“I will send one email per month.”
Keeping in touch with your constituents, whether they’re donors, fundraisers, or volunteers, is very important to your organization. But sending too many emails or direct mailers can sometimes be an annoyance. Consider emailing your constituents on a monthly basis. It’s often enough that you won’t overwhelm them with information, but will be just enough to keep them regularly engaged with your organization. But before you start emailing your list, you and your team will want to consider the following questions:
- What is the purpose of each email?
- How often are you sending out each type of email?
- What are the exact dates you’re sending each email?
“I will start blogging.”
Blogging is one of the most effective ways to engage your audience and share your expertise around your mission and cause. Not only does it increase your SEO rank and position you as a thought leader, it’s also a great place to highlight your supporters throughout the year. Here are a few blog post ideas to consider:
- Highlight an outstanding donor, fundraiser, or volunteer each month.
- Post about your most recent fundraising campaign or event. Highlight how much was raised, how many individuals participated, and how it directly impacts your mission.
- Give your nonprofit a face; have your staff write a post about themselves and why/how they got involved with your organization.
- Share news related to your cause, such as stories from the field that show the impact of your supporter’s funds.
- Encourage your volunteers to guest post about their experiences, as well.
- Encourage your entire team to contribute on a monthly basis so you have fresh ideas and tons of available content for the future. Keep track of your upcoming blog posts with our free blog post schedule template.
“I will incorporate Facebook into my next campaign.”
67% of 20-35 year olds interacted with a nonprofit on Facebook in 2012, according to The Millennial Impact. Incorporating Facebook into your next fundraising campaign or event is a guaranteed way to interact with this younger demographic. If you don’t already have one, you can create a nonprofit Facebook page for your organization. You can also include social media buttons in your emails, as well as on your organization’s website, linking to your page. This will make it easy for your supporters to find and interact with you on Facebook and other social networks.
- run a contest
- ask supporters to post a video
- write the reason why they support your cause
- create a Facebook event for your next fundraiser and ask attendees to virtually “check in” the day of.
You can pick your favorite, and dedicate a blog post and email to that individual.
“I will optimize my website’s navigation.”
Many individuals are looking to your website for information on how to donate, volunteer, or participate in upcoming fundraising events. Having a clear and concise navigation will make finding this information easy for your constituents. Consider including the following in your website’s navigation bar:
- How to Donate
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Upcoming Event Calendar
- About Us (include your mission, a brief history of your organization, staff bios, and anything else you would want your network to know about your organization)
- Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities (if applicable)
“I will segment and nurture my donor list.”
Your lifetime donors will be interested in different information than your brand new donors. By segmenting your list, you can tailor the types of content you’re sending to your different audiences. This will increase the likelihood the recipient will open, read, and enjoy your emails.