Event Fundraising Using Social Media Part III

In this final installment of this series which focuses on utilizing social media networks to create successful fundraisers, I thought I’d include practical tips that are easily incorporated into your planning strategies. Every nonprofit that I know of seems to have more tasks to address than time, finances, and manpower can complete. Fortunately, social media and web usage can eliminate these obstacles.

Facebook is great because it connects friends of like interests. Are you coordinating a food and wine tasting event, a garden tour, or another fundraiser that is based on a specific theme? Post it on Facebook and have your donors “Like” it. This one small click of the mouse will then share your link your donor’s social network(s), therefore advertising it to many who may have a similar interest. The most important aspect of social media platforms is to get people talking and sharing how great your organization is and that your fundraiser is not to be missed. An invitation can get lost in a pile of junk mail, but encouragement from a friend can bring great results.

Many people neglect to give to organizations because they don’t know what the specific needs are. Create a tab on your website or list on your fundraising page citing different ways that supporters can contribute to your cause. You may need volunteers to usher at a concert, business owners could donate a gift basket for a raffle, or possibly a printer would be willing to donate product to your event in exchange for advertising.
Take advantage of free advertising on social media! Do you have a Facebook timeline yet? Before someone gives to your cause or takes the time to attend an event, they’ll probably check out your nonprofit online.

There are hundreds of great charities vying for everyone’s time and money, why should people take the time to care about your nonprofit? A Facebook timeline is a great way to map out what accomplishments you have, what projects you are working on, what past events look like, and it can list comments of what your donors think of your organization. The cover photo is an amazing opportunity to showcase a photo to inspire, intrigue, and impress.

Events are a fun way to meet and greet donors while laying the foundation for a strong partnership. Online resources can get them there and help you organize a fantastic event. May you have future success in your event fundraising activities!

Event Fundraising Using Social Media Part III

In this final installment of this series which focuses on utilizing social media networks to create successful fundraisers, I thought I’d include practical tips that are easily incorporated into your planning strategies. Every nonprofit that I know of seems to have more tasks to address than time, finances, and manpower can complete. Fortunately, social media and web usage can eliminate these obstacles.

Facebook is great because it connects friends of like interests. Are you coordinating a food and wine tasting event, a garden tour, or another fundraiser that is based on a specific theme? Post it on Facebook and have your donors “Like” it. This one small click of the mouse will then share your link your donor’s social network(s), therefore advertising it to many who may have a similar interest. The most important aspect of social media platforms is to get people talking and sharing how great your organization is and that your fundraiser is not to be missed. An invitation can get lost in a pile of junk mail, but encouragement from a friend can bring great results.

Many people neglect to give to organizations because they don’t know what the specific needs are. Create a tab on your website or list on your fundraising page citing different ways that supporters can contribute to your cause. You may need volunteers to usher at a concert, business owners could donate a gift basket for a raffle, or possibly a printer would be willing to donate product to your event in exchange for advertising.
Take advantage of free advertising on social media! Do you have a Facebook timeline yet? Before someone gives to your cause or takes the time to attend an event, they’ll probably check out your nonprofit online.

There are hundreds of great charities vying for everyone’s time and money, why should people take the time to care about your nonprofit? A Facebook timeline is a great way to map out what accomplishments you have, what projects you are working on, what past events look like, and it can list comments of what your donors think of your organization. The cover photo is an amazing opportunity to showcase a photo to inspire, intrigue, and impress.

Events are a fun way to meet and greet donors while laying the foundation for a strong partnership. Online resources can get them there and help you organize a fantastic event. May you have future success in your event fundraising activities!

Event Fundraising Using Social Media Part I

It’s all over the news that President Obama held a huge fundraising gala at George Clooney’s house and raised over $14 million dollars. While this is the most any president has raised in one night, I hardly expect the average nonprofit to charge $40,000 per ticket and reap the same results. However, fundraising events are a major part of many charities’ strategy to earn dollars and this week we will focus on making the most of your efforts to host a successful event.

As a former special events coordinator for several nonprofits, I’ve been able to be a part of many different types of fundraisers including dinners at elite country clubs, crab feeds, golf tournaments, corporate receptions, and intimate concerts.

Although I’ve shared some tips in past blogs, I thought I’d expand on some of them for this week’s theme.

1)      Host a mix of high and low-end events – Of course we’d all like to host a celebrity endorsed and attended event where you put all of your energy into one evening of grandeur with stellar results, but the chances of that happening can be compared to winning the Mega Millions lottery. In all likelihood, your donor list is probably made up of a variety of givers from those who give 20 dollars a month to high-end bequest and planned giving supporters. With this in mind, one organization I worked for had an elegant banquet once a year for top donors and a Fourth of July picnic for volunteers and lower end donors. Yes, we need to court those with heavy pocket books, but the amount from lesser givers certainly adds up, too.

2)      Give incentive to attend – When we were in the planning stages of one of these higher end banquets, we were researching different speakers who were well-known and had a passion for our cause. Of course many cost a pretty penny and so the question came up whether the draw to our event was the entertainment or the compassion to support our mission. The answer was both. Some guests need a hook to entice them to come (especially the newer supporters) and longtime donors feel a dedication to the organization and will likely attend regardless of the speaker. I’m sure many guests would have donated money to the candidate anyway, but most attended the Obama affair to check out Clooney’s home and the other famous guests in attendance.

3)      Get the word out – Just as in high school, many people will only attend an event if they know what to expect and who will be attending. For non-formal events, advertise and promote on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks your organization participates in. Direct people to your website and show pictures of past years’ events. Post updates on prizes, auction items, menu selections, or entertainment that will be featured. Also, if someone is unable to attend, give the option of a donation button so that they can still contribute to your cause online.

Online fundraising is a great way to get donors to give, but event fundraising is also a must for many organizations to create a stronger bond of partnership and dedication between the supporter and charity. More tips to come this week to help you create a profitable event to benefit your organization.

Fundly Proud to Be a Part of SXSW Conference This Week

Next week is the interactive portion of the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW) and we are excited that our CEO, Dave Boyce, is going to be a panelist on Monday in the workshop “The Future of Money.” This action-packed event was designed with the purpose of creating, “an event that would act as a tool for creative people and the companies they work with to develop their careers, to bring together people from a wide area to meet and share ideas. That continues to be the goal today whether it is music, film or the internet.”

 From March 9 – 18 at the Austin Conference Center, thousands will gather to experience the latest in cutting edge music, film, technology and global networking. The first week will focus on technology by organizing “compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders and an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer.” With Fundly being the largest online fundraising company in the world, we are honored and thrilled to be invited to participate in such a groundbreaking event.

The SXSW is also well-known for its impact on the entertainment industry. With music and film moguls from around the world, these two weeks are also directed at sharing industry insider information and networking with other creative types to further the careers and successes of musicians and film makers. In this spirit, performances from Lionel Richie and Jay-Z are scheduled to entertain and inspire those in attendance.

For those who are unable to attend this great conference, they are offering web streaming on sxsw.com/interactive/live Friday, March 9 through Tuesday, March 13. With presentations entitled “Conquering the Digital Overload,” Driving Global Technology and Innovation,” and “Hack Your Brain for Peak Performance,” there’s bound to be a workshop that would interest you. Please visit their website for more information: sxsw.com.

Social media is a part of our world and nonprofits can truly benefit from watching other industries utilize these incredible resources. From watching web videos to online fundraising, technology is truly woven into the fabric of our culture.

White House and Teach For America Support Latino Teens To Make a Difference

Fundly is so very proud to join the White House in recognizing the efforts of Teach For America and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation’s (HHF) Latinos On Fast Track (LOFT) Institute to train 50 Latino teens to make an impact on their communities:

Each of these students submitted an Action Plan for their community. The goal is for each student to positively impact 300 individuals more for a total impact of 15,000. Through different technologies including mobile phones, the students will document their projects throughout the year and will receive ongoing support and guidance from established leaders on LOFTnetwork.org, an online community.

LOFT is supporting Latino teens by providing:

• LOFT Network; an online community made up of 75,000 vetted Latino students (age 18-28) to exchange ideas and get support to improveg local communities
• LOFT Institute; providing leadership training, industry-specific workshops and orientations with experts, connectivity to other members and established leaders, educational grants, networking and content
• LOFT Workforce; providing mentorships, fellowships, internships, and full-time positions with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies

Now the White House has taken note of the wonderful work of LOFT and these teens!

Throughout America, ordinary people are doing extra ordinary things in their communities to out-innovate, out-educate and out-build the rest of the world. Every week the White House invites some of these Champions of Change to meet and share their ideas with the White House to win the future. Eleven of the 50 LOFT Fellows have been selected as Champions of Change and will be meeting with White House officials and featured on http://www.whitehouse.gov/champions.

See the press release from Teach For America and LOFT here.

Please join the White House and support these Latino teens by giving generously to LOFT at http://fundly.com/loftactionableleadership.

With your support, LOFT will continue to run these wonderful programs!

Congratulations to the LOFT Fellows and keep up the good work!

Tell a friend to support autism with Michelle Williams and TERI

On Thursday (July 28) I traveled down to San Diego to help TERI launch their Power of Ten campaign to benefit Autism. TERI, Inc. is a San Diego-based private, non-profit center of excellence and social change for persons with autism and other developmental disabilities and their families.

It launched its largest fundraiser to date on Wednesday July 27 with Grammy award-winning songstress and Broadway performer, Michelle Williams.  Hosted by Fundly, TERI’s Power of Ten campaign asks every individual from every walk of life to simply donate $10 and ‘tell a friend.’

The vibe at the TERI event was fantastic–Michelle Williams delivered two tons of personality, and all the supporters were excited about the facilities and services TERI is providing for youth and adults with developmental disorders.  The first phase–the equestrian center–is as beautiful as any “barn” I’ve ever seen.  Fundly is proud to be partnering with Michelle Williams and TERI to help with fundraising in order to enrich the lives of this wonderful group of people.

To join the Power of Ten, visit the Fundly page.

Watch Michelle Williams talking about the cause on CBS:

http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/07/28/teri-helps-raise-funds-those-with-autism-in-new-campaign/.

Rock On!

Dave Boyce, CEO Fundly

6 Keys to Online Fundraising

Intimidated by online fundraising? It may be new to you, but if you follow these 6 steps you’ll be well on your way to an effective social fundraising   campaign.

1) Make it visible – Let everyone know that you’re actively fundraising. Email your contact list, announce it on Facebook and Twitter, and put a banner on the home page of your website. If you send direct mail, make sure to let people know that they can donate online as well. You would be surprised at how many people respond to direct mail with an online action.

2) Make it easy – “Big” and “obvious” are the key thoughts you should be channeling. Put a large Donate! button near the top of every page of your website. When a user clicks on that button, don’t make them log in or create an account. They should be able to start and complete their donation in 1 or 2 pages. Allow them to select from “suggested donation amounts” or enter their own amount if they wish.

3) Make it compelling – The story you tell on your donation page is the just as crucial as the home page of your website. Try different variations of your story to see which elicits the best response. Be sure to directly ask the reader for a donation. Use powerful images wherever possible.

4) Make it social – After their donation, the donor should be encouraged to share the news of their donation on Facebook and Twitter. When their friends see that they have supported your cause, they are much more likely to donate as well. Here at Fundly we like to call that effect the “Social Multiplier”.

5) Make it appreciated – Show gratitude for the donation through a timely email or letter. Help the donor understand how their money will be used and what effect it will have in the world. Give them the opportunity to get further involved with your cause. Every once in a while, write a handwritten letter to remember how it feels to express thanks.

6) Make it regular – Give donors the option of making recurring donations. Reach out to them again the next time you run a fundraising campaign. Send them periodic emails updating them on the progress your organization has been making.

Viral Storytelling for Online Fundraising

Here’s the recording of the webinar we recently hosted, Viral Storytelling for Online Fundraising  . After watching, please check out how Fundly can help you effectively tell your story to drive donations  .

Free Webinar: Learn about viral storytelling for social fundraising (for nonprofits)

It’s time for you to take storytelling to a new level. Come learn the elements of an effective story, components of virality, and Storytelling 2.0. Register now!

In this exclusive webinar Derek Christensen, Fundly’s Curiosity Engineer, will deconstruct viral stories and teach you all you need to know to sculpt a powerful and evocative story. You don’t want to miss out. Reserve your spot now!

When: Tuesday, April 19 at 12 PM PST

Sign up for the Viral Storytelling for Social Fundraising Webinar at:

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/494168630

This complimentary webinar will cover:

-8 steps to an interesting plot

-Virality 101

-Storytelling in an online world

-Taking stories to the bank with social fundraising

Hope to see you there,

-Dave Boyce, CEO Fundly

Please post this link to webinar invitation to Twitter and Facebook:

Viral Storytelling for Social Fundraising http://bit.ly/fO9zrL