GivingTuesdayNow (#GTN) is coming up on May 5th. This is an effort to help charities impacted by the coronavirus pandemic raise much needed funds. This is your opportunity to host a donation page on your website, Landing Page, and/or Facebook and gather donors around your cause. Here are a few quick tips to help you maximize your efforts as May 5 approaches.
Start Now
Tell A Story
Your donors will appreciate and are more likely to respond to a story to help connect with your appeal. This is where honesty and transparency are key. If these funds mean the difference between staying open or closing, tell them. Clearly define your charity mission and its impact on those you serve. What does your charity do today that is so important? What will it do tomorrow with the help of donations? Remember that your donors do not know what you know about your charity. Be clear about your needs. Here’s an example from BuildOn.
Be Specific
While these donations help keep the doors open, you should find one or two areas that are the most important to tell your donors. What will the dollars go to specifically? For instance, you may be giving grants to help individuals with disabilities. Give a specific example. What needs do your recipients have that your grants support? Examples with names or pictures will help solidify the ask.
Updates
As you get closer to your goal, let people know how much this means. Give thanks with updates via email and on the donation page. Each update should be shared on your social media outlets as well. This will give you much more exposure during the campaign.
Be Consistent
This one can be tough. However, it is critical to set a plan and stick to it. Determine how many times you want to send email updates to your donors. Then, put those times into your calendar with reminders. Even if the message is brief, it is a chance to remind donors about your campaign page. It also shows those who have donated that you are committed to consistent communication.