match a donation made by employees to a wide range of organizations (likely including yours). For more detailed examples check out this list of 20 matching gift companies.

If you’re a large nonprofit you should use one of the following matching gift tools:

• Double the Donation
• 360MatchPro

These modern fundraising tools will help you raise awareness and make it much easier for your donors to submit matching gifts.

Zach Hagopian is the co-founder and COO of Accelevents, a mobile fundraising platform that enhances silent auctions and raffles through online and text-message bidding. An active member in the Boston fundraising scene, Zach focuses on improving traditional fundraising methods and increasing fundraiser proceeds.

The post 6 Ways to Increase Your Proceeds Using Modern Fundraising first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

Shoulder pads. Tasseled loafers. Neon in all its forms.

These are trends that didn’t stand the test of time.

Mobile fundraising, however, is no 80’s mullet. It’s a trend that’s here to stay.

Below are the top 8 reasons that mobile giving is so popular. Click on any of them to skip ahead: 

#1. We are living in a fast-paced, technology-driven society.

#2. Mobile fundraising is easy, user-friendly, and requires next to nothing of the donor or the organization.

#3. Security is top of mind.

#4. Churches and other religious institutions have caught on..and are spreading the news like wildfire.

#5. Millennials love it.

#6. It’s already done a tremendous amount of good in the world.

#7. There are so many choices.

#8. You can easily incorporate mobile into your existing efforts.

Here are 8 reasons why mobile giving is on the rise…and why experts think it’s here to stay:

#1. We are living in a fast-paced, technology-driven society.

Over two-thirds of the population in the United States now own smartphones. In fact, 90% of all adults in the US own smartphones, and that number is on the rise.

The speed with which we communicate today is truly mind-boggling, and if you’re ever curious, there really is an app for everything.

With all of this instant communication, it’s no wonder that mobile fundraising is becoming the top way to donate to your favorite charity.

The fact is, charitable giving is on the rise, and a lot of it can be attributed to the innovations of mobile fundraising.

#2. Mobile fundraising is easy, user-friendly, and requires next to nothing of the donor or the organization.

Once upon a time, mobile fundraising was something only larger nonprofits and political candidates had in their toolkits.

Today, just about any nonprofit, regardless of size or mission, can launch an effective and fun mobile fundraising campaign.

The sky really is the limit. You can start a mobile fundraising campaign for:

• Your mission trip to Uganda
• The local animal shelter’s donation drive
• Your children’s school
• The church down the street

How you choose to use mobile fundraising is up to your organization, but just keep in mind that it’s a viable option for any goal you’re hoping to accomplish.

Now that the barriers to starting a mobile fundraising campaign have been broken down, it’s entirely possible for any nonprofit to get the ball rolling!

#3. Security is top of mind.

When it comes to your money, peace of mind is one of the most important factors.

You want to know where your money is going, but also that your information is staying put.

PCI standards are now so rigorous that worrying about the safety of your information is quickly becoming a thing of the past.

Due to a culture of awareness and 24/7 security measures, you can rest easy knowing that Snowball is hard at work making your mobile fundraising campaign safe for both you and your donors.

#4. Churches and other religious institutions have caught on…and are spreading the news like wildfire.

Like we said earlier, almost any organization with a worthy cause can start a mobile fundraising campaign today. Churches just happen to be some of the most active players in the game.

The way churches use mobile fundraising technology, however, is totally unique to them. It’s part of why experts predict that mobile fundraising is here to stay.

Text-to-tithe is becoming the new standard way to give on Sunday.

Text-to-tithe not only simplifies the collection process for churches, it makes tithing accessible to the younger members in the congregation who have definitely never cracked open a checkbook but are still eager to give.

Churches are also employing other mobile fundraising techniques, such as mobile donation forms and email donation buttons. But all in all, text-to-give has become the most popular way for churchgoers to give on the go. Or in the pew. Or wherever! 

#5. Millennials love it.

Right now, millennials (those born between 1985 and 2000) make up 25% of the workforce. By 2020, that number is expected to rise to over 50%.

Millennials are special not just for their affinity for technology, but for the sheer size of their generation. Astonishingly, they’re tied with baby boomers!

Of the people who use text-to-give and mobile fundraising technology, millennials make up the overwhelming majority. Nearly a quarter of all of their donations to charity come from their smartphones.

As the millennial generation starts to make up more and more of the workforce, experts are seeing a decline in the traditional top-down corporate giving methods. These methods are clearly giving way to a brighter, more mobile philanthropic future!

That being said, millennials are not the only ones who love mobile fundraising. Studies have shown that the average text-to-give donor is 49 to 59 years old, married, and college-educated.

It truly is a trend that everyone can get on board with.

#6. It’s already done a tremendous amount of good in the world.

Victims of major disasters. Neighbors with serious illnesses. Ducks caught in oil spills.

What do all of these seemingly unrelated people and animals have in common?

They have all been helped by mobile fundraising efforts.

The precedent has been set high for the strides that mobile giving can make, and it only continues to make the world a better place.

Donations across the board have risen since the advent of smartphone and mobile tablet technology.

When giving is easy, everyone is more inclined to help out!

#7. There are so many choices.

Within mobile fundraising, there are so many choices your organization can make. You can choose to make mobile fundraising your primary way of raising money. Or you can choose to make it a part of a special promotion–something that you do for big events.

Not only can you choose to make mobile fundraising a large (or small) part of your organization, you can also choose among the different kinds of mobile fundraising.

Your organization can choose to incorporate:

• Text-to-give
• QR code promotions
• Email donation buttons
• A crowdfunding campaign
• A mobile-friendly donation page
• And so much more!

You can, of course, implement all of the above, or you can pick what works best for your organization. That’s just part of why mobile fundraising is so popular. There’s something for everyone. 

#8. You can easily incorporate mobile into your existing efforts.

Because there are so many choices, as we mentioned above, your organization can seamlessly integrate mobile fundraising into your existing fundraising efforts.

Depending on what feature of mobile fundraising you decide to adopt, you can:

• Easily and quickly add email donation buttons into your current email fundraising efforts. This will make donating as easy as apple pie for your members who are subscribed to your emailing list.
• Make text-to-give a staple for large events. Take a cue from churches and make texting a standard way to give on the go.
• Add QR codes to your posters, flyers, and other physical promotional media. People can easily scan your code to find your mobile donation page, information about your latest event, and more.
• Update your online donation page to make it mobile-friendly.
• Launch a crowdfunding campaign to raise more money from the people in your donors’ immediate (and not-so-immediate) social networks.
• And so much more! 

As you can see, it’s incredibly intuitive to make mobile a part of your existing fundraising efforts. So why not jump on the mobile giving train? It’s waiting for you!

Click here to return to our Ultimate Mobile Giving and Text-to-Donate guide!

The post 8 Reasons Mobile Giving is a Trend That’s Here to Stay first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

Above all else, you want to choose the most secure way for your supporters to make mobile donations through their phones and tablets.

Choosing secure donation software not only makes your nonprofit more trustworthy but also protects you from a data breach.

In recent years, data breaches—where an organization’s and user’s sensitive data has become compromised—are becoming more common.

Using secure donation software can help you prevent a password breach so that donors can confidently use your mobile giving software.

Before you can select the most safe and secure software, though, you need to know exactly what questions to ask.

We take security concerns very seriously.

That’s why we’re here to help you figure out the most important questions to keep in mind when deciding on mobile fundraising software to purchase.

Here are the top 6 questions you should ask any mobile fundraising vendor:

1. Is the mobile donation software provider PCI-compliant?
2. Does the technology provider have controls in place to verify your identity?
3. Do they tokenize your sensitive information?
4. Are the mobile donation software providers experienced with fraud prevention?
5. Where do they store their data?
6. Can the mobile software provider answer your questions?

To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of the most important questions to ask before you sign up for a mobile fundraising platform.

1. Is the mobile donation software provider PCI-compliant?

This is one of the first questions you need to consider when shopping for a mobile fundraising software company.

PCI-compliance means that the provider adheres to a strict set of guidelines put forth by both the credit card industry itself and a neutral third-party security agent. It’s the way all forms of transactions are judged, from online shopping to online bill-pay.
There are multiple levels of compliance, and while the PCI standards aren’t technically law, they’re payment industry-wide guidelines that should be respected by any business that deals in credit or debit card information.

Before you commit to anything, you need to verify that your mobile fundraising software provider meets all of the industry standards for security.

PCI-compliance is a positive, but even being PCI-compliant doesn’t tell the whole story.

2. Does the technology provider have controls in place to verify your identity?

On top of PCI-compliance, your technology provider should reassure you that they’re doing everything in their power to verify your donors’ identities.

Don’t get spoofed.

Hackers often use donation forms to test out credit card numbers, donating small amounts to see if the transactions will approve.

What’s worse? Organizations with poor security are vulnerable to data breaches. Once hackers have access to your donor database, they can obtain your donors’ personal and payment information.

Fraudulent activity not only jeopardizes the safety of your donors’ information, but it can also create a huge headache for your organization’s merchant account. 

The only way to prevent this sort of tinkering is by implementing a secure donation process. Steps like two factor authentication require donors to provider proof of identity through a secondary source of identification.

In a similar process, Snowball’s email authentication system allows payments or donations to be initiated through text message, but it has to be verified and confirmed through an email.

When you’re looking for mobile fundraising technology providers, always check that they have some way of verifying donors’ identities.

3. Do they tokenize your sensitive information?

Tokenization is another key part of maintaining information security. Tokenizing information is in keeping with payment card industry standards, like the ones we discussed in the first question.

When it comes to processing and storing sensitive information such as credit card numbers or CCV codes, your mobile fundraising platform provider needs to reassure you that they’re doing everything they can to keep your information safe.

What exactly is tokenization? Well, simply put, it’s the converting of private, sensitive information into indecipherable “tokens.”

It’s as though the credit card number that you input into a mobile donation form is translated into a language that only credit card companies can read. 

No identity thieves, no scammers, no sketchy middlemen can read the information or use it to make unauthorized purchases using your card number. Tokens have no exploitable meaning to anyone outside of the credit card processors. Your data is 100% safe and secure.

If the mobile fundraising platform that you’re looking into doesn’t offer tokenization, it might be time to look elsewhere.

4. Are the mobile donation software providers experienced with fraud prevention?

In addition to PCI-compliance, tokenization, and two-factor authentication, your provider should also be well-versed in fraud detection and prevention.

Your provider should be combing through every email, text, and transaction to be on the look-out for any and all red flags.

The industry leaders, such as Snowball, will be experienced enough to catch any suspicious activity.

Specific algorithms built for fraud detection should be able to distinguish and throw out anything fishy before it has the chance to cause any damage to your donors or to your organization.

5. Where do they store their data?

Data storage is not something that most people think about. Even still, it’s one of the most important factors to consider.

Your data is your organization’s lifeblood. If your donors don’t feel that their information is being stored in a secure facility, they’re not likely to feel safe trusting you with their credit card information.

The provider you choose should not only have the top-of-the-line firewalls set up around their virtual information storage, they should also invest in the physical security of those servers.

The data centers that house all of your information (as well as your donors’ information) should be heavily guarded and secure, 24/7.

6. Can the mobile software provider answer your questions?

When you sign up for a mobile fundraising platform, you should be signing on for more than just help to get you started.

Once the ball is rolling, there’s no doubt that you’ll have questions along the way. You want to be sure that you trust your provider enough to answer those questions promptly and effectively.

Don’t get left in the lurch.

Sign on with a team who knows what they’re doing and who want you to succeed, too.

Your triumph should be their triumph.

There you have it: all of the major questions that your mobile platform provider should be able to answer. Hopefully, now you’ll feel confident asking potential providers about their safety and security measures.

For more information about securing your online and mobile donation forms, check out our additional resources:

• Password Security Guide: Keeping Sensitive Information Safe — Most security concerns can be traced back the infamous password. Learn about the top tips and tricks to improve your nonprofit’s password security.
• Are Your Passwords Compromised? Why Companies Are at Risk — Online donation forms aren’t the only things your organization should be concerned about when it comes to security. This article, explains why internal security is just as important.
• Why Your Website Should Utilize Passwordless Authentication — Did you know that passwords are the only way to verify a user’s identity? Passwordless options provide a secure login and donation process. Check out even more benefits of these password alternatives.

The post Are Mobile Donations Safe? 6 Vital Questions You Should Ask first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

Today, we’ll talk about how colleges and universities can raise money through:

• Students
• Alumni

Not only will be give you some of the common reasons that stop potential supporters from giving, but we’ll also provide ways you can increase your student and alumni fundraising efforts. Let’s get started!

Student Fundraising

There are so many different clubs and organizations at every college across the country and each year, campuses buzz with fundraising efforts to raise money for different causes. This includes everything from blood drives, sports, service trips, and various off-campus causes such as, an after school program focused on tutoring elementary school students.

Fundraising plays a pivotal role, as the majority of the activities students participate in are only possible through the money they are able to raise themselves.

Whether it be a bake sale, musical concert, walk-a-thon, raffle, or charity ball, students get creative in offering a fun and appealing way to get their peers involved socially on campus, while also raising money for a good cause.

The cause—whatever it may be—is always a good one, and most students are willing to support each other (especially when doing so involves an incentive to attend a fun activity with friends at a reasonable cost). However, there are 3 main factors that often stand in a person’s way of giving (in this example, we look at the factors that apply to students’ lives, but the principles can be universally applied to adult donors everywhere, young and old!):

• People are busy. The average student can usually be caught rushing off to class, a club meeting, or a meeting with friends for lunch. Consequently, she does not stop to buy a cupcake or purchase a raffle ticket.
• People get distracted. A student may be too engrossed in sending a text to a friend or checking an email from a professor to even notice his surroundings and see the bake sale stand. The things that keep people busy also distract them from other tasks they intend to do (a.k.a donate). Even it they saw the bake sale stand, they might not have cash to buy a cookie (the next key point). While they intend to come back later, it rarely happens.
• People don’t always carry cash. Students simply are not equipped with cash at all times of the day. And even if they do have money, it may not be in the exact amount that they would be willing to donate.

When it comes to transactions in college, students rely on credit and debit cards. When they need to pay a friend back, they transfer the money electronically using apps like Venmo or Google Wallet. With the emergence of such technologies, why would they need cash? And I haven’t seen many hi-tech bake sales willing to accept cards anywhere.

Student fundraising itself might be a difficult area to directly implement the use of technology, but the principles behind the need for it are the same as they would be for a nonprofit. And not to mention, they give us a great source of creative inspiration, but also great insight into common problems in reaching any donor, not just students.

The students have spoken—technology is the solution!

Whether people like it or not, technological innovation is inevitable in the fundraising world. It provides a solution to the 3 factors that stand in the way of giving:

1. Since people are busy, they want a way to donate that takes the least amount of time out of their day, right? As we saw with the students, intentions are often good—it’s the process and life that get in the way. What if a student could pay for a charity ball ticket by simply texting the amount? Then he would simply pick up the ticket (or better yet be emailed a copy of it to his phone, with barcode ready to be scanned) right before the event. Similarly, if an adult could donate from a text message or email off her smartphone while standing in line to pick up food during her lunch break, don’t you think she would?
2. How do you keep a donor’s attention? The biggest distractions are more inconveniences or things that make the donor think, “There are better uses of my time.” These include web pages that take way too long to load, having to enter credit card information countless times, or struggling to find a donation page. Again, the solution comes in the form of speed. Offer an express payment option for mobile donations. With only two clicks to give, the process will be completed in a matter of seconds, and it’ll be difficult even for a college student to become distracted during that time. Express payments also facilitate repeat donations. Even if you managed to keep a donor’s attention for one gift, if he had to repeat the same tedious process again, chances are, he wouldn’t. Entering credit card information once is quite enough.
3. Students aren’t the only ones who are often caught without cash. Let’s face it: there’s more of a risk if you lose a wallet full of cash versus a wallet with cards that can be cancelled (yes, it’s still tedious but cash cannot be recovered at all). Technology solves this problem too. If you offer mobile donation or online donation options (such as text-to-give or an express donation option), you save them time, keep their attention, and allow them to give in their preferred method.

Technology provides instant access, and it’s all about convenience. And I know we can all agree that college students aren’t the only ones who enjoy convenience.

Alumni Fundraising

Students aren’t the only demographic that can help your university raise money. Your recent (or not-so-recent) alumni are the perfect group to target for fundraising asks.

Here are a few ways you can ask for donations from your college or university’s alumni.

Crowdfunding Campaigns

Crowdfunding is a great way to raise money from your alumni. Since this type of fundraiser is powered by social sharing, alumni can pass along your campaign to their friends and family and spread the word.

Moreover, setting up a crowdfunding page is relatively inexpensive so your college or university can create multiple campaigns for different projects. 

The key to creating a viral crowdfunding campaign is to upload images and videos on your page, write a detailed crowdfunding description, and post updates frequently. As an added incentive to encourage donations, you can provide different perks depending on how much supporters contribute.

T-Shirts

T-shirts are one of the easiest ways to raise money from your alumni. Many graduates want to display their school pride in an easy (and comfortable!) way.

T-shirts are the perfect fundraising solution. You can sell them in your school’s online store, or create custom shirts for alumni events and reunions.

Additionally, if you host a peer-to-peer fundraising event, your alumni can buy t-shirts to show their support.

Engraved Bricks

Engraved bricks are a great way for alumni to leave their mark (literally!) on your college.

For a fee, alumni can choose to have a line or two engraved on a brick that is placed either in a walkway, on a set of stairs, or in the wall of a prominent building on campus.

You can have different price ranges for different numbers of lines ($50 for 1 line, $80 for 2, or $100 for 3).

There are several engraved brick companies that make the whole process easy as pie. Advertise engraved bricks to your recently graduated alumni and mention them at reunions for other classes.

Mini School Mascots

Whether your alumni identify as Mountain Lions, Eagles, or Bulldogs, you can sell mini stuffed mascots to remind them of their time at your college.

All you have to do is find a wholesale stuffed animal company, preferably one that allows you to customize orders.

Then, simply advertise your mini school mascots online and at events. Alumni young and old will be more than willing to spend a few dollars on a cute and cuddly mini mascot!

As you can see there are plenty of ways you can raise money from alumni. At the end of the day, your alumni are where colleges and universities will collect the majority of their donations. Much like how other nonprofits will gain the most fund from major donors. Therefore, it’s important to create fundraisers that tailor to these specific donors and appeal to their interests.

Alumni fundraising really isn’t any different from college student fundraising. Just remember to thank your alumni for their continued love and support of your university!

Additional Resources:

• Nonprofit E-Newsletters: Schools, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits can use newsletters for more than just keeping supporters updated. They’re also a great way to encourage your supporters to give. Learn how you optimize your e-newsletters so that you can raise more money.
• Email Fundraising: What You Can Do to Prevent Lost Donations: Email outreach is a great way to raise money for your organization. The trick is to make the process as quick and easy as possible. Learn how you can prevent lost donations using Snowball’s three-step process.
• School Fundraising Ideas: For even more ways you can raise money, check out this list of 30 fundraising ideas. You’re bound to find a fundraiser that is perfect your college or university.

The post A Look at Campus Fundraising first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

You might be saying to yourself, “But my organization already heavily relies on social media to communicate with our supporters.”

And this is true for the majority of organizations. Most everyone knows how effectively social media reaches target audiences. Whether it’s because your children won’t stop tweeting or checking Instagram on their phones–yes, even after you said no phones at the dinner table–or because of your own personal discovery of how easy it is to keep up with old friends via Facebook, you know how powerful social media is for staying connected with others.

But, are you maximizing your use of social media and utilizing it as a method to spark and receive donations? Chances are, the answer to this question is no. Or at least, not entirely.

You may stray from directly asking for donations on Facebook or Twitter for a fear of sounding like you’re selling your organization. And this fear is justified IF you approach asking in the wrong way.

People look to social media to feel more connected to your cause and receive instant updates about what you’re doing. If they wanted to donate, they know they can do so on your website right? Yes, they could. But this takes time and requires them to deviate from what they were doing. And once they get to the website, they may experience donation friction, which could also cause them to abandon the process. Don’t allow this to happen. A social media post can incorporate both an update while ALSO providing an easy and instant option for donating. Provide them with a quick link redirecting them to an easy platform they can donate from.

But how do you structure your message correctly?

It’s OK to be direct. Insert a Call to Action in your status update. Ask nicely, and be specific. Tell your story. Which event in particular are you currently fundraising for? Is there an upcoming trip you can show behind-the-scenes preparation for? Who or what specifically will donations impact? Avoid generic messages asking for donations, and always include images or videos. Most importantly, tell your supporters exactly what they need to do to help your cause. Your post should include your Text-to-Give number or provide a direct link to a mobile web donation page.

Urban Outreach Denver provides assistance programs for inner city youths in Denver, Colorado. Their summer program, Summer Camp Strong, provides meals twice a day for children whose families are on public assistance. This summer, UOD faced a budgetary shortfall. They were running low on funds to feed the children. Within 48 hours of posting a call for help (by promoting their new @Pay mobile web buttons) on their Facebook page, they received over $1,000 in donations.

“We rely heavily on social media and word of mouth to get the word out to our current and potential supporters. They need to know that we have a secure, professional and reliable giving platform for them to feel comfortable giving generously to our ministry. @Pay is how we partner with our support base to make a difference in inner city Denver.”

— Isaac Olivarez, Founder, Urban Outreach Denver

Bring your fundraising to where your supporters are. After all, a great fundraising technology is only as effective as you allow it to be. Make sure you are doing your part and use Facebook—or any social media channel—to inform and make it super easy to give!

Conclusion:

If used correctly, social media can substantially increase fundraising efforts. The keyword here is correctly. The reason you might currently refrain from directly asking for donations on Twitter or Facebook is for the fear of sounding like an automated machine that is only interested in selling your organization. However, a balance of content and CTAs, combined with an attention to the timing of your posts will allow you to effectively use social media to accept donations. Your supporters follow you on social media because they are interested in up-to-date news about your cause, NOT because they’re looking to be hounded for donations. Make sure you structure your message correctly. Balance specific updates (that include videos and images) with CTAs, and make sure you don’t post messages asking for donations excessively as this will spam your supporters and only work against you. By following these steps, rather than turn supporters or potential supporters away, your social media efforts will drastically increase fundraising efforts, just as they did for Urban Outreach Denver. Now, all you need is a great technology to allow your donors to give just as easily as they stay connected with your organization!

Related:

How to Reduce Donation Friction

How Safe is Your Text-to-Give?

Why Express Checkouts Will Increase Revenue

The post How to Use Social Media to Spark Donations first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.

One reason is a matter of trust — Millennials want to be sure that their money is not going into a black hole. Of course, one way that successful charities are gaining trust is through technology, where they can interact with their donors and show them exactly how their donations are making an impact.

This leads to another reason that Millennials donate or not: They want to make sure their money is an investment. “It may seem something simple. It’s just semantics: donation vs. investment. But I think to a millennial, who’s grown up in a very different world, one that’s more participatory because of the digital tools that we have, to them they want to feel like they’re making an investment. Not just that they’re investing their capital, but they’re investing emotionally,” says Amy Webb, who forecasts digital trends for nonprofit and for-profit companies.

Donation Technology 

But most importantly, Millennials are most likely to donate if the charity offers technology that makes the giving process quick and simple. “[Webb] says any philanthropy without a smart digital platform — not just for donations but for empowering a community of givers — will be left behind.”

“There are a lot of people who are more willing to be generous with 20, 30 and 50 dollars, but their time is actually worth something. And the thought of pulling out their credit card and fighting through a two- and three- and four-page form is just too much,”  says Scott Harrison, CEO and found of the nonprofit Charity: Water. On the Charity: Water website, giving is as simple as a couple of clicks.

This is the main mission of Snowball: To make giving a simpler, easier and quicker process. “We want to create  more money for good causes than even the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation,” says Snowball CEO John Killoran ambitiously. “People will give more money than they are giving [if it’s a simple two-click process]. This is an amazing way to raise money for a good cause.”

Snowball is a payment and donation platform that allows repeat donors to give with just two simple clicks: Donate and Confirm. The technology is simple and secure and makes giving an easy process. It works particularly well with the Millennial demographic which would love give to charities that strike a chord with them, but often can only afford to give smaller donations. According to 2013 Millennial Impact Report, 40% of Millennials gave at $1-50 levels while 23% gave at $51-100 levels. 52% of Millennials said they would be interested in monthly giving and 84% said they would prefer to give online.

Oftentimes, they are deterred from giving because of the time and effort it takes to go through many clicks and filling out their personal and billing information time and time again. With Snowball, they can donate with two simple clicks each month — either straight from their email inbox, from mobile or web, or from Snowball QR codes on posters, signs and merchandise.

“Designers spend most their time finding ways to save their donors time, trimming as much lag time or obstacles to giving online as possible,” says Elise Hu in her article for NPR. Snowball has designed just that.

The post Millennials: Reshaping Online Giving first appeared on Snowball Fundraising.