One of the most common challenges faced by UK charities is the proper and efficient handling of the volumes of supporter data they’ve collected, especially since the introduction of the EU General Data Protection Regulation. With the possibility of a revision to the Electronic Communications Directive, it will become even more crucial to not only understand consent in all its forms but have a system in place to manage the individual contact and privacy preferences of donors.
One of the best things about running a charity is that when it comes time to think of a new way to get donations, the only limit is the imagination. There are many different ways to raise funds for your cause through community fundraising, whether it be car boot sales, outreach to churches or group events. But the common thread running through them all is empowerment.
Charities are run differently, depending on the continent you’re on. And it’s these differences which can help us to learn more about what inspires giving, as well as teach us how to measure those crucial factors which ultimately attract more donations.
A successful capital campaign can offer many benefits, both to a charity and to those it helps. The goal of the capital campaign is to generate as much money as possible in as short a time and from the fewest resources as possible. The object of the funds is usually a major asset, such as a new building, outreach project or charitable service.
Before you start targeting donors, you need to have a concrete fundraising strategy to keep you focused on your call to action and monetary goals. If you’ve never put a fundraising strategy together before, then it can seem a bit of a daunting task. Here’s a handy little guide to break down the task and get you thinking about what you want to include in your fundraising strategy:
Income from Trusts is often seen as the holy grail of fundraising. Indeed, for many charities trust fundraising forms the backbone of all their income, eclipsing the amounts raised through community fundraising, individual giving, corporate grants and legacies. No wonder then that many charities are keen to boost their trust fundraising income. But how can this be done, in an increasingly competitive marketplace where many established Trusts are seeing their own income squeezed?
The support of a philanthropic billionaire can completely transform the work of an organisation. If a billionaire makes your charity their pet cause, then you can expect an immediately raised public profile, critical injections of funds and committed support for your projects, not to mention the strong possibility of a generous legacy.
Major Donors, or ‘high value’ donors are so important to many charities that they deserve a fundraising strategy all of their own, often with a member of staff devoted exclusively to ‘Major Donor Fundraising’. A charity CRM offers you a fantastic means of managing your relationship with your major donors, monitoring your contacts and promoting greater engagement with your cause.
As fundraisers, we spend a lot of time thinking about reasons why a supporter would donate to our cause. Hundreds of hours of love, care and attention are poured into passionately expressing your charities vision, creating powerful adverts and compelling campaign appeals. Focusing on the core messages of your charity and how they relate to your target donors is the best way of securing new support. However, in order to secure that crucial second donation, or to convert ad hoc supporters into regular donors, we need to understand the reasons why donors stop giving.
At the beginning of 2016 there were 3.3 million registered limited companies in the UK. A good proportion of these companies, from the large national brand names to local micro-businesses, have charitable interests and budget to spend on fundraising partnerships – but currently only 2% of the charity sector’s fundraising income comes from businesses. Clearly there is room for growth, and a report from Good Values in 2015 indicated that 95% of fundraisers are optimistic about the potential from the corporate market. However, competition is fierce, relationships take time to nurture and securing a partnership can be hard work.