5 Things to do Today for Online Fundraising Success in 2020
When you’re in the middle of executing on your fundraising plan, it can seem as if there’s time for little else. But, taking a step back to re-examine a few key areas of your online fundraising can make a big difference.
Here are five things you can do today to set up your nonprofit for online fundraising success in 2020:
1. Look at your online donation process with fresh eyes.
Take the time to review your online donation process and make sure it’s clear and simple. Go to the home page of your website and pretend you’ve never been there before. Step through the online process. Ask yourself the following questions, and work with your website manager to make improvements:
- Is it clear what I should do if I want to learn more or donate?
- How many clicks does it take to donate?
- How many questions am I asked on the donation form? Can we eliminate some of them?
- If I want to set up a recurring (monthly) donation, can I do so with just one-click (or at least minimal data entry)?
TIP: By simply providing an option on your online donation form for donors to cover the cost of transaction fees, you can significantly increase your overall funds raised.
2. Use data to take your online fundraising to the next level.
Boosting the effectiveness of your online fundraising campaigns is not as difficult as you might think. Taking some time to gather, analyze, and use data from your past campaigns or events can help you uncover trends and find new opportunities to improve your results. For example, you can use data from your constituent relationship management system and/or your peer-to-peer fundraising system to:
- Decide where to focus your efforts
- Make your campaigns more compelling
- Determine if your campaigns are still working for you
TIP: Learn how to use data to improve your peer-to-peer fundraising. Read the article 7 Ways Using Data Can Improve Your Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Results
3. Talk to your constituents to find out more.
Now that you’ve looked at your data, you should have a better idea of who your constituents are, but data doesn’t always give the whole story. By taking time to talk to your constituents, with clear goals in mind, you can learn more about why they chose to be a part of your organization and how you can better serve them. As an added benefit, your constituents will get an extra touch of gratitude from you. Some ideas:
- Determine who your most involved supporters are and invite them to a focus group.
- Create a random of list of constituents and call them with a set list of questions.
- Compile a list of survey questions and send them via email to the contacts in your database.
TIP: No matter what approach you take, be sure to
include questions that focus on online fundraising.
4. Design a formalized naming structure to organize your online fundraising files.
As you build campaigns in your online fundraising system, you might not always give a great deal of thought to the names you give to files. But creating a formalized naming structure for your files leads to several benefits, including:
- Less time locating files
- Less likelihood of duplicating files
- Happier co-workers
- Easier transition when employees turn over
Take the time now to create a naming convention for your online fundraising file names. You may have years of inconsistent file names looming in your system. But, it’s never too late to start being more organized and intentional about your file naming. Just get started and be consistent.
TIP: Learn more about how to create a naming convention for your online fundraising file names. Read the article: The Life-Changing Magic of Consistent File Naming in Your Online Fundraising Systems
5. Create (or revisit) your processes for keeping donor data clean.
Your donor data might just be your most valuable asset. It drives donor communications, powers fundraising efforts, and feeds reports. Shouldn’t it be complete, accurate, and in tip top shape?
Maintaining a high level of donor data health and hygiene may seem overwhelming, but it’s critically important to multiple functions across your organization, including online fundraising. Don’t let another day go by without making sure you have updated processes in place.
TIP: Learn more about keeping your donor data clean. Read the article 6 Ways to Ensure the Wellness of Your Donor Data
