These days a fundraiser has to wear many hats. They need to be able to reach out to potential donors through a variety of channels, engage them in a way that is personal and tailored to their interests, and build long-term relationships that will result in a philanthropic win for everyone involved - the donor, the organization, and the participants the organization serves.
This can feel daunting, but by using a relational fundraising approach that integrates personal engagement and online tools, nonprofits can make the donor journey seamless and effective. Keep reading to learn more about how your nonprofit can make the most of relational fundraising!
What is Relational Fundraising?
Relational fundraising is an approach that focuses on building relationships and engaging donors through in-person/personal engagement and online tools. Fundraising teams engage with their supporters by getting to know them, their interests, and their stories. All while leveraging the power of technology to create a personalized donor experience right from a face-to-face visit to an automated thank you email. This combination of live contact, personalization and automated technology allows nonprofits to build more meaningful relationships with more donors.
Why Should Nonprofits Incorporate Personal and Engagement Online Tools?
Nonprofits can use personal engagement and online tools to create a seamless and effective donor journey. Tools such as email campaigns, event registration forms, donation forms, and donation tracking can all be used to help nonprofits streamline the fundraising process, making it easier for donors to engage and donate. Additionally, by engaging with donors on a personal level, nonprofits can build more meaningful relationships with their supporters, resulting in increased loyalty, increased trust, and more frequent donations.
How to Get Started with Relational Fundraising
Nonprofits can get started with relational fundraising by strengthening their relationships with donors. This can include updating contact information and tracking donor activities, as well as hosting events, engaging on social media, and sending personalized emails. Additionally, it’s crucial to incorporate a frictionless donation tracking system and donation forms. This way, nonprofits can ensure that donors have a seamless, secure, and convenient experience when giving.
The Power of Relational Fundraising
When utilizing personal engagement and online tools, nonprofits can maximize relational fundraising. Online tools make it easier for organizations to reach a wider audience, automate simple tasks, and track donor information. Additionally, digital communications such as email campaigns, social media posts, and video messages can be used to engage with donors on a more personal level. This combination of automated technology and personal engagement will help organizations build more meaningful relationships with their donors. Relational fundraising also plays an essential role in developing long-term engagement with donors. By getting to know their interests, stories, and values, nonprofits can engage authentically so that their messages and communications reflect the individual donor’s needs. This creates a more personalized donor experience, which can, in turn, lead to increased donations and more frequent giving over the long term.
Relational fundraising is a powerful way (maybe the only meaningful way) for nonprofits to engage with donors and cultivate value-based philanthropy that is win-win. Through personal engagement and online tools, nonprofits can ensure that they are offering donors a personalized, seamless experience while also gaining valuable insights into donor preferences and participation. This rich relational fundraising approach will not only lead to increased donations, better donor retention, and stronger loyalty. Relational fundraising is an essential part of the modern fundraiser’s toolkit and is a great way to ensure that your organization is making the most of its fundraising efforts.
Misti Hurst: November 23, 2023
