Charity events like auctions, 5km runs, etc. were the mainstay of nonprofit fundraising till the end of 2019. In 2020, when the COVID 19 pandemic struck, nonprofits were left stranded!

How to organize fundraising events? How to connect with donors? How to raise brand awareness?

These were some of the questions that cropped up and needed to be addressed. While the nonprofits were struggling with these aspects, people in general and businesses had other issues to face! The economic downturn, health and safety issues were just the tip of the iceberg.

People across the globe were struggling with health issues, financial losses, loss of jobs, new norms of living, etc. In this tumultuous scenario, it is heartening to observe that the attitude of “giving” among people continued.

This implied that the onus was now on the nonprofits to connect with those who were willing to donate. And, this is where several nonprofits struggled initially!

Unfortunately due to the challenging circumstances, several nonprofits were forced to close down. However, some nonprofits adapted better to the changes and planned effective strategies to cope with the situation.

As we progress into 2021 several nonprofits have now learned to thrive in the new normal. One of the main takeaways from 2020 was that fundraising events are going to be virtual until the situation improves.

Virtual events have certain drawbacks. For instance, there is no physical interaction between participants, nonprofit organizations and participants need to familiarize themselves with technology, online fundraising strategies will have to be planned, etc.

However, looking on the brighter side, virtual events have a much wider reach. A nonprofit can connect with the audience from different countries. Besides, nonprofits now have an opportunity to engage a much larger audience. Also, the investment for engaging the audience virtually is much lower than that for a physical event.

So, if virtual is the only way, nonprofits need to think out of the box and organize creative events that can engage the audience.

Some of the most popular virtual fundraising events for nonprofits

• Online Auctions
• Virtual Galas
• Online Team Games
• Crowdfunding
• Peer-to-peer Fundraising

One of the biggest challenges virtual events face is holding the interest of the audience throughout the entire duration of the event. Event hosts need to pool in the best ideas to organize engaging events.

Some of the best online events include

• An eminent individual as a keynote speaker.
• Keep the event duration under an hour.
• Drive engagement through high-quality content that adds value to the guests.
• Organize events that offer an opportunity for the attendees to interact through polls, chats, etc.

How do you do a virtual fundraising event?

Establish Your Goal

When organizing a virtual fundraising event, you need to clearly establish your goals. Your goal could be a specific amount of funds you need to generate through the event, or if you are trying to attract new donors or retain old donors, increase your brand awareness. Having clarity of your goals will simplify the process of organizing the event.

Understanding your Audience

Once you have determined the goals of your fundraising event, you need to plan the event so that it engages the audience. Therefore, you need to understand who your audience is and what they like/dislike, what their needs are, etc. This will help you organize the event customized to their needs.

Select the Mode of Online Event

An online event means an interactive zoom meeting or webinar for most people. However, there are different modes of delivering online content in an event.

• Live Streaming: It is an online event held in real-time with active participation from the attendees. However, live streaming requires technological expertise for successful hosting. Live streams are quite popular and can be fun for the participants.
• Pre-Recorded: In this case, compelling videos are created and recorded before the actual event. This is best suited for event hosts who are not very tech-savvy.
• Streaming: This is ideal for one-time events that are available on a specific day and time.
• On-Demand: The event is available to the audience for a specific time frame. These events can be watched again and again by the interested parties.

You can choose the mode that is best suited to the type of event you are hosting.

Event Checklist:

Before hosting the event make sure that the following aspects are on track:

• Plan the event well in advance with your team. Take care of all aspects of your event such as logistics, event platform, ticketing, etc.
• Create a list of attendees and send the invitation emails to them.
• Ensure that your technology is working seamlessly at least 24 hours before the actual event.
• Make sure that your linked donation pages, chats, etc. are in order before you start the event.
• Send reminders to your guests a week, a day, and an hour before the start of the event.

With all the above aspects in order, we come to a vital question, “How do I sell my fundraiser tickets online?”

For the past few years, even before the pandemic struck, most nonprofits had started using online methods for selling tickets for events. Several event ticketing platforms are available for nonprofits to streamline the ticketing process.

Here are some best online tickets sales practices for nonprofits:

Event Page:

Your online event page is something that informs your audience about your event. Create an attractive event page with an eye-catching image or a video. Make sure that your event page is aligned with your brand and it clearly communicates all details such as the event lineup and sponsors, and other relevant information about the event. This page should provide the contact details of your organization.

The page should be easy to navigate with a clear CTA (Buy Tickets). Make sure that the event page is mobile-friendly and loads quickly on different devices.

Hassle-free Payment Process

It is recommended that you provide your guests a seamless payment process. Using automation simplifies the ticketing process. Several nonprofits are using an automated process wherein a confirmation for the payment and the tickets are emailed as soon as the payment is made. Virtual event platforms like iConnectX include such automation that simplifies the process of selling event tickets.

Ticket Pricing

Hosting virtual fundraising events is less expensive than a physical event because of the reduced overhead costs. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep the price of the tickets for your virtual event on the lower side.

Make Sure your Tickets are Ready at the Initial Stages

As soon as you conceive the event, there will be many supporters of your nonprofit who will be ready to purchase tickets. So, make sure that your tickets are ready as soon as you start planning your event.

Clear Ticket Descriptions

Clearly communicate details of your event on the ticket such as the date, timings, login, password, dress code, if any, etc. It is a good idea to communicate how the funds raised will be used. Be creative and write a concise description that covers all aspects.

Email Campaigns

Email drip campaigns are extremely effective in creating awareness about the event and driving sales.

Social Media Campaigns

Make sure that you leverage different social media channels to spread the word about the event. Create social media campaigns tailored to different platforms to create a buzz about the event.

Incentivize through Pricing

You can increase your ticket sales by offering “early bird discounts.” You can use the data on the tickets sold for creating urgency among your audience for ticket purchase. You can send messages on social media and other channels like, “X” number of tickets left! Buy before they get sold out!

A little creativity and out-of-the-box thinking can help you organize engaging fundraising events. The success of a virtual event depends to a large extent on the technology used. Several event management platforms with different features are available for hosting nonprofit events to choose from.

iConnectX is one of the best platforms for hosting nonprofit events! This platform includes all the features required for an efficient virtual event planner!

The past few years have witnessed an increase in giving across the globe. It is encouraging to note that even the pandemic did not disturb those who wanted to donate. This has led to the rise in the number of nonprofits globally.

It is quite easy for your website to get lost in the myriad of nonprofit websites online. Hence, you need to establish your nonprofit brand identity so that your brand stands out amid the online chaos!

What is Brand Identity?

Brand identity relates to the aspects of a brand that the audience identifies with. It could be the colors/logo/imagery or any other that helps the audience identify the brand. For instance, if we think of McDonald’s, we associate it with red and yellow colors or its logo, etc. Similarly, it is easy for people to identify Apple products because of their unique logo.

Hence brand identity can be understood as the “unique ID” of a brand that makes it stand out.

Contrary to the popular belief that only big brands need to have distinguishing colors and logos, having a unique brand identity has become a must for most businesses in the digital world.

Nonprofits also need to create a unique identity for themselves to make it easy for the audience to identify their preferred nonprofits.

If you are still wondering if nonprofits need to invest in branding, here’s why nonprofit branding is important

Nonprofit branding is important because it is the most effective way the nonprofit can communicate its story to its audience. You can establish your nonprofit brand by using colors and visuals to communicate what your brand is about and what exactly you do.

The colors and fonts you use to tell your nonprofit’s story will help your audience identify you in the online world.

So, you must be wondering, “How does one Brand a Nonprofit Organization?”

Before we get into the technical details of nonprofit branding, let’s delve into the basic building blocks for creating the brand:

Know your Audience

Understanding the needs of the target audience is the first step for building a brand identity. This will require some research. You will need to identify your audience and find out what their perception of your nonprofit is, what do they expect from you? This will be a good starting point.

Before you get down to creating your logo or images for your brand, it is vital to understand what your brand means to people around you.

If you have an existing audience, then it is a good idea to interview them and ask them how they describe your brand. You can also ask relevant questions to your email subscribers and use their inputs also to build your brand.

Check out What Others are Doing!

It is something like a competitor analysis where you check out what others in your field are doing. However, it is quite different from a competitor analysis conducted by businesses. This is because nonprofits are not exactly “marketing” similar products/services and competing in the same marketplace.

In the case of nonprofits, the working model of each one is quite different from the other. So, when a nonprofit looks at what others in the field are doing, it is to gain insights on what works/does not work. This will make their job of creating a brand identity easy.

Rebranding

In case you are planning to rebrand your existing nonprofit, it is essential to take your existing donors, volunteers, and supporters into confidence. This is because these entities associate your brand with certain ideologies. And, if you were to make radical changes to your existing brand without keeping them in the loop, they will be confused. The possibility of losing out some loyal supporters due to this confusion cannot be ruled out. This is a risk best avoided!

It can be done easily by keeping all those who are associated with your brand updated about your intent for rebranding.

You can even involve them by asking for suggestions and ideas. This will serve as valuable information because it has come from people who know you and what you stand for.

Let Others Speak for You!

You can get people who support your brand to speak for you in a visual storytelling format. It could be video testimonials or short videos about people talking about your brand. This helps in giving authenticity to your brand and helps connect on an emotional level with your target audience.

After completing the groundwork like finding out about your audience and other relevant data, you are all set to work on the technical aspects of building your brand!

Guide to Effective Nonprofit Branding

Establish what you want your brand to communicate!

Brands tell the story of the organization to the audience! So, you need to find out what story you want to tell through your brand?

How do you want your audience to identify your nonprofit?

This will depend largely on the primary objective of your nonprofit, the charities your nonprofit supports, etc.

The research you have carried out will also help you create a story based on what your audience expects of you!

Your brand’s story will determine the theme of your brand.

Choosing the Right Colors and Fonts

Once you have your brand’s story ready, you can choose the colors and fonts that blend with your story.

While choosing colors for your brand, you need to understand that each color has a different connotation. So, select only those colors that are aligned with your brand’s theme.

Some examples of what different colors indicate are:

White is associated with purity, innocence, goodness, safety, cleanliness, etc.

Blue symbolizes aspects like trust, wisdom, confidence, faith, truth, etc.

The yellow color is used to indicate joy, happiness, energy, and intellect.

Therefore, choosing the right colors for your brand can make or break it! So, make sure that you select those colors that highlight the story of your nonprofit.

The fonts you use for the content also tell a lot about the brand. For instance, fonts that use harsh lines and pointy edges usually indicate a formal tone while those with flowing lines and smooth corners are considered warm.

Logo

Needless to say, the logo of your brand is a critical factor because it symbolizes what your brand stands for. A lot of creativity is required for creating a unique brand logo.

Create a logo using the colors that gel with your brand and depict your brand’s story through an image.

Your logo should be a perfect blend of the color, font, and imagery to define your brand.

Creating a Brand Website

All the aspects of your brand such as the color, font, logo, story, etc. will come together on your website. Your website is the platform that tells your brand’s story to the world.

Use a template that best meets the needs of your brand. However, you must consider the trending website design themes while choosing the template.

Your website should clearly convey the mission statement of your nonprofit. Use the brand colors and fonts selected for designing your website. Identify the relevant “keywords” or search terms that your audience will use to look for your website online. Make sure that you optimize your website with these words.

Make sure to have different versions of your logo that can be used on social media platforms, email newsletters, banners, etc.

Once you have decided on different aspects of your brand such as its color, logo, etc. make sure that you use them consistently wherever you promote your brand.

In Conclusion

The world is becoming digital! For a nonprofit to have a strong presence in an online world, branding is a must. Nonprofits need to establish a brand identity that communicates to the audience what the nonprofit stands for and how the audience can associate with it.

If you are running a nonprofit, then you will know that organizing fundraising campaigns can be quite a task!

Especially in the current scenario when some of the tried-and-tested fundraising strategies cannot be implemented because of the pandemic.

It is heartening to note that despite the pandemic, many donors have donated in different ways to various charities. However, the onus is on nonprofits to associate with charities that donors care about and think of innovative fundraising strategies.

When we think of types of fundraising methods, nonprofit events like auctions, organizing 5km runs, etc. come to mind. However, given the current circumstances, we realize that fundraising methods need complete revamping. Simply put nonprofits need to think of digital methods of raising funds instead of physical ones, at least for now!

The last year has witnessed many events being organized virtually. Nonprofits have also successfully organized online auctions, etc. to generate funds. Another aspect of fundraising that became relevant last year was building trust with donors by communicating with them through emails or social media campaigns.

Managing so many things like email marketing, social media marketing, virtual events, choosing types of fundraising methods, budget shortfalls, can get quite overwhelming for a non-profit.

It is best to develop a fundraising strategy plan that is aligned with your nonprofit and work towards your goals.

So, take a deep breath, sit back, and read on for a comprehensive fundraising strategy plan and customize it according to the needs of your brand!

1. Align your Strategy with your Brand

There are so many nonprofit fundraising strategies like crowdfunding, peer-to-peer funding, etc. that it can be quite confusing to choose the right one for your nonprofit.

A word of caution, many nonprofits lose track of their goals when they get caught up in all these strategies especially when they try to implement strategies that might be working for others.

So, to make sure that you stay on track with your goals, here’s what you need to do!

Establish your fundraising goals that are aligned with the mission of your nonprofit. This can be your strategic goal for the entire year or a long-term goal.

Next, break down your goals into “bite-sized” objectives. These objectives can be the monthly fundraising targets that you can plan to achieve with the help of your fundraising campaigns.

Determine your budget for each fundraising campaign.

Establish teams to plan these campaigns. Make sure that you include board members, members of staff, volunteers, interested donors as a part of your campaigns.

2. Research

You must plan your fundraising strategy based on insights and relevant data. For this, you need to research your past campaigns. This data will help you understand what strategies worked/did not work for your nonprofit in the past. It is also a good idea to check out what your competitors are doing and what is working for them.

It is also beneficial to collect data about your audience and what their needs are, etc.

You can shortlist fundraising strategies that are aligned with the mission of your nonprofit.

However, you must ensure that the campaigns you select are well within your budget.

3. Choosing Campaigns

There is a wide range of fundraising methods available for nonprofits to choose from.

However, you need to bear certain things in mind while choosing them:

• Ensure that your fundraising campaigns reach a broad range of donors. Create fundraising programs that facilitate small, medium, and major donors to participate in campaigns and donate easily.
• Encourage recurring donations instead of one-time donations. This will increase your donor base as people who may not be able to donate large sums will still be able to donate.
• Choose fundraising campaigns that are aligned to the mission of your nonprofit.
• Make sure that you make it easy for your donor to make donations through mobiles.
• Select fundraising strategies that are easy to use.

Here’s are some effective methods for fundraising:

Online donations: This is when donors contribute to a nonprofit through its online donation page.

In-kind Donations: These include non-monetary donations like food, drinks, equipment, etc. In-kind donations are usually given by companies.

Text-to Give: This is a simple text-to-give technique for donating wherein the donor texts a code when he wants to donate. Nonprofits establish codes, a campaign keyword with a predetermined donation amount. So, when a donor texts the keyword to the code, the predetermined donation amount is billed to their mobile phone bill.

Auction: Charity auctions are one of the most effective ways of fundraising. In an online auction, bids are invited for articles that are displayed by the nonprofit on different channels for a specific time. These bids are compared, and the highest bidder gets the article. You can organize a virtual event where the winning bids are announced.

Peer-to-peer fundraising: In peer-to-peer fundraising, people who support your nonprofit collect donations for you by asking their friends, contacts, etc. to donate. Donors can contribute through donation pages of your supporters. These pages are linked to your nonprofit’s main donation form.

Besides these, there is a myriad of other fundraising options like crowdfunding, corporate grants, etc. It is recommended that you check the features of each type of fundraising strategy and choose the ones best suited to your nonprofit and your donors.

4. Marketing

One of the most important aspects for raising brand awareness and increasing donor base is marketing your brand. And, in the current scenario, digital marketing strategies are a must.

So, you need to increase the visibility of your brand with search engine optimization, email marketing, social media marketing campaigns, etc.

You can increase your website traffic by posting fresh content regularly on your website. Make sure that you market your brand effectively with high-quality content.

Email marketing is one of the most effective strategies to market your brand to your audience. Email marketing helps you establish a personal relationship between the recipients and your brand. Emails are communication channels through which you can tell your donors about your mission, let them know how their donations are helping your organization reach its fundraising goals, etc. This helps build trust and loyalty.

With the rising number of social media users worldwide, it can be considered as an effective marketing strategy to reach a wide audience.

You can choose the right blend of marketing strategies for effective fundraising.

Effective marketing strategies can also help attract corporate sponsorship to increase your overall fundraising.

5. Monitoring

After executing a fundraising campaign, you need to measure its effectiveness. This will help you understand the areas for improvement in your campaigns so that you can plan better strategies.

Also, make sure that you collect feedback from your participants in the campaigns. This data will help you enhance your future campaigns.

These can be considered as the building blocks for any fundraising strategy. You can customize your fundraising campaigns based on them.

iConnectX is a platform that streamlines all nonprofit fundraising campaigns. This platform has all the features tailored to the needs of nonprofits.

In 2020 when the pandemic impacted all types of businesses including charitable giving. One of the philanthropic options, Donor Advised Funds(DAFs) actually recorded growth compared to the contributions made in 2019.

“Grants from DAFs to qualified charities have grown twice as fast as contributions to DAFs and have increased more than 90 percent over the last four years. The majority of DAFs reflect their donors’ wish to be active philanthropists who give generously and regularly. Donors continue making contributions to their DAFs because they experience how easy it is to support the causes most important to them.”—Eileen Heisman, CEO National Philanthropic Trust.

It is encouraging to note that grant-making rose by nearly 30% compared to that in 2019 during the same period. A whopping US$8.32 billion was donated in grants during the first half of 2020! The rise in donations is attributed to an increased number of donors in response to the COVID 19 pandemic.(Source: Barrons)

What are donor-advised funds?

Donor-Advised Funds(DAFs) is a public charity in which donors can establish a giving account. When donors make a charitable contribution, they receive an instant tax deduction. Grants are recommended from the funds over time by the donors to charities of their choice as and when they decide to donate.

Things to Know About Donor Advised Funds:

A donor-advised fund can be understood as investing in a brokerage firm. Rather, it is like setting up an investment account with a nonprofit sponsoring organization that offers DAF services.

“Donor Advised,” fund implies that after the donor donates to a DAF, the donor “advises” the sponsors on where and when to distribute his funds.

Once a donor donates his assets to a DAF, it does not belong to him anymore!

However, he can control the movement of his funds by “advising the sponsors.” Until it is donated to a charity, it stays in the DAF account of the donor and earns interest.

Donors are free to invest in low-cost mutual funds to earn interest like any other investment.

How do donor-advised funds work?

Step 1: Donors Contribute to the DAF

It can be set up like any other investment account. Donors can fund it with the funds that they have allocated for philanthropy.

Donors can establish their donor-advised funds by making an irrevocable contribution of personal assets. This contribution is recorded as a donation by National Philanthropic Trust(NPT). This balance reflects in the donor’s donor-advised fund account. Donors can choose from a wide range of personal assets to donate. Contributions may be made in the form of cash, stock, real estate, and many more.

Step 2: Tax Deduction

Since donor-advised funds are public charities, donors are eligible for an itemized tax deduction for state/federal tax. Factors like the type of asset, how long the donor has owned it, and other such factors determine the exact amount of tax deducted. This provides the flexibility to the donors to plan their gift so that they can claim the tax deduction when they need it. Donors also have the option to recommend grants to charities of their choice at a future date according to their convenience.

Step 3: Customize the DAF

DAF offers the donors the flexibility to customize the account according to their charitable goals. For instance, you can structure the Legacy plan that establishes what happens to your DAF assets beyond your lifetime. You can appoint family members and friends to manage the responsibilities of your DAF as well.

This is a 3-step process by which you can set up your donor-advised fund account and benefit from it.

What are the Benefits of donor-advised funds?

Plenty! Let’s look at some of them:

Cost-Effective: It is economical to set up when compared with a private foundation for “giving.” Besides, it can be funded with few thousand dollars.

Tax Deduction: Donor-advised funds are public charities so they help the donors avail tax deduction in state or federal taxes.

Tax-free Investment Growth: Donors can select an investment strategy for their assets from a list of pre-approved investment options. Your investment growth is exempt from taxes.

Support Charities of your Choice at your Convenience: NPT approves grants to several charities that are tax exempt. Donors can choose charitable organizations they care about and donate.

Customized Donation: DAF is the only charity option that helps donors build a philanthropic strategy and donate according to their convenience.

Genuine: When you contribute to a charity through DAF, you can be sure that the donations reach the charity to which you want to contribute with an irrevocable contribution.

Several Options: DAF offers the donors complete control over their funds and donations. They can choose the charities they like, contribute at a time they prefer, set up a customized investment strategy. It also enables its users to plan for setting up a systematic philanthropic strategy beyond their lifetime and set up a legacy

Donate to Global Charities with Tax exemption: You can donate to any charity across the globe through DAF and get a tax deduction for your donations.

After looking at the benefits DAF offers, one would be inclined to invest in one.

However, before you decide to go ahead with the investment, make sure to look into these caveats:

• Once you donate to a DAF, it does not belong to you anymore. You cannot change your mind later. So, you have to be 100% sure about the donation of your personal asset.
• While considering the overall costs of setting up your DAF, you need to bear in mind the administrative costs associated.
• If your annual giving is below $2500, DAF is not an ideal charitable donation for you. This is because you will get a tax exemption only if you deposit an amount that significantly higher than the standard tax deduction in the year when you make the deposit.
• If your annual giving is in the range of $100,000, then other charities might prove to be better.

Therefore, it is best to get a clear understanding of all aspects of DAF and assess whether it is the best choice for you or not.

If you have decided that DAF is the best charitable funding option for you, there are several DAFs you can choose from.

Based on their sponsors, DAFs are classified as:

National Charities: These may be independent national organizations like NPT or account custodians such as Fidelity or Schwab Charitable.

Community Foundations: Some big cities like Seattle and Tacoma, etc. offer DAF to carry out the charitable interests of citizens of a specific geographical area.

Single-issue Charities: These are established for funding a single charitable intent. These may be faith-based, environmental, or for social causes.

Here’s a list of the Top 10 Donor-Advised Funds for 2021 where you can invest:

1. Fidelity Charitable
2. Schwab Charitable
3. Donors Trust
4. National Philanthropic Trust
5. Foundation Source(Private Foundation)
6. Silicon Valley Community Foundation
7. SCOF(Supporting Organization)
8. New York Community Trust
9. Impact Assets
10. National Christian Foundation

Each of these DAFs has specific rules and regulations. It is recommended that you consult an expert before you choose the best donor-advised fund for you.

iConnectX is one of the best platforms to help you connect with any charitable organization!

2020 has been a tough year for most businesses globally. The non-profit sector has also suffered its wrath. Fundraising was way below the expected goals. Almost 38% of nonprofits had to close down in the last year.

Fundraising post-COVID is likely to become more challenging for nonprofits for several reasons:

1. Unemployment and financial losses: COVID 19 has taken a toll on the global economy. Many businesses have had to close down, people across the globe have lost jobs, there have been massive pay cuts, etc. All these have impacted fundraising. People who were donating funds to charities before COVID are finding it difficult to do so currently. Under, the circumstances the future of fundraising does not look very bright.
2. Lack of in-person events: One of the most effective ways for non-profits to raise awareness about their brands and market them was through in-person events. Events offered an opportunity for donors, etc. to interact with the members of the non-profit and this helped build trust. Besides, hosting nonprofit events also involved contributions by sponsors. Sponsors also helped market the brand. But physical distancing and other restrictions have put a halt on events like 5km runs, etc.

The good news for nonprofits is that although monetary donations were not much, that the pandemic did not deter people from giving in kind. A report by Women’s Philanthropy Institute shows that 56% of US households indulged in charitable giving in 2020. (Source: Philanthropy)

This goes on to show that the willingness is there among the donors although they may lack the means. The onus is entirely on the nonprofits to think of ways of spreading the word about their organization, connect with donors, engage them and motivate them to donate.

Technology emerges as the ray of hope that can completely transform the nonprofit sector. Technological innovations have been around and many nonprofit organizations had been leveraging them even before COVID. But many nonprofits shied away from using technology for fundraising and other activities either because of the costs associated or because they felt it was too complicated to implement.

However, today we can safely say that the future of nonprofit fundraising will depend on how well it uses technology. In other words, technology is no longer a choice but a Must for nonprofit fundraising!

Let us delve into how technology can help a nonprofit organization

Since in-person interactions have been restricted, the only way for nonprofits to connect with their audience is virtual. Besides nonprofits need to offer online methods for donations. Also, nonprofits need to engage the tech-savvy Millennials and Gen Z donors.

These are technological tools that nonprofits require and how they can benefit from them:

Websites

Nonprofits will need a strong online presence with the help of websites that clearly communicate to the audience what the brand is about. Websites should explain the mission of the nonprofit. Websites should also include donor forms and offer the provision to donate. It is also essential that the website is mobile-friendly.

Benefit: A website helps raise awareness about your brand. It can also help you inform your visitors about any upcoming events, etc. It is easy to keep your visitors coming back to your site by refreshing the site with new content. Your website helps you establish authority in your field when you share relevant content about your niche.

Digital Marketing

The internet is full of a variety of websites. Then how do you attract your audience to your site?

Digital marketing is necessary for you to ensure that your brand stands out in the digital marketplace. Different digital marketing strategies like social media marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing, etc. are used to increase the visibility of the site.

Benefits: Digital marketing strategies help enhance the ranking of your website on search engines. When your website ranks high, it will attract more visitors. Strategies like email marketing enable you to offer a personalized marketing approach. This helps build trust and loyalty. Social media marketing is one of the most effective ways to connect with a wide audience.

Online Fundraising

Nonprofits need to ensure that they offer simple online fundraising methods to their audience. They can provide donation facilities through their website or even social channels.

Benefits: Online fundraising tools help attract more donations as donors find it easy to donate.

Virtual Event Platforms

Events are most effective to connect with the audience. Since physical events do not seem likely in the near future, virtual events are the only alternative. Virtual events have become popular during the past year.

Virtual events are hosted using software platforms. Nonprofits must familiarize themselves with different platforms and use them for hosting events.

Benefits: Virtual event platforms include a myriad of features to simplify the process of organizing events. They include online registrations, breakout rooms, feedback forms, and many more to help the hosts. Platforms like iConnectx.com are customized for hosting nonprofit events. They include all the features required to organize a successful nonprofit event.

These are some of the technological innovations and their benefits to nonprofits. Many nonprofits are a little skeptical about using technology because of the costs. However, technology cannot be ignored in the current times and even in the post-COVID times.

Nonprofits need to invest in technology because of the benefits it offers in the long run. Besides in the current pandemic situation, technology is a survival technique!

There is no denying that technology is expensive compared to the conventional techniques used. However, how much a nonprofit spends on technology is something that can be controlled. It is recommended that a nonprofit budgets its expenses and allocates fixed sums to different technological tools it uses.

The nonprofit organization can determine the blend of technological tools it requires and invest specific funds for each. You can assess the effectiveness of the technologies leveraged by analyzing the returns they provide.

It is beneficial to work within the budget so that the expenses incurred are well in control.

Summarizing

The pandemic has driven home the important point that the future is highly unpredictable! And, since we cannot control or predict the future, we need to have the ability to adapt to it. While the future of nonprofits also cannot be predicted, one thing that has become apparent is that adopting technology is a must for nonprofits. Technology offers several benefits that justify the funds invested. While the initial investment of funds, time, and efforts might seem tedious and expensive, it is worthwhile in the long run. One of the best technologies that are tailored to managing all aspects of running a nonprofit in the future is iConnectX!

Connect with iConnectX for better fundraising!

Digital is the “new normal” and nonprofits also need to adapt to digital means of operating. This means whether it is raising funds or hosting events, nonprofits will have to choose online methods. Fortunately, a plethora of online fundraising platforms is available to streamline the fundraising process for nonprofits!

The basic objective of all nonprofits is to raise funds through various events and campaigns. However, the difference lies in the specific methods each nonprofit uses to raise money online.

How nonprofits raise money online

Online Giving

This is a method of collecting donations directly through the nonprofit’s website. To facilitate online giving, the platform should be capable of creating branded donation pages for the nonprofit’s website. An online donation page makes it easy to donate gifts for specific campaigns. The donation page should also facilitate monthly or recurring donations.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is an online fundraising strategy wherein a nonprofit creates a campaign on a third-party platform. These campaigns help raise funds for an urgent need of the nonprofit. Crowdfunding usually has small and mid-sized donations from numerous donors. Nonprofits that use crowdfunding as a fundraising option need an online platform that has the features that support it. For instance, it should support secure and easy payment methods, it should facilitate tracking fund generation over a fixed period, etc.

Peer to Peer Fundraising

Online peer-to-peer fundraising warrants platforms that enable individual supporters to create donation pages on behalf of the nonprofit. The donations solicited by these supporters through their pages are transferred directly to the nonprofit.

Matching Gift

This is a corporate philanthropy program wherein the employers match the donation of their employees. The online platform that supports the matching gift program will promote a matching gift database on the donation page. So, when a donor lands on the donation page, he can use a search tool to find out the donation made by his employer and whether he can match it or not. If your budget is high, you can even think of an automated matching gift software. In an automated process, the donors get automatic reminders and are guided through the entire process.

Online Auction

If a nonprofit uses using auctions to raise funds online, then it will need a platform that engages the audience and streamlines the auction process. Online auctions do not require paper bids or a lengthy registration process. However, nonprofits that leverage online auction for fundraising need to ensure that they provide their users a mobile bidding app as well.

While these are some of the most popular online fundraising strategies used by nonprofits, your nonprofit may use some other methods. The most important factor for online fundraising is the choice of the fundraising platform. Hence, a nonprofit must ensure that it selects the right platform which serves its purpose.

But choosing the right one can be quite confusing!

Here’s a guide to selecting an online fundraising platform:

Step 1: Establish your Goals

The goal of any nonprofit is to raise funds using the fundraising platform it chooses. Online fundraising platforms offer umpteen features like collecting data about the donors, setting up recurring donations, help spread awareness about the nonprofit, and many more. However, each platform has a specific set of features. Hence, you need to choose one that is aligned with your goals.

Step 2: Ascertain if the Online Platform has the Essential Characteristics

Certain basic features are required in any online fundraising platform. So, when you are shortlisting platforms, ensure that they have those features.

Characteristics of fundraising platforms

Customizable

When you look at different fundraising platforms, you might find that they have several attractive features that may be useful for you. However, you must make sure that the platform can be customized for your usage. In other words, you should be able to use the features you require according to your needs.

Responsive on Mobiles and Tablets

Make sure that you choose platforms that can be used on all devices such as desktops, mobiles, tablets, etc. This helps you reach a wider audience.

The platform should load quickly on all devices and the data buttons should be prominent and easy to click across devices. The page should not suffer in terms of quality when loading on different devices.

Easy Set-up

Some online fundraising platforms require technical knowledge for setting up and managing them while some others are less complicated. Choose a platform that is easy to set up. You can also check with the service provider if they offer training, customer support, etc.

Integrations offered

Make sure that the online platform integrates seamlessly with your CRM. This will save your time and effort in transferring your existing data into the platform.

This will also simplify the process of running campaigns and planning fundraising strategies.

Ease of Payments

The purpose of any online fundraising platform is to facilitate donations. Hence, ensure that the platforms you shortlist have easy payment options. Check whether they allow credit card/debit card payments or not.

Also, make sure that the platform is a PCI complaint. PCI compliance is a must for any platform that accepts credit card payments. It helps keep secure the confidential data such as credit card details provided by the donors.

Event hosting

Virtual events are here to stay, at least in the near future. What this means is that you will need an online fundraising platform that offers comprehensive features for hosting virtual events to raise funds.

Flexibility

Select a platform that can cater to your future needs. In other words, don’t choose a platform that only satisfies your current requirements. For instance, if you want to add more types of fundraising options at a later date, your platform should be able to accommodate such changes. Flexibility and scalability are must-have features when selecting an online fundraising platform.

Step 3: Comparison

Once you have shortlisted some online fundraising platforms, you will need to compare them and decide on the one best suited to your needs.

You can compare different platforms based on the above characteristics. You can also check out if the platform offers any other features that you can customize according to your needs.

Step 4: Price Comparison

The last step to select an online platform is to compare their prices. It is recommended that you do a cost-benefit analysis before deciding on the online platform you will buy.

While comparing the prices of different online platforms, you must adhere to your nonprofit’s budgets. Keeping your budget in mind while choosing the platform will ensure that you do not spend more than the funds you raise!

The base price of a platform is usually quoted by the provider, you need to include any other additional costs for a realistic comparison.

Here’s a list of some costs you need to take into account:

• Base price
• Price of enhancements or additional features
• Expenses towards IT support
• Cost of training the in-house team for using the platform
• The number of users the platform can support.
• Processing fees of payment

There may be other expenses associated with the different online platforms you may have shortlisted. You must anticipate all such costs for each platform and then compare them.

Make sure that you ask the service provider for different options. This is because a software provider may provide options that include additional features.

If you are looking for a platform that offers all the features required for online fundraising, then make sure to connect with the experts at iConnectX! We have been in the field of philanthropy for several years and provide platforms that cater to all the needs of nonprofits for online fundraising!

The year 2020 was the year most of us would like to wipe out from our memories. With the vaccine coming into play, 2021 is expected to help us recover from the state the pandemic had brought the world to! Fundraising in the last year faced its own set of challenges forcing nonprofits to rethink their strategies that will influence donors.

The pandemic has greatly transformed the way businesses’ function. There is a huge thrust on digitalization. In fact, we can say that technology and digital presence are no longer an option but a compulsion for all businesses including nonprofits. Therefore, if you are looking to position your nonprofit for fundraising success, you will need to build better fundraising strategies.

How to Plan an Impactful Fundraising Strategy?

All nonprofits are racking their brains on what fundraising strategies will work in 2021?

While we hear of several technological innovations and marketing techniques, we should not be in a hurry to adopt them without analyzing whether they are aligned with the working of our business model.

It is best to adopt a simple basic approach to developing a fundraising strategy for your nonprofit.

Here are a few aspects that you need to consider before you plan your fundraising strategy for 2021:

1. Analyze Last Year’s Performance

Before you plan your strategy for 2021, you must check out your last year’s performance.

This could be aspects like:

• The funds generate
• Losses incurred
• Number of donors lost/gained
• Email subscribers
• Donation patterns, etc.

This will give you a fair idea about the areas of improvement. Also, you will know exactly how much funds you have on hand and can budget your marketing expenses accordingly.

2. Data

When you are planning your fundraising strategy for 2021, it is recommended that you make a data-based plan.

What this means is that you collect data to find out details like:

• Demographics of your donors
• Details of global fundraising in 2020
• Market trends
• The type of charities that people liked to engage with, etc.

3. Technology

Businesses across the globe are adapting to new technologies. We have seen during the past year how buyers have switched from brick-and-mortar stores to online stores or how virtual events have replaced physical events, etc.

However, not all technologies are relevant for all businesses. Nonprofits need to identify the technologies that will help them in their fundraising strategies and invest in them.

These principal components of fundraising can be considered as the foundation on which you can build your fundraising strategy for 2021!

Let us look at the Top Fundraising Strategy to Capitalize in 2021

1. Choice of Charities

You need to select the charities that your nonprofit associates with carefully. It is important to bear in mind that all those charities that you had been supporting before the pandemic may not be the ones that donors are interested in anymore.

This is where the research that you have done will come in handy. Data that you have collected will give you an idea of the charities that donors are inclined towards.

So, based on this you can choose the charities for your nonprofit. However, make sure that you select those charities that are aligned with the vision of your nonprofit.

2. Aligning Stakeholders

In 2021, nonprofit fundraising will need extensive marketing efforts. Technology will also have a vital role to play in nonprofit fundraising. Hence, before you plan, it is essential to identity the entities that will add value to your fundraising efforts.

It is also beneficial to consider using tools that facilitate collaboration through a single platform. This streamlines coordination and saves time in planning and strategizing.

3. Budget

2020 has taught us the importance of financial planning. During the last year, all those organizations that had saved sufficient funds were the ones that could cope with the economic downturn.

Therefore, any fundraising strategy should begin with a budget where specific sums are allocated for each activity associated with the fundraising strategy.

4. Make Online Donations Easy

With people turning online for all their needs, facilitating online donations is a Must for nonprofits. Also, bear in mind that many donors are still not very comfortable using technology, so make online donations easy for them. You can offer donation buttons on your website, social media, etc. Make sure that donations are possible with all devices like tablets, iPads, etc. especially mobiles.

5. Encourage Monthly Donations

The financial challenges might discourage many donors. Therefore, you can encourage your donors to donate small sums monthly. Some nonprofits are accepting donations of $10 also to motivate their donors.

If donors are encouraged to donate small amounts during their tough times and they know their funds are being used well, they will be more inclined to donate monthly.

6. Revamp your Email Marketing

Many of you must be having a subscribers list and you may be sending emails to your subscribers. However, it is time to check your existing email list.

You need to identify the inactive subscribers. Reach out to them and find out why they are not responding. Purging your email list is essential so that your efforts are not wasted on unresponsive subscribers.

Subscribers may not be active due to several reasons. Many people change their email addresses, or they may have moved to some other non-profit, etc. Therefore, you need to identify the ones who can come back to your nonprofit and think of ways of attracting them.

Also, when you critically assess your existing email list, you will get a clear idea of the number of existing email subscribers. This will help you set clear goals on the number of subscribers you intend to reach in a specific time frame. This will help you plan your email strategy.

7. Revamp your Website

In 2021 you might find that the features or services of your website before the pandemic may no longer be relevant under the current circumstances. Therefore, it is a good idea to critically evaluate your website and tweak it so that it meets the demands of your audience.

For instance, if you are choosing new charities, you can communicate this to your audience through your website. It is beneficial to introduce trending features on your website. For instance, video content, etc.

8. Social Media Marketing

The popularity of social media has gone up by leaps and bounds during the past year. Social media campaigns are necessary to spread awareness about your nonprofit. Social media channels are highly effective in building a rapport with your audience. Find out the social media channels your nonprofit audience uses and the timings they are active on and connect with them there.

9. Virtual Events

Events are important for fundraising by nonprofits. However, the pandemic has put a halt to all physical events. And, we have seen a rise in the number of virtual events being hosted during the past year.

However, if you want good participation with effective fundraising in your virtual events, you need some out-of-box thinking to engage your audience throughout the event. You can customize the event experience for your audience with the help of the data you have gathered.

10. Ramp up Technology

The year 2021 will be technology-driven! Several automation tools and innovative technologies are available for nonprofits to leverage.

Choose the best technologies and customize them according to your fundraising strategies. One of the most sought-after technologies by nonprofits is an event hosting platform.

With social distancing norms and lockdowns, events can only be hosted virtually. Event hosting platforms offer a myriad of features that make it easy to host virtual events.

iConnectX has some of the best features that are tailored to the needs of nonprofits. iConnectX has been in the field of philanthropy for several years and has all systems set up to meet the goals of nonprofits.

The past year has changed literally everything! We are all adapting to new ways of living and cautiously creating a “new normal!” The new normal is going to have technology at the forefront. This is because only technology can help people across the globe collaborate and work towards common goals.

The global economy has suffered huge setbacks in the past year and is still taking time to recover. The nonprofit sector is also impacted. However, it is heartening to note that more people across the globe are motivated to their bit for the community amid the crisis. Therefore, the nonprofit sector is witnessing more interest and involvement.

It is now time for nonprofits to buckle-up and adapt to the “new normal!”

Events are the mainstay for nonprofits to engage their audience. However, social distancing has put a halt on physical events since 2020. And virtual events have become popular in 2020.

Virtual events are the way ahead for nonprofits in 2021!

When organizing an event virtually, you need to get creative and organize events that engage a larger audience. It is recommended that you study the demographics of the donors for your cause and customize your event according to their interests.

Here’s how nonprofits can strategize virtual events to reach a wide audience:

How to make Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Virtual?

Peer-to-peer fundraising help create a sense of community. Besides they have the potential to generate twice the amount of funds compared to most other digital fundraising initiatives.

One of the best ways to convert existing campaigns into peer-to-peer fundraisers is by asking your donors to set up their own online fundraising pages and linking them through software tools. You can urge your donors to reach out to their friends and social groups to build the community.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a traditional form of fundraising that has an integrated online component.

You can create a dedicated crowdfunding page to fund a specific fund with a target amount. This method offers complete transparency, and you can communicate the progress to your donors easily.

Live-Stream

During the pandemic era, online videos have experienced a surge in engagement. Nonprofits can create live events on Facebook Live, Instagram Live, or Zoom.

Live-streaming comes closest to a physical event because it offers an opportunity to question and engage with each other.

Webinars

Webinars help raise awareness and engage the audience digitally. You can organize a series of webinars with specific agendas.

You can start with educating your audience about how to interact and what they stand to gain. You can organize informative webinars with the CEO and interviews, etc. with your donors.

Webinars are quite effective in engaging a wide audience and sharing valuable information.

Virtual Gala

This is an interesting concept of a virtual event where you can organize a fundraiser with the top supporters of your nonprofit. You can invite a speaker to address the group.

You can make it a fun event by organizing a virtual dinner party or luncheon. Decide on a menu and ask the members to cook. The group members can dress up for the virtual dinner party to add a zing! Alternatively, you could organize a theme party.

Such creative ideas make the event engaging for all the members.

Virtual Marathons

Did you think that marathons are impossible in 2021? Think again! Use your creativity to organize virtual marathons!

You can ask the attendees to run outside their homes or on the treadmill on a specific date at a particular time. Make sure to set up an activity goal when all attendees run at the same time on their own. Of course, the attendees must be asked to sign-up for the event and pay a registration fee.

Make it a fundraiser through the race date while tracking their race times. Check out who are members who cross their fundraising and physical finish lines. This a very effective method to engage the participants.

Take it a step ahead by celebrating the members with a live-stream. You can also make the event interesting by inviting someone from your organization to address the group. Help the participants to connect. This will make your event popular because, during the time of self-isolation, people will be looking for an opportunity to connect with other like-minded people.

The same concept can be used to organize a bikeathon or a climbathon. All these activities offer great engagement and are highly effective fundraisers.

Online Charity Auctions

Charity auctions are very popular fundraising events. Fortunately, the concept of online auctions existed even before the pandemic. In 2021, online auctions might almost replace physical auctions until the pandemic comes in control.

An online auction is beneficial as it can engage a global audience. You can use online auction platforms like iConnectx.com for an online auction.

Make bidding easy for your audience by setting up a page specifically for listing the items available for bidding. You can compare the bids and organize a fancy event to declare the winners. Events such as webinars, live streams, or Virtual galas are great options for declaring the winners.

Although, the concept of an online auction is simple to implement and offers several benefits, finding quality products for auction might be a challenge this year. This is because of the way businesses are struggling to cope with the present economic situation.

Virtual Conference

Don’t let social distancing hamper your efforts to cultivate a community! You can explore the option of the virtual conference for your purpose.

You could organize a day-long conference with talks, workshops, etc. in which people can dial into events of their choice.

Some examples of the speakers at the conference are members of the Board who can explain about the charity. It is a good idea to ask people who have benefitted from your organization to share their experiences. Experts who are knowledgeable about your cause can be good speakers at a conference.

Conferences may be organized on Zoom. Make sure to make the conference interactive to retain the interest of your audience.

Virtual Bingo/Concerts/Happy Hours

If you are looking to engage a wide audience, it is recommended you try different types of virtual events. This is because the type of audience you attract depends on the type of event you organize. While events like conferences are a little serious in nature, they will attract a specific type of audience events like virtual bingo, virtual concerts, or virtual happy hours are fun events that attract a very different type of audience.

While such events are organized virtually through Zoom, etc. they give the audience a feeling that they are getting out of their homes and having a night of fun.

Gaming Fundraisers

Gaming has become an extremely popular form of entertainment during the pandemic.

Virtual gaming can be used effectively for fundraising in different ways. For instance, you can engage popular gamers and Livestream their game. They can point viewers towards your fundraising campaigns.

Gaming can also be used to cultivate community by organizing a competition between teams. organizing such tournaments helps in fundraising. You can have local businesses sponsor gifts for winners of such tournaments.

These are some ideas of the types of virtual events you can organize. However, technology has made it easy to innovate and create more variations in virtual events.

An event management platform simplifies the process of organizing events. It is recommended that you choose a platform that offers you several features to give you the flexibility to add variations in your virtual event.

iConnectX is just the perfect platform for organizing any virtual event. This platform has been used for organizing events for nonprofits for several years. Therefore, it already has some of the essential features required for such events. Besides, at iConnectX, we are persistently updating the platform with new features to enhance the user-experience through events.

Connect with iConnectX to create events that will delight your audience!

Charity auctions are events where funds are raised by selling off items and products to whoever bids the highest. While the bidder gets to enjoy the product/item, the fundraising organization gets to enjoy the money. An absolute win-win situation!

If handled right, these events can prove to be immensely beneficial, both in raising funds and building long-term engagement with the donors and bidders. Before going into how an ideal event should be planned, let’s understand the essentials.

Types of Charity Auctions

There are three types of charity auctions

1. Live Auctions
2. Silent Auctions
3. Online/Virtual Auctions

Live Auctions

These types of auctions are what most people think about when the word ‘auction’ comes up. In these events, an auctioneer with a gavel is present. He showcases the items on auction and manages the bidding process. The bidders place their bids using placards or by saying it out loud.

Silent Auctions

Silent auctions are events where items and products are displayed on tables for attendees to bid on. The bid can either be made by writing the amount down on a piece of paper or by using the phone. If you’d have watched F.R.I.E.N.D.S, the bid that takes place in the sitcom is an example of the silent auction.

Online/Virtual Auctions

Online or virtual auctions are like silent auctions except that these happen online through a dedicated website and a catalog of items on sale. Further, auction software is needed to help the fundraising organizations manage the entire process. If you happen to find the right platform to host online auctions, it is bound to give better and brighter results as the process becomes extremely easy.

Combined Auctions

You can also combine the auction types to create more impact. For instance, an online auction can be combined with the part where the bid happens live. This will help boost the adrenaline rush among the guests.

How To Host Charity Auctions

1. Choose the right software
2. Promote the event well
3. Communicate with your supporters
4. Follow-up

How to Host A Successful Charity Auction

1. Choose A Reliable Online Platform

Choosing a platform is of miraculous significance while planning to hold charity auctions. Ensure the platform allows easy and quick bidding delivers notifications and urges involvement.

2. Know Your Policies Well

Discuss and find solutions to questions like – How the prizes/items will be delivered to the bidders? Who will bear the shipping charges – the bidder or the organization? Be clear and articulate the same clarity to the audience so they know what to expect.

3. Engage the Audience

Keeping the audience hooked is of the utmost importance. You can share the pictures of the items that are put on bids to increase excitement and curiosity.

4. Don’t Spoil the Audience for Choice

Keeping a lot of bid options usually backfires. If we apply this to our own lives, we often end up buying nothing when we have a range of things to choose from. Hence, start small.

5. Keep the Prices of the Items Moderate

The prices should not be too high or too low. In case of hefty prices, nobody makes a purchase and in case of extremely low prices, people start questioning the quality of the products. Thus, the product prices should be strategically chosen.

6. Auction Software to Have the Donation Option

Ensure that your auction software has the Donation Option so the guests can pay easily, without any hassles.

The Benefits of Charity Auctions

1. Raise a Lot of Money

If you can get hold of unique and worthy items or products to put on sale, your charity auction is bound to garner a lot of attraction, which consequently will drive a lot of donations.

2. Know Your Donors Up-Close

Charity auctions are a great way to know your donors up-close and personal. One-on-one communication with your prospects can increase the chances of donations.

3. Saves Time

Charity auctions save a lot of time. For one, you don’t have to go around week after week asking for donations from individuals. It, thus, can raise a lot of money in a small period.

How to Promote Your Charity Auction

1. Direct Mail: Letters, pamphlets, fliers, etc. prove to be of great help when promoting a charity auction.
2. Email Marketing: This aspect must not be missed. In a world where checking emails is a part and parcel of your life, sending emails to promote events is a great move.
3. Word of Mouth: Tell as many friends and relatives as you can and ask them to spread the word. Word of mouth works wonders.
4. Social Media: Don’t neglect platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, etc to promote your event. Data says that 80% of people spend 2 hours on average on their social profiles daily.
5. Make Phone Calls: Print a list of your major donors and call them personally to invite them to the event. A personal touch goes a long, long way.
6. PPC: Run ads to reach out to more people. One usually gets triple the amount one spends on running ads.

Points to Note When Planning a Charity Auction

Stick to Your Budget

In live auctions, charity planners sometimes end up going extravagant with the theme, flowers, decorations, etc. The act of making everything appear aesthetically appealing sometimes disrupts the budget. This shouldn’t happen.

At all times, one thing that should be kept in mind is that the event is being organized to raise money and not to go overboard in spending. Hence, all the purchases must be made keeping the budget in mind.

Promote Your Items Early

Don’t wait for the auction day to showcase your items or products. Instead, start promoting them days in advance so the bidders know what they can grab and are excited for the same. This promotes more participation and ultimately more donations.

Procure Unique Items

Remember the thumb rule – The more unique the items, the more money you’ll be able to raise. Thus, asking for unique products from individuals and local businesses for donation so they can be put on a bid is a must.

Pick a Great Venue

Choosing a venue that’s spacious matters a great deal. It makes the audience comfortable and takes them to a state where they are happy to donate. Also, there must be enough space for tables (in case it’s a silent auction) and a podium (in case it’s a live auction).

If it’s a silent auction, using mobile bidding software can help you raise more money because of the convenience it offers. However, choosing the right software that is a perfect blend of ease and cost-efficiency is what will need your attention.

With this, we hope you got a comprehensive overview of the nitty-gritty in association with charity auctions. With the above pointers and the right tools, planning your next charity auction will be a breeze!

So, tempted to host a charity auction? Or looking for a platform to host your virtual auction? IConnectX is here to help!

Having helped hundreds of organizations raise money, we will walk you through everything that is needed to make your auction a successful event.

Get in touch today!

Just like the other sectors, COVID-19 has turned the nonprofit sector on its head. With around 5-10% of the US economy and 10% of the US employment dependent on nonprofit services, the pandemic has only made the country realize the power of this sector. And for good!

However, the way it has evolved during these unprecedented times is commendable. The nonprofit sector has, thus, given a path to a few trends that have made their way into 2021 and will continue to hold a firm grasp.

In this guide, we will dive deeper to understand 4 ways the nonprofit sector will evolve stronger in 2021.

1. Nonprofit Sector Will Turn Digital & Virtual

Because COVID seemed to be in no mood to leave us alone, the nonprofits eventually shifted from in-person to virtual events. While this shift was expected to be short-lived, the news is that it will continue over 2021 and beyond.

That’s precisely because digital events succeeded in blurring the geographical barriers, letting people (who otherwise wouldn’t have) participate.

Further, the lack of in-person volunteering has and will continue to make the virtual aspect of nonprofit marketing outshine the previous methodologies. This means that nonprofits will (have to) incorporate live-streaming, curate content for live events, install chat apps and promote virtual volunteerism.

This move will eradicate the largest barrier to volunteering i.e. volunteers citing busy schedules as an excuse. Volunteering from the comfort of their homes, thus, gives people their own space to bring about a difference in their own way.

Not just this, the focus will also shift a little more on digital communication, be it for meet-and-greets, fundraising, or likewise.

We might also see an evolution of virtual events. Here’s why!

Post a recent study from the Goodman Center that pointed out how 65% of the respondents raised concerns regarding videoconferences adding up to their fatigue, fear of virtual fundraising events becoming difficult cropped up alongside.

For example – For nonprofits that offer educational services, videoconferencing is not the best source.

Thus, the virtual event market is likely to experience a seachange and new tools will be introduced to support the online programs. This will enhance the experience of the attendees and donors.

2. High-Tech Technology Will Help Nonprofits Find Their Donors

Nonprofits will delve into high-tech solutions like

• Artificial Intelligence
• Blockchain for Fundraising
• Outcome Management
• Enhanced Communication

This will be done to find the right donors.

For Example Direct mails or social media conversations are the primary mode of communication for nonprofits to target their potential audience.

However, these are still too basic to make an impact. AI is expected to wave its magic wand and introduce tools like automation which will personalize the messages along with reducing the effort while increasing the impact. Cool, right?

But how can these tools be managed?

Well, it’s simple! These tools can be added through managed cloud services, thereby letting the nonprofits boost their services whenever needed.

With tools like chatbots, AI can really turn the tables in terms of conducting better and brighter campaigns/events; be it serving the community in whatever way.

Long story short, nonprofits will enhance their communication using the latest technology.

Mobile, for one, will become a hotshot in 2021; thanks to the mobile marketing techniques that are impressively improving at an exponential rate.

According to research from the Blackbaud Institute, mobile donations represented 26% of all online donations in 2019, up from just 9% in 2014.

Giving Tuesday has seen $2.47 billion in donations in 2020 which is much higher than $1.97 billion in 2019. It is interesting to note that most of these donations have been through mobile.

3. Nonprofits Will See More Partnerships, Mergers, and Joint Ventures

As every business does, even nonprofit organizations tend to grow their branches into different areas where they can expand their programs. While they have the resources to carry out the expansion of operations, they don’t really have the right knowledge to do so. A human can only know so much, after all!

Because a single entity can’t have all the specializations, taking into consideration the technological and demographic shifts, 2021 will see nonprofits forming joint ventures, mergers, and partnerships.

In other words –

• Some nonprofits will enter into strategic partnerships with other nonprofit organizations.
• Some nonprofits will form joint partnerships with for-profit organizations.
• Some nonprofits will consider mergers, either with other nonprofit or for-profit entities.

In 2021, we’ll witness nonprofits having concrete conversations regarding this with one another and also with the corporations to make a better impact.

Not just this, but many nonprofits are attuned to both private and public organizational goals and needs. This will make them create more public-private partnerships in 2021.

4. Grantmaking Will Become More Collaborative

Even before COVID-19 gave us all a blow, nonprofits were witnessing a shift in the grants process. Everybody related to this industry knows how crucial grants as resources are for nonprofits to fund and boost services that are offered to the communities.

But nobody worked towards making the grant process easier even after knowing how cumbersome it is for both the grantor and the grantee.

However, last year, we all saw how traditional grantmaking succumbed to pressure. This was because the demand for funds exponentially increased and grantors hustled to get grants out faster.

It is indeed commendable that nonprofits and Grantmakers could collectively raise their concern regarding this issue after all these years, thus coming up with a solution.

For Example: Outbound Funds Module is an open-source product that was built to help organizations disburse funds quickly and easily.

To enhance the collaboration between grantors and grantees, salesforce.org has built Grants Management as a complement to Outbound Funds. This has improved the grants experience right from the step of applying for the application to its distribution to its reporting.

Another example is The Malala Foundation. It records donor interactions through Grant Management and takes supporters on a convenient ride – right from the first step of initial conversation to the last step of donating. This not only lets them have an insight into how the donor’s journey has been but also the zeal to improve since they have the loopholes.

Thus, the relationship between grantors and grantees is likely to turn less transactional and more collaborative in 2021.

Some key changes that will be introduced are –

• Better processes
• Higher transparency
• More feedbacks

Wrapping Up

With the world adapting to the new normal after the pandemic, it is only natural that people will adapt to the changes introduced in the nonprofit sector.

Because the world demanded it, even iConnectX as a brand revamped itself and now offers all nonprofits a digital platform and the right technology to hold virtual events, raise funds, carry out auctions, and more.

The thing is one can’t really lag when there’s a shift in the needs of the community.

Nevertheless, all the trends that are bound to evolve in the nonprofit sector will only give it a push to achieve newer and better heights. Even though it might seem difficult to replace the personal touch of a call, technology will soon take over, turning automation into the new “personal.”

It’s all subjective.

In case you are struggling or ever struggle dealing with the digitalization/virtualization of nonprofits or any of the points discussed above, remember iConnectX is just a live chat/call away.