Starting a nonprofit is a great idea, but it takes a little more than a vision to ensure that it’s a successful one. From social media marketing to peer networks and private photo-sharing applications, you need to know how to fundraise in the 21st century. Since there are over 1.5 million nonprofits in the U.S., how do you make yours stand out?
The best way to make sure your nonprofit is a success is to make sure you have the right tools. Invest in useful P2P software, hire a great team, and learn how to market and advertise on social networking sites. Also, remember that your brand image is essential. So, post regularly about your milestones and achievements and have a strong mission statement on your website. If you need some tips before you get started, read on.
1. Use the right tools.
Are you still working with paper folders and filing cabinets? If so, there’s a better way to do things. Nonprofits function best when they have the right tools, and useful software is a vital tool to have. You have to make sure the software you pick works well for your team, is free of malware and has adequate security measures.
Good software can help you download and upload things without a hassle, streamline your work, and collaborate better with teams. If this is your first time and you’re not one of the most adept internet users, remember to read reviews before you install anything on your web browser or laptop. The best way to increase efficiency and help your organization perform better is to get a peer to peer network.
An excellent P2P program will help you create a fundraising platform and website for donors that match your brand image. You can customize everything from the captions to the notifications and use it for your donors, team, and peer-to-peer fundraising. Most P2P platforms often add extra features and new features, so stay updated even if you already have one. Read peer reviews and find out what P2P systems your competitors use. It’s a great way to ensure the right approach to your nonprofit’s donation and volunteer aspect.
2. Record all of your milestones.
Do you have a team of professional photographers to take pictures of all your milestones? Do you have a secure place to store the photos? As a nonprofit organization, your image is as important as the work you do. To increase your chances of getting volunteers, donations, and partnerships, you need to record all your milestones.
The best way to avoid misplacing individual photos is to organize them in folders marked by date and event. Also, remember to upload all your images and videos to a photo-sharing application or save them on a cloud device. You can also forget about laptop folders and hard drives. Instead, utilize the unlimited storage of a private photo sharing app.
With the right photo sharing app you can organize your pictures, upload them from a mobile app, laptop, or smartphone, and even connect social media pages. It will streamline your process, so that the next time you want to share an image with a donor, group of friends, or family members you know where they’re all stored.
3. Hire the right team.
To help your nonprofit become a success, you need the right team. A group of friends and family members can help when you’re starting. However, remember to hire professionals if you want a successful business. Everyone from your editorial team to your fundraising managers will determine how successful your nonprofit becomes. Also, focus on smart collaborations with other nonprofit organizations.
4. Use social media correctly.
You have Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages, a website, and even something called Snapchat. However, you can’t get anyone to engage with your nonprofit on any social network sites. What are you doing wrong? If you don’t know enough about social media marketing, you’re not going to get much out of a presence on these sites.
The best way to fix your bad social networking skills is to hire a skilled social media team. Set up an attractive website and learn how to engage with internet users on your social media platforms. Get professional photographers to take the pictures you post so that they stand out online. Remember to blog about everything that your nonprofit does. It will help people stay connected to your organization and spread the word to increase your chances of success.
5. Engage with your community.
An online presence is essential, but it’s also necessary to engage with your community in person. Sign up for community events or host private group events at local community centers. Spread the word about your nonprofit indirectly by getting involved in other social awareness programs. An easy way to start is to get involved with local charity runs, farmers’ markets and social events. It will help you reach an audience that may not be internet users.
