Fundraising Resolutions for 2022
As this New Year gets underway, it’s the perfect time to re-evaluate your organisation’s fundraising strategy and goals for the upcoming year. To help you along the way, we’re sharing 7 Fundraising Resolutions that your organisation can make to help you to have a successful and impactful 2022.
Get Your Board on Board
Your Board members are your best connectors, ambassadors and advocates for your organisation. Take some time at the start of the year to make a plan about how they can support your fundraising ambitions. Set some time at your first 2022 Board meeting to ensure Fundraising is on the agenda, and make sure it stays on the agenda for every Board meeting this year!
Embrace Virtual Events and a Hybrid Model
As we continue to operate in an adapted world, where possible, move events to an online platform instead of calling them off. Congregating, even online, is better than cancelling and a great way to build and sustain relationships. And Hybrid events (which take place both online and in-person) offer a creative, flexible, accessible way to increase your donor reach even further.
Focus on Your Friends Rather Than Their Funds
Good donor communication and stewardship is vital to long-term fundraising success. Rather than starting the New Year with an ASK, first share recent success stories, demonstrate your impact and most importantly THANK your supporters for making everything you do possible.
Prioritise the Social Media Platforms That Best Suit Your Needs
Remember, you cannot be all things to all people, and with limited resources, you might struggle to actively engage on the multitude of social platforms out there. Analyse your audiences (review your data!), choose the channels where your audiences/donors are engaging with you most actively and focus on that.
Make the Most of Email Marketing
Email, though often forgotten in a sea of shiny new communications platforms, is still an incredibly effective way to build a committed audience/supporter-base, nurture donor relationships, and reach your fundraising goals. In fact, organisations are six times more likely to get a click-through from an email than they are from Twitter. And 59% of marketers claim that email is their greatest return on investment (ROI), according to email marketing platform Emma.
Check out this article from our friends at Digital Charity Lab for email best practice for non-profits & charities.
When the Time Is Right, Do Make the Ask
Even if your plans have been scuppered for a fundraising or an in-person event where you planned to engage with a prospect, don’t be discouraged. Why not ask to meet for a virtual coffee or an outdoor catch-up instead and proceed as planned!
Ask Not What Your Donors Can Do for You, but What You Can Do for Your Donors
Real and lasting relationships should be mutually beneficial – it’s a two-way thing! Think about ways that you can provide support to your donors and corporate partners and ask them how you can help them achieve their goals. There are lots of ways you can communicate with your donors and build a lasting relationship:
Survey donors/stakeholders or organise one-to-one review meetings.
Take the time this January to make a phone call and check in with your supporters.
Host townhall virtual events and let them have their say.
There you have it! 7 simple, practical and effective resolutions your organisation can make to help you succeed in 2022!
At OKC, we’re here to help you turn your fundraising resolutions into real results and tangible impact. We work with not-for-profits to initiate and grow strategic fundraising portfolios and multi-channel donor engagement programmes, and will give you the tools, guidance and support you need to succeed. If you want to have an initial chat, get in touch today.