As a nonprofit, you’re always after ways to improve your fundraising efforts, especially when it comes to increasing online donations. While you can use social media to achieve your goals, this is often very expensive.
It might seem counterintuitive to reach out to donors offline and ask them to donate online, but some of them actually prefer to learn about your mission via a phone call or letter rather than a social media post.
Plus, by directing donors or prospective donors through an offline appeal to an online donation form, you are giving them a convenient way to donate to your organization.
By using offline (as well as online) marketing strategies, you will reach a much wider audience, which can increase the amount of money you raise for your mission.
Even though so much can be done online, when it comes to nonprofits, offline still needs to be a focal point.
Here are some affordable ways that nonprofits can invest in print marketing to raise big dollars for their cause.
Brochures
Sending out brochures is another method of print marketing for nonprofits. They tend to be geared more towards specifically talking about the nonprofit in a general sense, as opposed to a newsletter. They can still have timely updates, however. They should always come with a reply envelope and detailed information on how someone can donate. Making a donation should be as easy as possible, otherwise you might lose some donations from people who don’t want to take an extra step. Make sure there is a donation form included on the brochure, and your online giving information as well. Make sure that your brochure is bright and looks professional. You can use a service like MyCreativeShop to quickly design your brochure, and you can easily update it for every mailing period.
Postcards
Believe it or not, but one of the most important things you can do to raise money is to thank those who have already donated. Every donor is important, but the 80/20 rule applies for fundraisers, too. Your entire operation will be funded by your top 20 donors. The better you thank them, the more they will give. Of course you will send them a letter after each donation and provide them with a tax receipt for their gifts. However you also need to provide them with regulation reminders that you love and appreciate them.
Postcards are a great way to do that. You can have a special design on the front, with a photo related to your cause, and “thank you” printed in a decorative font. On the back, take the time to handwrite a quick note to show how grateful you are for the support. Donors will love the personal touch.
Newsletters and Flyers
Newsletters tend to be sent out to people who have already donated, but nonprofits can also send them out to potential donors as well. They let people know how donations are being used to benefit the community that the nonprofit serves. They can be filled with facts and figures, highlight volunteers and donors, and give updates on any new programs or projects that might be on the horizon. Donors like to know how their dollars are making a difference, and a newsletter is a great way to do that. This will encourage past donors to give again, and possibly give more.
Flyers can perform a similar function, but they are aimed at potential donors. They can look similar, but they should highlight how donations can help. If someone hasn’t donated before but is on your mailing list, then perhaps a new program will be just what piques their interest to write a cheque. To make this easy, use an online service to create a flyer design. You can find flyer templates here, and choose one that will work best for your situation. It’s a quick and easy way to create something that looks professional to send to potential supporters.
