This is probably one of the most popular questions that get asked all the time by nonprofit startups. “Where do we find new donors? How can we get donors to fund us regularly?”
Many organizations are struggling to find monthly donors that give contributions on a regular basis. To help you connect with individuals and companies that will keep you fully funded, check out these quick tips:
Find donors who believe in your mission
Here’s a fact: 69% of the US population donates to charity. Among this, 88% under the Greatest Gen age group are avid charity donors. 84% of millennials constantly donate to charities, while 72% of baby boomers are also charity donors.
This proves that people do care about nonprofit organizations. They are willing to spend a portion of their money every month to fund a cause. But to get them to donate to your organization, you need to find people who believe in your mission.
Donors aren’t walking checkbooks that you’re just going to ask for money right out. They are people with emotions and compassion who want to see more of what you do. So the first step in finding donors is to look for like-minded individuals and institutions that share the same passion for your cause.
Connect with your donors
Finding people who have the capacity to donate is easy—they are virtually everywhere! What you need to focus on is connecting with your donors through your mutual concern to solve the gap in your community.
Start a conversation with your donor and try to see what they know about your cause. What do they know about the importance of your work? What do they know about what’s at stake if your organization stops helping the community?
You don’t approach potential donors and connect with them through money. People don’t connect with money, they connect with what’s important to them. Remember that giving is an emotional experience, not a logical decision.
Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need
Once you are able to connect with people who share the same concern as you, they will ask you what you need. And when they do, don’t be afraid to convey what your organization needs.
Most nonprofits will tell their donors, “We need money for this project,” “Can you give us a gift?” or “Will you donate $25?” as opposed to saying “This is what our organization needs to support our cause successfully.”
Do not look for donors with the mindset that you’re asking for money. Look for donors who share the same concern as you. Connect with them through your shared passion for your cause, and they themselves will ask you what they can do to help to make your organization be successful.
People give to people
So you’ve successfully established a connection with your donor. You share the same concern and they expressed the capacity to fund your organization. How do you convince them to keep giving to you? What would make a person give a part of their income every month for your organization?
The key to fundraising success is to understand that people give to people. Many nonprofits aren’t building relationships with their donors—they are simply asking for a check. So to get them to support you throughout your entire mission, you need to build a relationship with them.
You need to show them that your work in the community is important. And when donors believe that your mission matters, the giving part will come easy all the time.
Find a mentor
Running a nonprofit is not an easy feat. Even if you’ve got the passion and the purpose, you need a solid plan in order to run a successful organization. Need help finding donors, writing grant proposals, training your board, or anything about running a nonprofit? Get in touch with the nonprofit expert today.
