Digital Fundraising: 9 Common Mistakes to Fix Yesterday

Why aren’t more people supporting your nonprofit? What are you doing wrong? If you’re forgetting about digital fundraising and the best practices you should follow to get online donations, there’s your answer. Digital fundraising isn’t exactly new, but it’s growing in popularity year after year. In 2018, online giving grew by 12.1% from the previous year, and we don’t see that statistic slowing down any time soon. It’s time you learned the best practices and fix these suspect behaviors that could be driving away online donors.

Spotlight

Elevation - Web Solutions for Nonprofits

At Elevation, we are united under one goal – provide quality digital solutions to nonprofit organizations so they can continue generating measurable change in their communities. In order to fulfill this mission, we have fostered a design process that is customized, flexible, and results-driven. Our clients receive fully functioning, efficient websites, and more. Your website is a tool and an integral part of fulfilling your nonprofit’s mission. When developed with the right team and ideas, you’ll be able to reach broader audiences transmitting greater positive change.

OTHER ARTICLES
Nonprofit Management

6 Tips for Virtual Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Article | July 15, 2022

As our world continues to be reshaped by the effects of COVID-19, nonprofits are looking for new ways to engage in online and virtual fundraising to support their revenue. This comes as a record number of organizations have lept into the peer-to-peer fundraising world in record numbers. Social media and do-it-yourself fundraising (where people can organize their own fundraising campaign for their favorite charity) make it easier and more attractive to people.

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Fundraising

Marketing Your Nonprofit Organization in 4 Simple Steps

Article | July 15, 2022

It's not difficult to learn how to market your non-profit. Organizations can take a lot of simple steps to get in front of their target audience, inform the public, and win more people on board for their cause. These four stages will help kickstart marketing initiatives and put them on the right track to achieving their company's objectives. The non-profit is missing out on critical chances if its only marketing efforts are to organize an annual benefit event and periodically update its website. For a non-profit to expand and remain active, consistent marketing is just as important as for 'for-profit' enterprises. Without public awareness, even the greatest charitable group will be unable to accomplish anything. To properly carry out its objective, a non-profit needs strong ties with funders, volunteers, the media, and even governmental bodies. In order to retain relationships, attract regular donations, and keep an organization's activities in the public view, continual marketing initiatives are necessary. However, there are still stages that every employee can help with to establish a marketing plan, even if the non-profit doesn't have the funds for a professional marketing team. Choose the Target Market A non-profit must identify its target audience and the actions it wants them to adapt before it can take any steps to advertise its organization. Organizations can adjust their marketing initiatives to reach their target audience and motivate them to act once they are aware of who they are and where to find them. For example, they might find it helpful to look into firms that are comparable to their own to discover how they sell to the same demographic. Set Measurable Objectives Organizations can't determine whether their non-profit marketing is successful without knowing their goals. They are better equipped to assess what is working and what needs to change when they have quantifiable goals. After establishing their objectives, they should plan with their team how they'll gauge their success in achieving them. Curate Marketing Materials Marketing materials are necessary for non-profits whenever they engage with the public. These materials should be customized for their group, exhibit their achievements, offerings, and core principles, and provide information on how to get involved or donate. Build a Database Once the promotional strategies are ready, it's time to put them to use. But before they accomplish that, organizations must create a database of present and potential members. Organizations can use databases to categorize their audience into different groups depending on things like whether or not they've donated in the past, their economic level, or whether they prefer to be reached through email or physical mail. While deploying these above-mentioned steps, non-profit organizations can effectively boost their marketing capabilities that would, in return, aid in achieving their organizational goals.

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Nonprofit Management

How to Drive User-Generated Content for Your Nonprofit

Article | July 12, 2022

Eighty-six percent of millennials consider user-generated content as a good gauge of a brand’s overall quality. User-generated content comes from unpaid fans of an organization who share their experiences with that brand through their social media platforms, and can include a variety of content, like videos, photos, tweets, blogs, and reviews. This type of content also serves an organic way for supporters to promote your nonprofit to one another. It’s key to increasing your message’s reach, as 92% of consumers say they trust recommendations from other consumers, even those they don’t know, more than content directly from a brand.

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Nonprofit Technology

Prioritizing Money Builds Fake Donor Relationships

Article | December 21, 2021

The relationship costs too much money, so I will save money and not pursue it. And the result of that decision is disastrous. Relationships take time. You know that. Your boss knows it. But we ignore time because that is how we have set up things. There is a budget to manage. A forecast to make. So, we go for the fake relationship. One where we pretend to care, but only if we get the money. We do that — not because we believe it’s the right thing to do but — because we can’t see any other way to deliver on expectations. And that is the dilemma in major gifts. The push is for instant gratification. We are dealing with a situation right now where the authority figure does not value relationships. She says she does. She even claims to have a value set that cherishes relationships. But the money is the real value. And the need to grab it is the central drive. So, she is pushing on her major gift officers (MGOs) to get the money and is even threatening to do away with the major gifts program because it is not delivering. But when we uncover what “not delivering” means in her view, it is not that each MGO is not producing revenue from the same donors over and above last year. Nope. It is that each isn’t producing enough revenue quickly enough. The real story in this organization is that some of the other fundraising programs are not performing, and major gifts needs to be the scapegoat. It’s all about the money. This is so sad because these are good people — all of them, including the authority figure. It is sad because the plan to move major gifts into real relationships is facing failure. And that bothers Jeff and me — not because it’s our plan for the organization. No, it bothers us because there are good MGOs and good donors who must revert back to a fake relationship. And that is not good. One of our major objectives is to influence fundraisers and nonprofit leaders to highly value and respect donors. When we succeed at that, and we do, more often than not, it brings donors, MGOs and leaders a tremendous amount of joy and satisfaction. And, it brings the money. You should see the celebration! But when money is valued over relationship, it is a dark and depressing time for us. That is why the situation I described earlier is so disturbing. It’s not that we are going to lose something. No, that is not it. It’s that some very good MGOs and some very good donors will be forced to live in superficiality and shallowness. And that is not good for anyone. And it certainly is not good for the economic well-being of the nonprofit. Make a commitment today to real relationships with your donors. And if your organization does not support that, try to influence it to change. If the organization will not change, move on. You have a choice.

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Spotlight

Elevation - Web Solutions for Nonprofits

At Elevation, we are united under one goal – provide quality digital solutions to nonprofit organizations so they can continue generating measurable change in their communities. In order to fulfill this mission, we have fostered a design process that is customized, flexible, and results-driven. Our clients receive fully functioning, efficient websites, and more. Your website is a tool and an integral part of fulfilling your nonprofit’s mission. When developed with the right team and ideas, you’ll be able to reach broader audiences transmitting greater positive change.

Related News

Fundraising, Nonprofit Technology

OneCause Releases Innovative Online Fundraising Experience for Nonprofits

PRNewswire | March 28, 2023

OneCause, a leading provider of digital fundraising technology, today announced the launch of new online giving sites with personal fundraising page capabilities to help nonprofits effortlessly grow their giving network and extend the reach of their events and campaigns. The addition of these tools to the OneCause Fundraising Platform advances the company's mission to drive innovation in the fundraising technology sector and further streamline the giving experience. The new giving sites and personal fundraising pages provide multiple giving options for supporters that are seamlessly integrated with nonprofits' events and campaigns. "We designed the all-new online fundraising experience with donor choice and optionality in mind," said Steve Johns, chief executive officer for OneCause. "With these powerful new features, donors can create their own personal fundraising pages directly from a nonprofit's online giving site and easily connect them to their event, creating broader reach and additional fundraising opportunities for the missions they're passionate about." The new online fundraising experience is part of the fully integrated OneCause Fundraising Platform and includes: Ability to generate fully featured online giving sites with ease Personal fundraising pages donors can set up in seconds—right from a nonprofit's giving site Easily integrate with your upcoming campaign or event Thermometers and giving timelines to boost engagement and recognize supporters Custom giving levels with impact statements and images Capability to designate gifts to a specific fund Donation forms that can be embedded on any site Integrated recurring and one-time donation capabilities Option for donors to cover fees to maximize their gift Digital wallet including Apple Pay and Google Pay options Real-time fundraising data insights and analytics in a central location The tools were built to meet the ever-evolving needs and expectations of today's donors, while making it easy for nonprofits to reach a larger audience of supporters with every campaign. "Ease is the new normal," said Stephanie Ragozzino, chief product officer for OneCause. "The new online fundraising experience with personal fundraising pages reinforces our commitment to creating a frictionless, personalized giving experience so nonprofits can attract and convert more donors in conjunction with their events." About OneCause OneCause is driving the future of fundraising with easy-to-use digital fundraising solutions that help nonprofits improve the giving experience and raise more money. OneCause builds technology that optimizes everyday generosity, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to fundraise and for nonprofit supporters to give. Since 2008, OneCause has helped over 10,000 nonprofits in the United States and Canada raise more than $5 billion for their missions. Headquartered in Indianapolis, OneCause is committed to driving innovation in the charitable sector, bringing together nonprofit professionals across the world for the annual Raise Conference to exchange ideas that further fundraising.

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Nonprofit Technology

The Vonage Foundation Partners with Girls Who Code to Expand Opportunities in Tech

Girls Who Code | March 17, 2023

Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation, announced that the company has partnered with Girls Who Code, an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in tech. The Vonage Foundation will support Girls Who Code through sponsorship of its Summer Immersion Program 2023, which is focused on building tomorrow's diverse tech workforce through education. The two-week Summer Immersion Program provides free, virtual opportunities for students in 9th through 12th grade and is a vital part of Girls Who Code's continuous efforts to make coding education accessible and flexible for students of all backgrounds, including those from historically underrepresented groups in Black, Latinx, and low-income communities. The program provides opportunities for young people to expand their technical knowledge and learn more about the computer science field through curriculum tracks that include Game Design, Web Development and Data Science. "Our flagship Summer Programs have historically been a huge stepping stone for our students and have turned their early interest in computer science into lifelong curiosity and even careers. Last year, we served over 7,000 students across our summer programs alone," said Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code. "We're grateful for the support from our partners, like Vonage, as we continue to expand our reach. Our curriculum must reflect the immense possibilities that exist within a tech career, so students know that there is room for their passions in tech and that they have the resources to discover new ones." The Vonage Foundation supports global initiatives dedicated to bringing technology access to communities through partnerships, charitable contributions and donations of services for nonprofits. The core of this mission focuses on the advancement of global connectivity - bringing people and technology together for the greater good. By partnering with organizations like Girls Who Code, Vonage is working to bridge the digital divide by using technology to unlock creative minds and open doors to pathways into a STEM career. "We are excited to stand alongside Girls Who Code in this mission to ensure young girls today have the opportunities to chart a course for the future through a career in tech," said Joy Corso, Chief Marketing Officer for Vonage. "Women are vital to the sustainable future of our industry. Through the work of The Vonage Foundation, and partnerships like this, we at Vonage are channeling our passion for education, innovation and the power of communications to provide greater access to technology resources for all." About Girls Who Code Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip students who identify as girls or nonbinary with the computing skills needed to pursue 21st-century opportunities. Since launching in 2012, Girls Who Code has served 500,000 students through in-person and virtual programming, and 115,000 of our alumni are college or career-aged. Girls Who Code has sparked culture change through marketing campaigns and advocacy efforts, generating 14 billion engagements globally. In 2019, the organization was named the #1 Most Innovative Non-Profit on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list, and in 2022 was named one of NonProfit Times' Best Nonprofits to Work For. About The Vonage Foundation The Vonage Foundation is focused on the power of communications and connectivity to bridge the digital divide by using technology to unlock innovation and drive creative minds with grants for curriculum, research, technical advancements, knowledge sharing and financial support, aiming to make the world we live in a vibrant interconnected community by ensuring a digital-first future is possible today. About Vonage Vonage, a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage's Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. The Vonage conversational commerce application enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences that boost sales and increase customer satisfaction. Vonage's fully programmable unified communications, contact center and conversational commerce applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely - providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements.

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Nonprofit Management

Classy Launches New, Digital Payment Integration for Nonprofit Customers

Classy | October 14, 2021

Classy, a giving platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with the causes they care about, will launch a new, digital payment integration with PayPal and Venmo, enabling nonprofits to receive online donations through both payment methods for multiple campaign types and giving frequencies. These new integrations give nonprofit supporters more payment options and present donors with the same technologies they interact with every day. Donations made through PayPal and Venmo will also fully integrate with Classy's back-end reporting system for a completely seamless experience. Classy's customers will be able to add PayPal as a donation option for both one-time and recurring donations starting this month, just in time for the end-of-year giving season, with the Venmo option following in 2022. PayPal and Venmo are the most frequently used payment providers. Venmo is popular among millennials and gen-zers with 81% of users falling between 18-45 years old. According to new, unpublished research by Classy, if given the option, 55% of donors surveyed said they were somewhat or very likely to donate to a nonprofit via PayPal or Venmo. 77% of surveyed donors believe PayPal is the safest way to donate. 55% of surveyed donors are likely to donate again if PayPal is an option. 37% of surveyed donors donate more because they're able to use PayPal. "The addition of PayPal and Venmo to the Classy platform enables a more elegant giving experience for any donor who wants to support one of our nonprofit customers. By making the supporter journey more relevant, engaging and intuitive, Classy's nonprofit customers can unlock the goodwill of even more supporters, bringing in more funding for their missions." Chris Himes, CEO of Classy Classy's PayPal and Venmo integrations will go deeper than most options currently available to the social sector. Specifically, the choice to donate via these payment methods will be available across multiple campaign types, including website donations, peer-to-peer fundraising, virtual events, and crowdfunding, and donations via PayPal can apply to both one-time and recurring donations. Having this offering across numerous facets of the Classy platform will help nonprofits drive higher conversion rates and donor satisfaction. Plus, all receipting and reporting will be fully integrated with the Classy platform, making it a harmonious process for nonprofit professionals. Both payment options will be available to nonprofits through Classy's proprietary payments integration, Classy Pay, which also allows customers to accept donations through ACH, credit cards, and digital wallets. About Classy Classy is a B Corp Certified Public Benefit Corporation and giving experience platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with the causes they care about. Based in San Diego, CA and trusted by thousands of nonprofits, from the fastest-growing nonprofits to some of the world's largest social organizations, Classy's platform provides the formats and flexibility to activate donors when and how they need to by creating more relevant connections to their causes. Since 2011, Classy has helped nonprofits mobilize and empower the world for good by helping them raise over $3 billion on its platform. Classy also hosts the Collaborative conference and the Classy Awards to spotlight the innovative work nonprofits are implementing around the globe.

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Fundraising, Nonprofit Technology

OneCause Releases Innovative Online Fundraising Experience for Nonprofits

PRNewswire | March 28, 2023

OneCause, a leading provider of digital fundraising technology, today announced the launch of new online giving sites with personal fundraising page capabilities to help nonprofits effortlessly grow their giving network and extend the reach of their events and campaigns. The addition of these tools to the OneCause Fundraising Platform advances the company's mission to drive innovation in the fundraising technology sector and further streamline the giving experience. The new giving sites and personal fundraising pages provide multiple giving options for supporters that are seamlessly integrated with nonprofits' events and campaigns. "We designed the all-new online fundraising experience with donor choice and optionality in mind," said Steve Johns, chief executive officer for OneCause. "With these powerful new features, donors can create their own personal fundraising pages directly from a nonprofit's online giving site and easily connect them to their event, creating broader reach and additional fundraising opportunities for the missions they're passionate about." The new online fundraising experience is part of the fully integrated OneCause Fundraising Platform and includes: Ability to generate fully featured online giving sites with ease Personal fundraising pages donors can set up in seconds—right from a nonprofit's giving site Easily integrate with your upcoming campaign or event Thermometers and giving timelines to boost engagement and recognize supporters Custom giving levels with impact statements and images Capability to designate gifts to a specific fund Donation forms that can be embedded on any site Integrated recurring and one-time donation capabilities Option for donors to cover fees to maximize their gift Digital wallet including Apple Pay and Google Pay options Real-time fundraising data insights and analytics in a central location The tools were built to meet the ever-evolving needs and expectations of today's donors, while making it easy for nonprofits to reach a larger audience of supporters with every campaign. "Ease is the new normal," said Stephanie Ragozzino, chief product officer for OneCause. "The new online fundraising experience with personal fundraising pages reinforces our commitment to creating a frictionless, personalized giving experience so nonprofits can attract and convert more donors in conjunction with their events." About OneCause OneCause is driving the future of fundraising with easy-to-use digital fundraising solutions that help nonprofits improve the giving experience and raise more money. OneCause builds technology that optimizes everyday generosity, making it easier for nonprofit organizations to fundraise and for nonprofit supporters to give. Since 2008, OneCause has helped over 10,000 nonprofits in the United States and Canada raise more than $5 billion for their missions. Headquartered in Indianapolis, OneCause is committed to driving innovation in the charitable sector, bringing together nonprofit professionals across the world for the annual Raise Conference to exchange ideas that further fundraising.

Read More

Nonprofit Technology

The Vonage Foundation Partners with Girls Who Code to Expand Opportunities in Tech

Girls Who Code | March 17, 2023

Vonage, a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation, announced that the company has partnered with Girls Who Code, an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in tech. The Vonage Foundation will support Girls Who Code through sponsorship of its Summer Immersion Program 2023, which is focused on building tomorrow's diverse tech workforce through education. The two-week Summer Immersion Program provides free, virtual opportunities for students in 9th through 12th grade and is a vital part of Girls Who Code's continuous efforts to make coding education accessible and flexible for students of all backgrounds, including those from historically underrepresented groups in Black, Latinx, and low-income communities. The program provides opportunities for young people to expand their technical knowledge and learn more about the computer science field through curriculum tracks that include Game Design, Web Development and Data Science. "Our flagship Summer Programs have historically been a huge stepping stone for our students and have turned their early interest in computer science into lifelong curiosity and even careers. Last year, we served over 7,000 students across our summer programs alone," said Tarika Barrett, CEO of Girls Who Code. "We're grateful for the support from our partners, like Vonage, as we continue to expand our reach. Our curriculum must reflect the immense possibilities that exist within a tech career, so students know that there is room for their passions in tech and that they have the resources to discover new ones." The Vonage Foundation supports global initiatives dedicated to bringing technology access to communities through partnerships, charitable contributions and donations of services for nonprofits. The core of this mission focuses on the advancement of global connectivity - bringing people and technology together for the greater good. By partnering with organizations like Girls Who Code, Vonage is working to bridge the digital divide by using technology to unlock creative minds and open doors to pathways into a STEM career. "We are excited to stand alongside Girls Who Code in this mission to ensure young girls today have the opportunities to chart a course for the future through a career in tech," said Joy Corso, Chief Marketing Officer for Vonage. "Women are vital to the sustainable future of our industry. Through the work of The Vonage Foundation, and partnerships like this, we at Vonage are channeling our passion for education, innovation and the power of communications to provide greater access to technology resources for all." About Girls Who Code Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip students who identify as girls or nonbinary with the computing skills needed to pursue 21st-century opportunities. Since launching in 2012, Girls Who Code has served 500,000 students through in-person and virtual programming, and 115,000 of our alumni are college or career-aged. Girls Who Code has sparked culture change through marketing campaigns and advocacy efforts, generating 14 billion engagements globally. In 2019, the organization was named the #1 Most Innovative Non-Profit on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list, and in 2022 was named one of NonProfit Times' Best Nonprofits to Work For. About The Vonage Foundation The Vonage Foundation is focused on the power of communications and connectivity to bridge the digital divide by using technology to unlock innovation and drive creative minds with grants for curriculum, research, technical advancements, knowledge sharing and financial support, aiming to make the world we live in a vibrant interconnected community by ensuring a digital-first future is possible today. About Vonage Vonage, a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage's Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. The Vonage conversational commerce application enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences that boost sales and increase customer satisfaction. Vonage's fully programmable unified communications, contact center and conversational commerce applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely - providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements.

Read More

Nonprofit Management

Classy Launches New, Digital Payment Integration for Nonprofit Customers

Classy | October 14, 2021

Classy, a giving platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with the causes they care about, will launch a new, digital payment integration with PayPal and Venmo, enabling nonprofits to receive online donations through both payment methods for multiple campaign types and giving frequencies. These new integrations give nonprofit supporters more payment options and present donors with the same technologies they interact with every day. Donations made through PayPal and Venmo will also fully integrate with Classy's back-end reporting system for a completely seamless experience. Classy's customers will be able to add PayPal as a donation option for both one-time and recurring donations starting this month, just in time for the end-of-year giving season, with the Venmo option following in 2022. PayPal and Venmo are the most frequently used payment providers. Venmo is popular among millennials and gen-zers with 81% of users falling between 18-45 years old. According to new, unpublished research by Classy, if given the option, 55% of donors surveyed said they were somewhat or very likely to donate to a nonprofit via PayPal or Venmo. 77% of surveyed donors believe PayPal is the safest way to donate. 55% of surveyed donors are likely to donate again if PayPal is an option. 37% of surveyed donors donate more because they're able to use PayPal. "The addition of PayPal and Venmo to the Classy platform enables a more elegant giving experience for any donor who wants to support one of our nonprofit customers. By making the supporter journey more relevant, engaging and intuitive, Classy's nonprofit customers can unlock the goodwill of even more supporters, bringing in more funding for their missions." Chris Himes, CEO of Classy Classy's PayPal and Venmo integrations will go deeper than most options currently available to the social sector. Specifically, the choice to donate via these payment methods will be available across multiple campaign types, including website donations, peer-to-peer fundraising, virtual events, and crowdfunding, and donations via PayPal can apply to both one-time and recurring donations. Having this offering across numerous facets of the Classy platform will help nonprofits drive higher conversion rates and donor satisfaction. Plus, all receipting and reporting will be fully integrated with the Classy platform, making it a harmonious process for nonprofit professionals. Both payment options will be available to nonprofits through Classy's proprietary payments integration, Classy Pay, which also allows customers to accept donations through ACH, credit cards, and digital wallets. About Classy Classy is a B Corp Certified Public Benefit Corporation and giving experience platform that enables nonprofits to connect supporters with the causes they care about. Based in San Diego, CA and trusted by thousands of nonprofits, from the fastest-growing nonprofits to some of the world's largest social organizations, Classy's platform provides the formats and flexibility to activate donors when and how they need to by creating more relevant connections to their causes. Since 2011, Classy has helped nonprofits mobilize and empower the world for good by helping them raise over $3 billion on its platform. Classy also hosts the Collaborative conference and the Classy Awards to spotlight the innovative work nonprofits are implementing around the globe.

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Events