Is Nonprofit Fundraising Online Best for You? It should be.

The rise in non-profit fundraising online services on the Internet today offers some promising opportunities for nonprofits to do outreach and build their Internet presence. Non-profit fundraising online should be considered an essential component of your nonprofit’s Internet presence. By using the online medium, you are reaching out to new audiences and constituencies, introducing them to your issues and campaigns, and asking them to support you.

Non-profit fundraising online should be closely coordinated with your organization’s strategic plan and your overall fundraising message. It’s not enough to simply put up a “donate now” button and hope for contributions to come in. Online fundraising for non-profit organizations can yield few results if they’re unplanned or not part of an overall fundraising strategy.

When working on nonprofit online fundraising, Internet staff should work closely with the organization’s fundraising and development staff to coordinate efforts. Nonprofit fundraising online is easy for non-profits to raise more money for their cause, rather than doing traditional fundraisers that require more time and investment, and often do not produce high profits.

Non-Profit Fundraising Platforms

The first strategy recommended is that you get your nonprofit fundraising online listed with all the charity portals on the Web today. Charity portals are websites that offer a directory of nonprofits, of which you’d be one of many. Their job is to attract lots of traffic to their site and encourage visitors to make contributions to the nonprofits listed. Often your listing is free, and the portal accepts secure credit card contributions on your behalf. Some charge a fee when you get a contribution, but usually there are no monthly charges. These portals make their money either from advertising on their site or through the fees they charge the nonprofit. Individuals interested in donating to charities often use charity portals to help them with their research, so it’s important that you be listed and that your listing be up-to-date.

Donate Button for Non-Profit Fundraisers

The second strategy that is recommended for nonprofit fundraising online is to have a “donate” button on your own non-profit website. You can either use the donation service of one of the charity portals mentioned above, or you can contract with a vendor to set one up for you. Using a charity portal is by far an easier and cheaper process, but you’ll have less control over the branding of the pages and the various administrative and notification tools that accompany the service. Nonprofit fundraising online companies specifically created for donor relationship management services are typically more costly, but they’ll build a fully customized system that meets your exact needs.

Charity Malls to Raise Money for Non-Profits

Your third strategy for non-profit fundraising online might be to work with a charity mall, which is an online fundraising service that returns a commission to your organization when your members or supporters make online shopping purchases through their network of online stores. Not all nonprofits are comfortable working with charity malls. Some NPOs feel that it’s akin to a form of advertising or corporate sponsorship or that it supports consumerism, which may not mix well with your organization’s mission. Your staff and/or board should debate the issue and develop a policy.