How an effective fundraising strategy can fix even an awkward handshake

Crafting an effective fundraising strategy can seem awkward and difficult to properly time since there are so many moving piece — like, that handshake where you don’t know when the other person is going to let go so you let go too early…only to grip again just as they release (awkward!) — but they’re essential for any non-profit organization, charity, or cause that relies on donations and funding to achieve its goals. In today’s world, where there is so much competition for acquiring and retaining donors, having a well thought out and effective fundraising strategy is more important than ever.

The Goals of Effective Fundraising Strategies

The primary goal of any fundraising strategy is simple: raise more funds to support your cause. However, it goes beyond that. A successful fundraising strategy should also:

1. Build awareness about your cause: Raising awareness about your cause and what you stand for could create advocates and then become your biggest champions. This increased visibility can lead to more donations, volunteer support, and more.
2. Engage donors: The foundation to your strategies success is donor engagement. This includes New and Existing audiences. Therefore, it is essential to build relationships keeping them engaged with your organization and continue to support your cause.
3. Build a community: Building a community around your cause can help create a sense of belonging among your supporters, leading to increased loyalty and long-term support.

The Benefits of Effective Fundraising Strategies

But, why would you go through all of this work if there weren’t MASSIVE benefits for your cause, campaign, or even job? An effective fundraising strategy can have many benefits for your organization, including:

1. Increased funding: The most obvious benefit of effective fundraising strategies is increased funding. This, in turn, can help you achieve your goals and provide the necessary funding for programs. Or even, help the organization identify a new more valuable path forward through testing and reporting.
2. Stronger relationships with donors: Engaging donors and building strong relationships with them can help create a supportive community around your cause and build an engaged universe of donors. By having a strategy that acquires new donors from a channel mix with a strong Return on Investment, you can begin planning for bigger budgets and newer tests.
3. Increased awareness: By raising awareness about your cause, you can attract new supporters and reach a wider audience. Not all donors are created equal, so you’ll want to continuously track who you’re bringing in and what their connection to you cause is.

Start small. Make a plan. Follow through.