Funds raised in your organization’s name are too important to leave to chance.
Chapters have a host of fundraising tools available to them at the stroke of a key. Crowdfunding platforms have rapidly become the solution of choice, but they are not all created equally. It’s time to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes and do some investigating into your chapter’s fundraising efforts. A little detective work can go a long way in informing the steps your organization takes to set your chapters up for crowdfunding success.
Sleuth crowdfunding sites & see for yourself.
Mentioned in Part 1 of this series, one of the easiest ways to gain visibility into your chapter’s crowdfunding is to simply search GoFundMe and see for yourself. A search for your organization’s name or letters on popular crowdfunding sites will help you gather data and give you answers to questions like:
- What types of campaigns are your chapters running?
- Are they raising funds for your foundation, the chapter, or a social cause?
- What functionality are they utilizing from the platform?
- Are they meeting their fundraising goals?
In addition, by seeing what chapters are using the tools you can quickly identify passionate chapters that are eager to make an impact. These early adopters would make for great pilot chapters for your new crowdfunding initiatives. It also provides an opportunity to connect with chapters if they appear to need support or guidance.
Ask yourself where that money is going.
Someone in the chapter will deposit the funds raised into a bank account so that it can be donated. This process has inherent risks and gives rise to important questions on the oversight of the funds. Whose bank account are the funds going to? Who is overseeing that the funds arrive at their intended destination? Organizations that have offered crowdfunding tools to chapters have found it beneficial to have increased visibility into the security of donations and the flow of funds.
Uncover donor data that you are missing out on.
Crowdfunding campaigns provide valuable data on who is passionate about your organization and its associated social causes. You will also be able to gain insight into donor habits and preferences. Are they donating big or small amounts? Are they buying event tickets? Are they making a general donation or going through personal pages?
By harnessing donor data, you can monitor trends and develop a strategic roadmap for future fundraising efforts. Chapters can also use the data to re-engage with donors, understand who is donating, and in what amount.
If your research has you ready to build on your chapter’s enthusiasm for crowdfunding, in Part 3 of this series we will outline steps to help you kick-off your own strategy by having others pitch
Part 3: Capitalize on the buzz around crowdfunding
What can your organization do over the next six months? You don’t have to do it all yourself to see a positive change. Learn how you can collaborate with industry experts, leverage what has worked for other groups and enlist help from within your own organization to reach your goals.
Part 4: Leave a lasting legacy through crowdfunding
What is your long-term crowdfunding goal? One of crowdfunding’s largest benefits is its ability to make an impact with few barriers. In the background, it’s also providing security and data that will be valuable for years to come. We’ll cover how to keep these long-term goals in mind.
