Three tools fundraisers can use to get their fundraising back on track
Sepetember 2020
As we emerge from the coronavirus crisis, we’ve seen organisations and fundraisers deviating from their carefully laid fundraising plans and pivoting their programmes to get income back on track. We’ve had an influx of research requests from organisations realising the value of a well-researched major gifts fundraising programme. Here are our tips for fundraisers taking the lead and getting their fundraising back on track.
Communication is key
Get in touch with your current donors and supporters. If communication from your organisation has been patchy throughout lockdown, it’s time to fill in the gaps. Give your major donors a call and let them know how your organisation has responded to the challenges you’ve been facing and the opportunities that have come out of the crisis. You don’t need to call them up with a financial ask, checking in and building your existing relationship will keep you fresh in their minds so they’ll be more ready to help when you need it.
For the supporters you don’t have a close enough relationship with to call, send them a targeted communication letting them know what you’ve been up to and highlighting some of the ways they can support your cause. A lot of people have felt powerless during this crisis, so be careful to show all the ways they can help, even if they can’t afford to donate at this time.
Undertake some research
Is now the time to refresh your major gift fundraising programme by seeking out new prospects and becoming better acquainted with the supporters you already have? Carried out the right way, wealth screening is a perfectly lawful way of identifying the people connected with your cause who may have the ability to become major gift donors.
A wealth screening report will be able to tell you who among your current supporters has the ability to become a major donor, which of your supporters are known philanthropists and who the business leaders already supporting your charity are. Undertaken in line with GDPR guidelines, wealth screening can open the door to inspiring new major gift opportunities.
Prospect research can also help you identify new supporters that are not currently connected with your organisation, but research suggests, have both the capacity to give and an affinity to your cause.
Use this time to upskill
If you’ve found yourself with some unexpected free time, now is the perfect opportunity to hone your skills by learning about the research and processes behind successful major gift fundraising. In the coming months, we’ll be running free webinars on due diligence and gift acceptance for major gift fundraising, identifying and engaging your best corporate prospects, and data protection - getting it right for major gift fundraising. Places are limited on each of these webinars so secure your spot early. If you’d like us to run one of these training sessions for your team email us at info@prospectingforgold.co.uk or call us on 01491 577311.
