How to Raise Money for a Nonprofit Organization or Charity

NEWBURYPORT, Mass. - March 2, 2015 - PRLog -- Charities and nonprofit organizations need to raise money in order to survive. Their tax exempt status helps them to be able to keep the money they’ve raised, but that isn’t enough to get people to donate. Even a good cause isn’t enough to get people to donate. A fundraising program must be run like a marketing effort in order for budgetary needs to be met.

It all begins with setting target goals for the fundraising effort. People love to support a winner, so don’t set a goal for raising money that is in the stratosphere. Set realistic goals and then keep pushing hard so that those goals can be reached. These ideas will help you make those efforts more successful.

1. Use the holidays to your advantage.
When the holidays roll around, people enter into a mood for giving. The only problem is that every organization that needs to raise money already has realized this and is hitting people up for cash already. Instead of being just another voice in a chorus that is thousands strong, do something for your fundraising targets instead. Something has simple as a Christmas card can be enough to get someone’s attention and a SASE included might just persuade the recipient to send a gift your way.

Many charities and nonprofits focus on the Christmas season to raise money in this way. Take advantage of other holidays, such as Easter or even Halloween, to have a year-round flow of money coming in to spend.

2. Have a signature event every year.
The biggest fundraiser of the year for a charity or nonprofit organization is their signature event. This event has to be formal in some ways, fun in other ways, and provide people with a great way to network while supporting your cause. For a healthcare nonprofit in Colorado, Family Health West, their signature event has traditionally been called the Red Baron Ball, an auction event that included dancing, gourmet food, and a cash bar.

Family Health West also demonstrates the fact that a signature event sometimes needs to change so many can continue to flow. Starting in 2015, the Red Baron Ball will have many of the same features, but instead of an airplane-themed event with live music and dancing, a sit-down concert will be offered instead.

The local community thrives with a signature event. They want to support it. That’s why it needs to be created and promoted extensively each year.

3. Don’t be afraid to be audacious.
The problem that many nonprofits and charities wind up encountering is a feeling of timidity. They need to go big in order to raise the money that is needed, but they cannot summon up the courage to be truly audacious. The end result is that a fundraising campaign winds up under-promising and under-delivering.

People donate money to a good cause because they expect fun, results, and value. If a charity is doing good things every day, then bring potential donors to where the work is being done so they can see it first-hand. Not only is an adventure in the community fun and a good networking opportunity, but it proves results can be achieved. With results, value automatically is received.

4. Just ask.
The ultimate problem of raising money is that charities and nonprofits just don’t ask for the cash. They’ll tell their story, take people around the community to show off their work, prove they can deliver results, but never do the one thing that a donor wants them to do: ask.

If a charity needs $25,000, then ask for $25,000. Ask every donor for that $25k. A surprising amount of people and businesses have that much cash that they are willing to provide. If you only ask for $25, then that’s what you’ll get. Sure – some will get turned off by what seems like a high value amount, but more will donate what they can to help out.

5. Do what you say you will do.
If you provide consistent results, then you will get consistent money. That’s always going to be the bottom line. Failing to fulfill a promise might make some fast cash at first, but there will be no more cash coming in afterward.

Most importantly, always find a way to thank the people who give. In doing so, you’ll encourage future gifts when you have future needs. Establish relationships with people, foster those relationships, and follow these steps. In doing so, you’ll know how to raise money for a nonprofit or a charity consistently and effectively.

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