6 Steps to Crush Your Fundraising Goal

As a group leader, one of the highest mountains you’ll need to climb is reaching your fundraising goal. Whether you’re planning for a big Greek Week event or something small for a local nonprofit, running a successful campaign requires organization, dedication and clear definitions of your goal. Combining our fundraising features with these simple tips will help optimize your donations and reach that mountain’s peak.  

1. Take advantage of online convenience

The whole point of fundraising online is to make it as easy as possible to meet your goal, so we’ve cut out a few steps to not only give you a head start, but also rid you of paper work.

Search for a charity using our platform.

When you create a donation campaign through our platform, you have the option to search more than 1.7 million 501(c)(3) charities and raise funds on their behalf. Any individual or group can raise funds to benefit the charity selected through this feature, and the funds will go directly to them – no accounting or transfers required. Donors will automatically receive email receipts, and donations made directly to qualifying 501(c)(3) charities may be tax deductible (check with your accountant).
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1. Hover over Donation Sites on the left navigation sidebar
2. Click Create Donation Site from the submenu
3. Select the Find a Cause module
4. Follow the rest of the prompts to create a donation campaign

Offer electronic payment methods.
Making the most of digital fundraising techniques can help you reach a larger pool of donors, not just the ones who are willing to pay by check or cash. Offering electronic payment methods gives members the option to donate by their preferred payment method, use their phone, and sign up for automatic, recurring donations.
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Optimize your page for viewing on any device.
Online fundraising also allows you to share information quickly to a large audience, so make sure your fundraising page is design responsive for optimal viewing on any device. (If you’re using memberplanet, we’ve got you covered).

2. Use visuals to appeal to your audience

Incorporating visual elements, such as video and photos, is an effective way to create a voice. It’s important to not just think about your plan for obtaining your goal, but to also focus on why it’s important.  Conveying the “why” to potential donors deepens their connection with the cause and appeals to their emotions, which translates into more money for your organization.

To add photos and video to your Donation Site, select a template to edit, or select the existing campaign you want to edit.
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Click the photo icon to upload photos, or copy and paste a video URL in the Add Videos field.

3. Reach out to your inner circle

In the early days of your campaign, reach out to your 10 closest contacts for donations. Then you can blast your campaign out via newsletter, social media, or megaphone – kidding, of course. People are more likely to donate to your page if they see that others have already donated.  

4. Adopt a social media strategy

We see social media as part of a larger multi-channel communication strategy, which is to communicate with members using the channels (email, phone, social media, etc.) they prefer. One third of online donations come from peer-to-peer fundraising, making it a vital market to access. In 2018, 69% of the public uses at least one social media platform. If you’re still not using social media to fundraise, you’re missing out on a great tool for spreading the word about your campaign in a fast, cost-effective way. Figure out which social media platforms your target demographics are using, and start by engaging them on those platforms.
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memberplanet users: As soon as you publish your donation campaign, you can share your site to social media directly from the platform, mobile app, or the page itself. 

Use our built-in URL shortener if you’re on a character limit, or customize the full URL.
To customize the URL or get the short URL, click on the campaign you want to manage.
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• Select the Copy or Customize the Campaign Page URL feature
• Click Customize or Copy to Clipboard for the URL you desire

5. Monitor your success
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​Set weekly and monthly goals to monitor your success. A goal meter (already included on your donation site) is a great way to visually represent donations and can help motivate others to donate. By setting timely goals, you can create a call to action for your supporters to stay on target and overcome smaller hurdles. 

6. Follow up

Set up an automated thank-you email to your donors to go out immediately after receiving funds. In it, you can encourage them to spread the word about your campaign. Go the extra mile and share the impact of your campaign with donors, staff, and volunteers. Leave them feeling a genuine sense of gratitude from you. This encourages them to participate in upcoming events and fundraisers from your organization. You can easily send an email to all your members and participants, but it’s better to tailor messages to target specific recipients, such as generous donors and key players of your team. 

​Our platform features were created to help you build a great campaign and maximize donations. Now that you know some excellent ways to reach your fundraising goal, you can focus on getting to the top of that mountain. 

Start Fundraising

About Rachael Beck

Rachael is our go-to gal for all things Greek life. As a national account manager, she helps leaders reach their fundraising goals. Her favorite part of the job is expanding organizations’ online reach as well as the connections she makes along the way. On weekends, she loves a Malibu getaway or hitting the gym.

Updated and Refreshed since original publication on 3/8/18