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The days of cash being king are over. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last couple decades and somehow remained oblivious during the COVID-19 pandemic, you’ve noticed a societal shift toward electronic or contactless payments. What does this mean for you and your organization? Ignoring this trend can seriously hurt the future growth of your organization, whether you’re managing a local nonprofit, chapter of a multi-level association, golf club, or any other group. Credit card processing fees may seem like a deterrent, especially if your group consists of volunteers, but the benefits are enough to outweigh whatever costs you incur – and we have proof. Check out these five payoffs of accepting electronic payments.
1. Appeal to a wider audience
Studies say that on average, Americans have four credit cards each, and the majority of consumers pay with debit or credit cards instead of cash. This means that accepting credit card payments increases your ability to attract potential members or donors who find electronic payments more convenient. You can connect with a larger audience to recruit and build your organization, reach more donors for your campaigns, and increase sales for your merchandise or services.
2. Increase revenue
Appealing to a wider audience translates into higher revenue. Research shows that people are willing to spend more on their credit cards than when making cash purchases. This has obvious benefits for fundraising campaigns, as it can lead to bigger donations from individuals. The New York Times cites several studies that demonstrate the increase in spending with credit versus cash of at least 5-10%. Another often-cited study states people spend 12-18% more when paying with a credit card.
3. Direct deposit increases cash flow
If you’re paying out of pocket to reserve a venue for your organization’s event because members couldn’t pay in advance, that’s a cash flow issue. Accepting electronic payments increases cash flow by limiting the time it takes for money to appear in your account. Instead of waiting for members or donors to mail a check, then depositing the check, and then waiting for it to clear, funds can be deposited directly into your account and processed quickly. This also removes the burden of holding onto large cash sums until you can make a deposit.
4. Build credibility with credit cards
5. Simplify recurring payments and donations
Organization members and donors can set up recurring membership payments and donations. memberplanet makes this easy by allowing you to accept electronic payments that will be processed and deposited directly into your designated account. Simplifying the payment process makes it easier to collect membership dues and retain current members, and is beneficial for collecting donations during fundraising season.
Accepting electronic payments simplifies the exchange of money for you and anyone you collect payments from. This is beneficial and convenient for collecting membership fees, receiving donations, and selling event tickets or any other product or service your offer. With an evident shift from cash to credit, it is essential to offer a variety of payment methods in order to retain members, grow your organization, and maximize potential revenue for your organization.
Updated since original publication on 05/20/17.
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Traditional fundraising methods still have their place. However, due to COVID-19, the world has shifted toward an increasingly digital landscape, and it may be time to re-evaluate your old techniques. Online fundraising offers a multitude of benefits and can help you surpass your fundraising goals when you use the right platform. Don’t be put off by the fees — here are five reasons why you should fundraise online.
A bigger payoff
You might be concerned about the fees associated with online fundraising and whether they will cut into your net goal. It is important to do the research and see how various sites structure their cost.
Convenience
Electronic payment methods make raising money faster and easier than ever, because, let’s face it – not everyone carries lots of cash or a checkbook these days. With memberplanet’s mobile app, users can donate directly from their phone at any time and easily opt in for an automatic, recurring donation. By offering the option to collect all payment types both onsite and online, you can access a larger network of donors. This will allow you to raise more money for your cause.
Security and credibility
Go viral
One of the main benefits of launching an online fundraising campaign is its potential to go viral. This takes you out of the typical sphere of donors and opens you up to supporters you wouldn’t reach with traditional methods. This can help you reach your monetary goals faster and even surpass them. Look for sites that offer a direct link for social sharing from your donation page to maximize exposure. Note to memberplanet users: Make use of our built-in URL shortener or share on social media directly from our platform to save time and (when you need it) character space. Online campaigns give you the freedom to create a donation page that reflects your cause. Customizable templates and forms let you streamline the look of your fundraising page. You can add photos, videos and other interactive features to increase interest and support, which translates into larger dollar amounts.
Crowdfunding is mainstream
Crowdfunding has gained momentum over the past decade and is only becoming more popular. It offers easy payment methods for donors, makes tracking donations easier for admins and is easily shareable across social media. It’s an effective and efficient way of framing a fundraising campaign. memberplanet users: It’s never been easier to set up a donation page. Customizable templates and forms let you streamline the look of your fundraising page or marketing campaign. You can add a live donor ticker to monitor the campaign’s progress, as well as photos, videos and other interactive features to increase interest and support, which translates into larger dollar amounts. 
Paying a small fee shouldn’t be a deterrent when weighed against the many benefits of the platform. Streamlined payment methods, global reach, and customizable templates are just some of memberplanet's features that will help you orchestrate a better campaign and grow donations.
Updated since original publication on 5/15/2017.
As an organization 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. Using a template (we've got a free library templates!) will cut out a few steps to give you a head start, so you can get your fundraiser launched fast.
Another major convenience is tracking - without the actual paperwork. Transaction-level data is available in the Reports module, and if you're an HQ staff member who's overseeing multiple local chapters or child groups, you can view aggregate reports. Donors will automatically receive email receipts, which can also be customized to include info about your 501(c)(3) organization for tax reporting purposes (check with your accountant first). Let's get started! First, make sure you're logged into memberplanet and you're viewing your group portal, which displays your admin tools. 1. Click Donation Sites on the left navigation sidebar 2. Select Create Donation Site from the submenu 
3. Select a template for your campaign
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. 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 designed 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. 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
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, text message, social media, etc.) they prefer. Today,72% of the public uses at least one social media platform. And a 2019 nonprofit report stated that $2 billion had been donated through Facebook. 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.
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.
If you are leveraging peer-to-peer fundraising (and you absolutely should!), you can enable a pie chart on your site, which will display how each of your fundraisers/supporters are contributing to the campaign. Friendly competition by way of seeing how others are stacking up also drives donations!
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. (Learn more about how to add a thank-you message.)
Our fundraising 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.
Updated since original publication on 3/8/18.
Launching your online fundraising campaign is quick and easy when you’re working off a template – and we’ve got new ones for you and your organization! Whether you’re leading a local nonprofit, chapter, or national association, we’ve got you covered. Check out templates and fundraising ideas for multiple causes, including Earth Day, food and grocery donations, and school/PTA campaigns.
Looking for survey and payment form templates? Yes, memberplanet has those too! 
Donation campaigns:
Ideas:
Templates images (click to view a larger image): 
Survey forms:
Ideas:
Payment forms:
Ideas:
Pro Tip: If you are selling items that need to be picked up, set up a payment notification via SMS text. Template image (click to view a larger image):
Related Blogs:
COVID-19 Templates Benefits of Managing School Fundraising Events Online Note: Collecting funds on the memberplanet platform incurs a platform fee and payment processing fee. Please see Pricing for details.
Effective PTA leaders have many duties. They have endless parenting obligations, and must commit to becoming a resource to other parents in the community. PTA leaders focus on fundraising because they firmly believe their altruism will help not just their children, but all the children of that school community. As a PTA leader, you might find it challenging to balance these responsibilities. Take the time to understand the online tools at your disposal, and your local PTA will reap many exciting and lucrative benefits.
Social media reaches more people
The number of social media users is growing exponentially. According to Hootsuite and We Are Social, more than 4 billion people around the world use social media each month since October 2020, which was an increase of more than 12 percent in the prior year.
More than 4 billion people around the world use social media each month.
It makes perfect sense for PTA leaders to consider how using social media can boost fundraising by targeting specific audiences. For example, The Balance Small Business claims that millennials (the first generation who grew up plugged into the internet) prefer online and social giving. Take a look at how connected to technology your PTA members are. Using smartphones have become a way of life for most. Utilize and mobilize your social media presence to spread the word about fundraising events.
Mobile and online payments simplify the process
Offering online and/or mobile payment and donation options do more than just help you broaden your reach. They remove the need for donors to have cash and checks on hand. Accepting online payments leverages today’s tech with potential donors - it’s only a few clicks from decision to completion of payment. That’s why online donation campaigns see more overall dollars collected. It’s not just easy, it’s a familiar process that donors feel innately comfortable with. According to a Cone Communications study, 48 percent of American adults are likely to use an app to make a donation. What are you waiting for? You can broaden your reach (and increase your donations) by using mobile and online payment methods.
Effective imagery and videos improve engagement
Whether you are looking to grab the attention of potential donors, spread the word about a cause, or inspire volunteerism, utilizing images and videos are powerful storytelling tools. Use imagery that appeals to your donors' emotions, and shows the needs for funds and benefits of giving - it beats text-heavy messages.
According to The Guardian, people are more likely to donate to a cause when it means something to them. This is also why crowdfunding and peer-to-peer fundraising are so effective. Use effective imagery and video to help tell your story, and let them feel connected to the cause you want them to support.
Email drives donations
Email is a powerful tool for driving PTA social media presence and donations. Just ask the people behind the M&R Benchmarks Study who found that for every 1,000 fundraising emails delivered, a nonprofit organization raises $45 on average. When you make emails engaging and fun, you might even pick up some email subscribers.
Keeping your email contacts organized in an online platform makes it seamless to communicate with your whole audience and track their responses. You can test and target your messages to specific recipients, and optimize your fundraising efforts to meet your goals every time. Beyond emails, organizing your contacts on the platform into customized distribution lists drives engagement in a specific way most suited to your needs. Set them up to send thank-you messages anytime someone donates, or send donation campaign details to any new contacts. Your options aren’t limitless, they’re better: They’re specifics built exactly for you and your local PTA. By making the most of online tools such as social media, electronic payment options, photo sharing, and email, you can be more successful in your fundraising efforts. memberplanet's integrated platform makes it easy to use these tools, and offers local PTAs an edge that will make managing fundraising events more effective and engaging.
Learn more about fundraising on the memberplanet blog.
PTA Simplified is a series of tips for PTA and PTO leaders to get the most out of a powerful association management system – to manage, engage, and grow their membership all year long.
Updated since original publication on 9/22/2017.
It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is quickly approaching, isn’t it? The first sighting of snow-covered décor or lit up trees means that giving season is upon us! There is one major event that kicks off holiday giving – Giving Tuesday. Celebrated on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday 2020 takes place on December 1.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented need, and Giving Tuesday Now launched on May 5 as an emergency response. Just take a look at these amazing stats:
The pandemic has already had major effects on the way people give in 2020, and one can surmise it will continue to change the holiday giving season. As awareness of the day continues to grow each year, so do its benefits for charitable organizations. Giving Tuesday has become a global event, but you don’t need to be a national or multi-tiered organization to participate. Here are three steps even a local nonprofit can take to prepare for the main event.
Step 1: Set your Giving Tuesday fundraising goals
An important part of preparing for Giving Tuesday is setting your fundraising goals. When setting your goals, you can consider the following:
Remember, the more prepared you are in determining your goals, the easier it will be for you to nail down your message when you’re ready to share your goals and grow community involvement!
Step 2: Fire up your fundraising campaign
You have a million ways these days to approach promoting your donation campaign. You can go the chestnuts-roasting-on-an-open-fire approach, which is kind of a slow burn at first, and then switch to fireworks finale mode, an all-at-once effort, toward the end.
Whatever approach you decide on, take advantage of email and social media – two powerful marketing platforms.
Mobilizing volunteer efforts is another strategy that spreads awareness throughout your local community and celebrate giving. The holiday giving season can mean giving one’s time or donating goods – not just funds. By inviting donors, employees, and members of the local community to your event, you can attract attention to your cause.
Step 3: Make donating easy
In business, a best practice is to make it easy for customers to give you their money. The same applies to your donors. Always give them the options to donate when they want and how they want. By offering the option to donate electronically, your supporters can make secured donations conveniently from a website or mobile device, whenever they want, even if they’re thousands of miles away. You can still accept cash or check, but you’re not limiting your fundraising by only accepting those forms of donations.
Nonprofits that offer online giving also widen the donor net and grow overall fundraising revenue. By setting up a way to process funds electronically, you can also offer donors the option to pay by recurring or installment payments. Recurring payment options are a great fit for those who want to contribute weekly, monthly, or quarterly throughout the year. Installment payments give donors the convenience of breaking up a large sum of money (which they may not have considered giving all at once) into multiple payments of their choosing.
By using these key steps to prep for Giving Tuesday, your organization will not only be a part of a growing movement, it will also give you the chance to celebrate the success that your charitable efforts deliver to your local community. Ready to get started? Log in, create a donation campaign, and choose from multiple templates, including Giving Tuesday and other seasonal occasions.
Updated since original publication on 10/23/17.
When a new school year approaches, back-to-school time is without a doubt one of the busiest times for a PTA. There's the stress of adjusting to early mornings, new routines since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the withdrawals of summer. On the flip side, it's rewarding to see PTA efforts in full swing, and it can be a ton of fun when they're effectively orchestrated. To help you get a head start, we’ve put together the three best ways to organize your fall fundraiser, the first major event for many PTAs. Learning your 1, 2, 3’s has never been so easy.
1. PTA member with a plan: plan ahead
Organization is your golden ticket to running a virtual event smoothly, and you not pulling your hair out. Create a checklist with basic items (budget, timeline, materials, etc.). Your fellow PTA members will look to your leadership to steer the planning process and keep them in the loop of what their roles are. Using online surveys to gather feedback, consolidate detailed information that’s pertinent to your event, and ask for volunteer signups can help cut down time on the back-and-forth correspondence between you and your members.
2. Keep it inviting: Send event invites
The sooner you get the word out about your event the more likely it is you’ll see a high turnout. We suggest sending invitations six to eight weeks before the event (or right at the beginning of the school year) so attendees can add your event to their calendars. It's also a best practice to send a second round of invitations a couple weeks later to those who have not RSVP'd yet. Our event module allows you to create an event site and send invitations. (You can even add your own PTA logos and images!) We recommend using our Smart List feature to target people on your guest list. Smart Lists let you generate email lists for a specific set of people based on platform data. For example, if you sent out an invite to get RSVPs, your next email can target those who replied “Maybe” or those who didn't reply yet. As your event date draws near, you can use the event site to post updates and answer any questions guests have. Increasing your engagement efforts beforehand is a great way to build anticipation so everyone is as excited about the online event as you are!
3. Sharing is caring
Social media is one of the best marketing tools around, and best of all, it's free! After you've created your event page, use the social sharing icons available to share your event directly from the platform. Ask your PTA members to share on their social pages as well. Each member has a personal and varied network that will increase awareness of the event, and likely boost attendance. The more people share, the more free publicity you get for your event and your PTA efforts. Along with social media, make sure to ramp up your marketing efforts and spread the word via email flyers, text messages (when appropriate), and announcements on your school or group's website.
Remember to make a plan, send your invites, and spread the word. Most importantly, have fun. The hallmark of a successful event is being able to enjoy yourself alongside your guests.
Our event functionality, donation and email campaign features, and online payment options make it easy to plan for your entire year. So, what are you waiting for? Happy planning!
PTA Simplified is a series of tips for PTA and PTO leaders to get the most out of a powerful association management system – to manage, engage, and grow their membership all year long.
Updated since original publication on 10/12/17.
If you need a quick way to launch an online fundraiser, survey, or payment form in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve got templates you can use! You can customize them and publish in just a few minutes. For real examples, check out How Organizations Use memberplanet in Response to COVID-19.
Donation campaigns: Ideas:
Templates images (click to view a larger image): 
Survey forms:
Ideas:
Template (click to view a larger image): 
Payment forms:
Ideas:
Pro Tip: If you are selling items that need to be picked up, set up a payment notification via SMS text. That way, you will be alerted as soon as someone makes a payment. This is especially helpful for organizations that promote contactless pickup or have other situations wherein time is of the essence. Template image (click to view a larger image): 
Note: Collecting funds on the memberplanet platform incurs a platform fee and payment processing fee. Please see Pricing for details.
In the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, we’ve witnessed businesses, organizations, economies, health care systems, individuals, and more suffer on a global scale. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has cast a grim outlook on almost everything, many are still committed to doing good deeds. Take for example New York veterinarians donating ventilators to hospitals in need, or Disney executives taking salary cuts to sustain employees’ wages. These days, you don’t need to be a billionaire to make a difference. Whether you lead an organization or are simply an individual looking to do your part, online tools can help.
Ways to help with online fundraising
Coordinating an online fundraiser is one way to aid an organization or individuals in need. Online fundraising utilizes payments technology that makes it convenient for donors to give when they want, where they want, and how they want. For example, someone could give by accessing a donation website while sheltering in place using their credit card. Consider some of these different types of donation campaigns: Day of giving: A giving day is a one-day donation campaign that raises funds in the span of 24 hours. The GivingTuesday organization recently announced May 5, 2020, as #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity in response to unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. The organization is known for launching #GivingTuesday during the holiday season, however, its partners and leaders are actively galvanizing supporters to step up in any way they can right now. Giving days are successful for a variety of organizations and causes because concerted promotion efforts are focused on one day, usually on an anniversary. Examples of a day-of-giving campaign include a Founders’ Day for fraternal organizations, Pi Day (3/14), and #GivingTuesday (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving holiday). Note: memberplanet users can log in to use a #GivingTuesdayNow template. Peer-to-peer fundraising: Also known as crowdfunding, this type of campaign leverages the reach of an individual’s relationships. Fundraising is personal; people donate because of their connection to an organization, whether that exists in the form of membership or someone they know who is affiliated with the organization. Usually, those who coordinate a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign will enlist the help of ambassadors – a volunteer or supporter – that can champion the fundraiser using their personal story on behalf of an organization. Utilizing social media, video, and photos help to drive the emotional connection with donors. Online auction: In an effort to replace traditional jog-a-thons and live events that had to be canceled due to social distancing restrictions, some organizations have gotten more creative. Live online auctions can be facilitated using a technology solution that incorporates streaming or real-time updates, however, a silent online auction is a much simpler coordination effort that can be just as effective. One would only need to utilize a survey form to auction off merchandise, gift packages, and other items that can be delivered to winning bidders. Ongoing donation campaigns: These types of campaigns can last for a few days, a school year, or continue indefinitely. To keep promotion efforts going over an extended period of time, it helps to tie in a theme to a fundraising initiative. Examples include Greek week, Autism Awareness Month, or a year-long centennial celebration. Organizations can increase their chances of receiving larger donations by offering installment payments. This allows donors to pay a sum of money in smaller parts over a fixed period of time. For a longer lasting donation campaign, installment payments are all the more appealing to both donors and charities. Other ways to give Giving monetarily is just one way of helping during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some individuals have taken it upon themselves to create DIY face masks or organize grassroots efforts to create enough to donate to shorthanded hospitals. Even one of memberplanet’s team members put her sewing abilities to use to create face masks with HEPA filters to donate to a local hospital. Another team member is utilizing Nextdoor, an app that allows him to connect with neighbors and do grocery runs for the elderly and others who are at higher risk for COVID-19. Others are also donating snacks, food, and writing thank-you letters for their community hospital staff. 
Whichever way you choose to do your part, whether it’s by donating money, goods, your time, or just sheltering in place, modern technology has a way of making it easier. memberplanet can simplify online fundraising efforts for organizations of all sizes. Fraternal organizations can utilize the Funds Multiplier, a fundraising solution for fraternal communities to manage campaigns, engage supporters, and grow donations. To learn more, schedule a chat with our team.
About Matt ArnoldAs our Vice President of Business Development, Matt is dedicated to serving member-based organizations and small to mid-sized associations. With over 10 years of experience wearing various leadership hats as an Alpha Tau Omega alumnus, Matt specializes in all fraternal organization matters. Whether a group is challenged with growing membership or struggling to engage members, he's got a solution. 
 We’re proud to exhibit our association management software at the 2019 ASAE: Marketing, Membership, & Communications Conference (MMCC) June 6 - 7 in Washington, D.C.! Why associations choose memberplanet: All tools on the platform are fully integrated to give association leaders high-level organizational visibility, greater financial transparency, and a seamless user experience with technology partners via API integration.
Come to Booth #710 to learn more! See you in D.C.!
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