Quick and easy digital fundraising tips

1.) Ask your supporters to share on social media

One of the quickest and easiest ways to increase digital fundraising is to ask your supporters for help. Getting the message out can start by updating social media outlets, and asking supporters to post, tag, and share their digital fundraising experience. JustGiving, the crowd funder recommends including photos and having a digital fundraising target. Photos can increase funding by 14%, and targeted campaigns typically raise 46% more.

Charity digital leaders should also make sure that hashtags, links, and shareable content link back to the charity website, fundraising page, or event.

2.) Link to other events and trends

Unsurprisingly, the quickest and easiest way to engage supporters is through larger social media movements. Giving Tuesday, this year on the 1^st of December is a global, charity event aimed at volunteerism and fundraising. Charities can sign up to the larger cause and participate in digital fundraising without having to create a specific event. Last year, over £14.2 million was donated to good causes, showing just how powerful the movement is.

3.) Communicate efficiently with social media management platforms

Professionalise your marketing and communication campaigns. Social media management platforms can help charity digital marketing and communications teams streamline emails, posts, and schedule content – social media outlets can be managed with limited staff resourcing. Sprout Social, one of the most well-known platforms has pricing from US$99 and can take care of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn content. For charities on a shoestring budget, 30-month trials are available. Other household names include Hootsuite, Buffer, TweetDeck, and Zoho.

4.) Start a grassroots movement with supporter toolkits

Grassroots movements connect local communities with causes. Charity digital leaders can empower supporters to hold their own events to fundraise. Importantly, charity digital leaders should focus on providing guidance. Online, downloadable toolkits work well. National Literacy Trust’s toolkit includes the basics – branded bunting, tips for fundraising, and sponsorship forms. The Gold and Stone Foundation, organisers of leavers Christmas Dinners provides a curated digital toolkit, especially for dinner hosts.

5.) Create content with like-minded influencers, bloggers and celebrities

Charity digital leaders can reach out to online celebrities and influencers to help fundraise. Relatively unknown in the UK, Vlogger Connor Franta has over 5 million YouTube subscribers. Tapping into his fundraising power for the Thirst Project, he raised over $75,000 in just two days. For a comprehensive list of top charity influencers, Onalytical has compiled a list of the top 100 charity influencers, helping to map out the entire sector.

6.) Be just a text message away from donating

Text giving can maximise charity digital reach by being readily available to supporters. Donr has worked with The Katie Piper Foundation on the Asics 10km 2019 running digital fundraiser. Launching a day before the event, text message donations were made available to supporters. The donation service was posted on Instagram and Twitter to maximise reach. InstaGiv operates a similar platform and has worked with Amnesty International, MacMillan Cancer Support and many others.

7.) Leverage social media fundraising tools

Regularly updating your charity digital social media strategy with ways to donate can increase fundraising. Donate buttons can be added to social media platforms, allowing charities to accept payments directly. Facebook and Instagram fundraising efforts can be connected through Charitable Giving Tools – fundraising efforts can be done on both platforms at the same time. Instagram Stickers and donation tools can easily be added to content.

Adding donate buttons to websites can maximise giving opportunities. For non-profits, DonorBox adds buttons to Twitch, online websites, and email – creating the white label payment box once means that it can be used over and over again.

8.) Use contactless

For most supporters and donors, cash is rarely to hand – in a decade, fewer than 10% of transactions will be completed in cash. Charity digital leaders can easily future-proof donations by enabling contactless payments, accepting debit and credit cards. GoodBox offers tap and go donation boxes – TAP London’s donation boxes have been installed in high traffic pedestrian areas, allowing supporters to simply tap their phones to donate. Over £145,000 has been raised for the homeless in London. Other contactless devices can also provide charities with quick wins – Donate, a contactless payment provider has helped local barbershop Barber Streisand fundraise for the Mayor’s Fund for London. In just five days, the shop raised £4,302.41. Donate offers both static and mobile contactless payment devices.