{"id":5320,"date":"2016-09-21T12:30:39","date_gmt":"2016-09-21T17:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5bd4f92546.nxcli.net\/?p=5320"},"modified":"2016-11-29T15:43:03","modified_gmt":"2016-11-29T21:43:03","slug":"five-reasons-fundraisers-fail-avoid-falling-prey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/articles\/charity-fundraising\/five-reasons-fundraisers-fail-avoid-falling-prey\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Reasons Fundraisers Fail (And How To Avoid Falling Prey To Them)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"coins\"<\/p>\n

Picture this: you\u2019re running a fundraiser. You\u2019ve got a great cause to get behind and a team of dedicated volunteers. Yet somehow, when all is said and done…your event was an utter disaster. <\/span><\/p>\n

Wait, what? What happened? How did things go so horribly wrong? That\u2019s what we\u2019re going to talk about today.<\/span><\/p>\n

Generally speaking, when a fundraiser fails, it can be traced back to one of several reasons. <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s No Plan (Or A Terrible One) <\/span><\/h2>\n

First thing\u2019s first – take a look at your fundraising plan. What strategy do you have to inspire your audience to donate? How do you intend to promote any events you want to run? What strategies do you have in place to keep people engaged during and after your events? <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know lots of nonprofits who host a gala or auction in the spring, golf tournament in the fall, luncheon in May, and send a year-end appeal letter in December,\u201d <\/span>writes Notes on Nonprofit\u2019s Alyce Lee Stansbury.<\/span><\/a> \u201cThis is not a fundraising plan. This is a series of fundraising strategies strung together throughout the calendar year with little or no thought to what happens before and after each strategy.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, even if you have a plan, that\u2019s no guarantee you\u2019ll succeed. You need to also be certain that you\u2019ve set realistic goals for yourself, and accounted for the resources you <\/span>actually <\/b>have at your disposal – not just the ones you\u2019d <\/span>like <\/b>to have available. <\/span><\/p>\n

Strong-Arm Tactics<\/span><\/h2>\n

A few weeks ago, I received a phone call from a telemarketer working on the behalf of a police fundraising banquet. Before he even finished describing the banquet, he piled on strong-arm tactics, repeating over and over how hard the police work to protect us and how much they\u2019d appreciate my patronage. Worse still, when I informed him I\u2019d rather not make a donation over the phone and would prefer to show my support <\/span>at <\/b>the event, he grew annoyed and insistent, eventually hanging up on me.<\/span><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll be attending that banquet. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going to raise money for a good cause, you need to do it in such a way that people don\u2019t feel unduly pressured to donate. You <\/span>have <\/b>to be respectful about it – because otherwise, you\u2019re going to drive away more supporters than you pull in. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s Social Media?\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n

This one\u2019s quite self-explanatory. Modern organizations – <\/span>especially <\/b>charitable ones – need to make use of social media for promotional purposes. Sites like Facebook are the perfect avenue through which to draw in supporters, as they let your brand establish a close, personal connection with supporters. <\/span><\/p>\n

That said, you need to be certain you\u2019re targeting the right social network. Your marketing efforts will fall flat if you\u2019re not reaching the people likeliest to take an interest in your charity. Paige Kutilek of YouCaring has some valuable advice in that regard: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSocial media has transformed how people give so it is important for individuals fundraising online to embrace the Internet\u2019s influence,\u201d <\/span>writes Kutilek<\/span><\/a>. \u201cAs stated in Pew Research Center\u2019s 2014 Social Media Update, multi-platform use is growing, with 52 percent of adults using two or more social media sites.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRemember that different age groups are attracted to different social platforms,\u201d she continues. \u201cThe same study revealed that people who are 18 to 29 years old use Twitter and Instagram more frequently than any other age group; so in order to reach all age groups it is vital to use multiple social platforms to gain the greatest amount of buzz for your campaign.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Story Is Muddled (Or Nonexistent)<\/span><\/h2>\n

What story are you telling your audience? What sort of narrative have you established for your fundraiser and your cause? Do you have a clear message, or is everything muddied and blurred? <\/span><\/p>\n

Your cause could be the most giving, beautiful, and perfect one in the world, but if you aren\u2019t able to convey it adequately to potential supporters, then you aren\u2019t going to get any money.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter how obvious your cause is, you still need a clear message that wins over the hearts of people,\u201d <\/span>explains the Nonprofit Information blog. <\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u201cA fundraiser to help find a cure for breast cancer is clear to most without further explanation. \u00a0How specifically are you going to use the funds? \u00a0What specific research are you using the money for? \u00a0What results specifically do you hope for? \u00a0Being specific will give people a greater sense of why your cause is important, but it will also communicate to them that you are serious.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s No Innovation (Or Enjoyment)<\/span><\/h2>\n

Last but certainly not least, you need to be sure that your fundraiser is unique, and that it creates a sense of \u2018fun.\u2019 Fundraising drives can be some of the most frustrating, boring affairs in the world, so unless you want to draw in more than the most dedicated of donors, you need to take a few extra steps to make things exciting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is imperative to keep your fundraiser enjoyable,\u201d says Nonprofit Information. \u00a0\u201cFew people will care about your cause enough to show up even though it\u2019s boring. \u00a0Creating a fun-filled atmosphere will not only bring your guests back in the future, but it will increase the morale significantly among your workers and volunteers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Picture this: you\u2019re running a fundraiser. You\u2019ve got a great cause to get behind and a team of dedicated volunteers. Yet somehow, when all is said and done…your event was an utter disaster. Wait, what? What happened? How did things go so horribly wrong? That\u2019s what we\u2019re going to talk about today. Generally speaking, when…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[654],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-charity-fundraising"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Reasons Fundraisers Fail (And How To Avoid Falling Prey To Them)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fundraisers are important for social change, but they don't come easy. 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