Various factors can stand in your way and make fundraising difficult. Luckily, you can overcome these problems. By learning common fundraising mistakes and how to avoid them, you’ll have better campaign results.
Insufficient Planning
The goal of fundraising is to raise money or accumulate resources. Not thinking about the “needs” of the campaign can distract you from that goal. Create concrete goals to help volunteers meet expectations. For example, every volunteer is responsible for raising at least 100 dollars. This planning will make expectations clear and not put too much work on one person.
Being Impatient
There’s a level of vulnerability that comes with fundraising. Asking people for money isn’t easy. Some organizations have a “one and done” approach to fundraising, where they write people off if they don’t receive a donation.
Don’t expect immediate results with fundraising, and don’t feel frustrated or defeated if you have a bad day. Eventually, you’ll meet the right donors who will support the cause!
Poor Communication
In the perfect scenario, every donor will give you money after you ask for it. But that’s not how things work. The most important step is to let supporters know how funds will help your organization.
If you’re donating on behalf of a cause, mention how you relate to the charity. People want to know how their money makes a difference! Communicate in various ways, like through emails, text messages, or quick conversations.
Low Promotion Efforts
People can’t donate to a fundraiser without knowing about it. Often, the cause behind low promotion efforts is failing to use various media channels. Making flyers or using word-of-mouth advertising isn’t enough. You need a larger platform. Luckily, social media can boost your fundraising efforts by reaching friends and family much easier. An online post can reach tons of people, and you’ll attract donors. Make sure everyone involved with the campaign shares posts.
Assuming Support From Donors
A big fundraising mistake that you should avoid is assuming that you’ll receive support from certain donors. Specifically, assuming you’ll receive donations from affluent people. Don’t build your goal around one or two large donors because you may fall short. What happens if a donor doesn’t contribute money, or what if you receive low funds? Basically, you’re out of luck. Diversify your donor portfolio during the planning stage. This way, the fundraiser can accumulate money from various resources.
Failing To Thank Supporters
Some donors prefer phone calls, handwritten notes, or personal shoutouts on social media pages. No matter their preference, make sure you thank them. Showing gratitude goes a long way. If you plan another campaign, donors may support you again.
