6 Resources For Better Fundraisers

When you’re researching resources for better fundraisers, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Where do you start? What kind of tools or resources do you actually need? How can you be sure that the ones you are using are actually worth your time?

Today this is exactly what we are covering: seven resources you should consider if you want to run better fundraisers, as well as some specific recommendations from each category.

6 Resources For Better Fundraisers

1) Donor Management:

If you are looking to invest in resources for better fundraisers, a good donor management software is a great place to start. This is software that provides nonprofits with comprehensive tools to manage donor relationships. Most software will also track the total amount of contributions, analyze donor data, and much more. 

The effect? Streamlined fundraising efforts, better donor relationships, and more targeted fundraising strategies. If you’re ready to get started with a good donor management software, consider either Bloomerang or DonorPerfect. These are both relatively easy to use and make your fundraising efforts much easier to get a birds eye view of.

2) Crowdfunding Platforms:

Almost every fundraiser can benefit from a good crowdfunding platform. These are great tools that enable your nonprofits a way to engage a broader audience and raise funds for specific projects or campaigns. Plus, depending on which one you use, they can spread word of your fundraiser. This gets more people on board, which results in more donors for you.

To be most effective, make sure that the platform you choose is easy to use. This will ensure you actually spend the time getting to know the main features you can implement. If you are looking for a crowdfunding platform to start using, Kickstarter or GoFundMe are a great place to start. These have both been used to raise millions of dollars for various nonprofits – is yours next?

3) Email Marketing:

We’ve said it many times before, but here it is again: email marketing is a great way to market just about anything. That’s because the people on your email list are the people most likely to be interested in what you have to say. This is equally applicable to nonprofits as it is to private business. Indeed, do email marketing right, and you can nurture donor relationships, promote your various fundraisers, and target the people on your list most likely to give.

Of course, be sure that you pick the right email service provider for your nonprofit. This is one of the most important decisions you will make when using new resources for better fundraisers. The correct ESP will allow you to easily build and manage email lists, create visually appealing newsletters, and automate email campaigns. Two of the best include MailChimp and ActiveCampaign.

4) Social Media Management:

Social media marketing can be a great strategy for nonprofits looking to improve their fundraisers. And if you’re one of them, you might consider a solid social media management tool. Here are just a couple of things these tools can do for you:

• Schedule and publish posts across multiple platforms
• Engage with your audience across multiple platforms in one place
• Measure the impact of your social media efforts.

It doesn’t take long to see the benefit of such a tool. Even if your nonprofit doesn’t use social media heavily, it can still make your fundraisers more successful. With that in mind, you might consider the tools Hootsuite and Buffer. These both are easy to use and give you just about every feature you need. They also both have extensive tutorials online that can teach you just about everything you need to know.

5) Data Analytics:

A fundraiser not based on data is a fundraiser that’s almost guaranteed to underperform. Just like any other marketing activity. By analyzing data, organizations can optimize their fundraising strategies, identify potential donors, and make data-driven decisions to enhance their fundraising efforts. Still, that’s easy to say, and much more difficult to actually implement. When it comes time to act, what are the data analytics tools you should consider?

Many nonprofits (ourselves included) implement Google Analytics as part of their repertoire. It has solid data and can be as simple or as advanced as you need. You might also think about giving Tableau a try, a tool that’s well known for its effective simplicity.

6) Event Management:

Let’s be honest: any fundraiser could accurately be considered an “event.”  And if you are looking to get the best results out of yours, it’s worth thinking about event management software. Pick the right one, and event management softwares can maximize attendance, raise engagement, and increase the overall amount of funds you end up receiving.

If you’re looking to go down this path of event management software, we can recommend Eventbrite. Not only does this software both simplify the planning and execution of fundraising events, but it ensures a seamless experience for both organizers and attendees. Check it out!

Our Favorite Resource For Better Fundraisers

If you’re looking to invest in resources for better fundraisers, FundraiseUp is one which we swear by. Fundraise Up provides the tools you need to increase conversion, enable modern payment methods, and personalize the giving experience for every donor.

With new features added all the time, and an emphasis on smart AI implementation, just about any fundraiser can benefit from FundraiseUp. 

Check it out here.

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