SolveYourProblem eBusiness Series:
Fundraising Essentials For Your Non-Profit:
How To Raise All The Money You Want
( 34 pages )

Raising Money & Fundraising

Emails/Internet

Email and Internet communication is becoming more common. It is quite possible that donors and supporting companies and groups will contact your non-profit via email or other online means (such as Instant Messaging) in order to ask you questions about your fundraising efforts and to find out more about your group.

In general, email and Internet communication is similar to letter writing. You will want to begin with a salutation, add a body of text, and close off with your name or a sign off of some sort. However, online communication tends to be more casual. It is perfectly ok to use a casual salutation such as “hello,” Also, the body text of online notes and messages tends to be shorter. When writing online, use smaller sentences and paragraphs, as people often only skim online communications. The formal formatting and closing of a letter are also not necessary. A simple “thank you” or “best wishes,” is often adequate to close.

One thing about email and online communication is that it is not completely safe. You do not quite know who you are speaking to online or who else may be monitoring your transmission. For this reason, you should not share personal information over online channels and never allow donors to pass on their credit card numbers, banking information, or other personal data in an email or instant message. It is best to keep online communication general. Offer the donor or person you are “chatting” with online some basic information and provide contact information (such as a telephone) for further contact.

Telephone

If you are telemarketing, you will need to worry about telephone communication a great deal, but even if you are not you should strive to make your telephone communication with others as effective as possible. Always identify yourself and your non-profit group when you answer the phone or call someone in regards to fundraising business.

Modulate your voice so that you are speaking neither too loud not too quiet. Also strive to speak at a good pace - one that is neither so fast as to be incomprehensive or so slow as to be annoying. Be polite on the phone and take care not to keep someone waiting on the line. If you are not sure how you sound on the phone, tape yourself and evaluate how pleasant your phone is. A little practice can help you alter your phone manners and phone voice enough to make a very good impression.

Thank-you notes

Few non-profits send tank-you notes to their donors, citing high costs. This is truly a shame. Thank you notes can make anyone feel appreciated, especially if they are handwritten. It does not cost much to have notes printed and then to take the time to sign each note. Donors will remember your non-profit with a smile.

If you want future fundraising to be effective, and if you can at all afford it, do send thank you notes. Even if this is not possible, do find some other way of thanking those who support you. At the very least, send handwritten thank you notes to the groups and companies who support you (and to your volunteers!) and find some other way to thank the many individual donors who help you fundraise.

“Thank you” is a word you need to say often while fundraising. You need to remind others that their efforts are a valuable gift and one that is well appreciated by your non-profit. When thanking donors and supporters, be sure to note your non-profit group’s name and purpose and offer a reminder of what programs or facilities generous support will be able to ensure. This will help make those people you are thinking rightfully proud of what they have contributed.

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