Getting wealthy donors is not rocket science. Yes, just like gold mines, rich donors are difficult to find. It is a common perception that once you have got a few high-end donors, your constant worry of raising funds will vanish. But many people don’t know that most philanthropic money, around 90% comes from those people whom many nonprofits underestimate. So forget about attracting giant fish, you can accomplish your mission with the help of small donations too, and get your nonprofit listed in the successful nonprofit organization’s list.
Fundraising is a simple process where you ask people to help your cause. But the problem may arise when they ask you some difficult questions like, “why should I give you my hard-earned cash?” or “how are you different than other charities?” Around 35 percent of people in America are suspicious of charities. This is the reason most nonprofits get scared when the word “fundraising” comes to their mind.
Here are some tips which you can use to get support for your non-profit organization.
Identify prospects
Collect as much data on potential donors as possible. You will be happy to know that seventy percent of charity donation comes from middle or lower middle-class households in the USA. These people are very accessible. You don’t need to take appointments or chase them for weeks or even months, unlike wealthy people to schedule a meeting.
Educate Them – You’ll End up with Money
If you want advice, ask for money. If you want money, ask for advice.
When you meet a potential donor, describe to them your mission, how you are bringing change and what you have done so far.
You would not like to make your donor bore with your monologue. Of course, you need to feel understood. But to reach there, let yourself be enthusiastic enough so that they can have fun talking to you.
If they are showing interest in you then invite them for a visit of your nonprofit. When they will see your charity and its work, they are more likely to support your cause. You can also ask them suggestions and ideas which can be helpful for the cause. As they say, “If you want advice, ask for money. If you want money, ask for advice.”
Listen More
When you are talking to potential donors, come up with a list of questions. Listen to their answers and understand them. At the end of the questionnaire, you will have enough idea of the person’s mindset. Accordingly, you can ask for support or a specific amount of money.
The point here is that you need to read the donor’s mind to not end up in an awkward situation by asking something which might make your donor uncomfortable.
Thank Your Donor
Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much
Just a mere “Thank You” is not sufficient. If your donors have decided to support you monetarily or in some other way then it is important to recognize them.
Call them and convey your gratitude. You can also send flowers or sweets boxes to the donor’s house along with a personalized note. Humans love recognition. It is a weakness of humans; they want to be felt important and valuable. You can use this weapon to retain your donors for a long time.
You can also organize annual donor recognition events. Organizing such events will build up a community as your donors will be able to make friends with other donors. A community can bring change at a much high level than what you and your team could alone.
“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much” Helen Keller, Author and political activist
