How to modernise old-school fundraising with digital techniques

The wider world is forever changing and shifting but charities are constant. As constant as the fact that charities will always need money.

Traditional methods of fundraising such as calendars and cards, sponsorship funds, bake sales, sports challenges and coffee mornings are warmly associated with charities. We believe that these fondly-remembered activities still have a place in the digital age. After all, we still love a bake sale!

Here’s are some tips to help you modernise old-school fundraising with digital techniques.

Step into the future

As tech rapidly develops, the possibilities are endless. Digital fundraising is increasingly based on mobile tech as smartphones become the primary device for most people. This provides charity supporters with the opportunity to donate anytime, anywhere.

Crowdfunding helps charities collect lots of small amounts from lots of people instead of targeting a few big donations. It works offline too but really flourishes online. There are plenty of crowdfunding sites and helpful tips too. Online donation websites such as JustGiving allow charities to easily set up a page for donations and fundraising events. They help you to encourage individual supporters or volunteers to fundraise on your behalf.

Donation buttons have been around for a while but are still immensely useful. Review how easily and quickly donation buttons let supporters give funds with the right message. Facebook offers a ‘donate now’ button that takes users to your fundraising site.

Although viral campaigns live in the ether, they can be massively valuable. Campaigns such as the #nomakeupselfie for Cancer Research or the #icebucketchallenge used Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat to spread their message globally. A carefully planned and simple but universal message whether sad, funny, quirky or more, that can be easily shared and even endorsed by a celebrity, will help your viral campaign soar.

Giving by text enables the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) to raise millions. Quick and easy, supporters just type a very short number and message. Consider how text giving can work for your charity.

Tips to tailor your digital fundraising

• Plan, plan, plan! Think about key goals and ways to further promote your appeal.
• Make it simple, swift and smooth for donors to give.
• Ensure your website is mobile-enabled and user-friendly.
• Tell people what their donation does: supplies for a foodbank, medicine for vulnerable people.
• Go visual and direct with a donation tracker.
• Get social: encourage supporters to share your campaign on Facebook, Instagram and more with short messages, videos, a hashtag or stories of beneficiaries.
• Thank all of your supporters. Giving thanks is a small but powerful gesture.