We’re seeing significant changes in the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted aspects of society that we never expected. Individuals are working from home, others have applied for unemployment, and organizations everywhere have closed their doors.
Nonprofits are not exempt from the unprecedented impact of this global pandemic. Rather, some are actually feeling the radical societal changes more than anyone else as they operate on the frontlines combatting the virus.
Because of these radical shifts, we’re also seeing different trends emerging in the nonprofit world than previously anticipated for the year 2020.
Keeping up with new trends is vital for the health and wellbeing of nonprofit organizations everywhere. So, as you read through this guide on the latest developments in the nonprofit sector, think about how your organization can and should respond. Here are some of the trends to look out for:
Due to social distancing guidelines, people are spending more time than ever in their homes. Without the opportunity to gather as a community, how can your organization make sure your donors are staying engaged with your mission? By moving your mission online!
Launching virtual fundraising campaigns is an effective strategy to keep your community engaged. However, this only works if your organization is able to host such campaigns effectively. We recommend the following strategies to incorporate virtual elements to your next fundraising campaign:
Nonprofits have been moving toward virtual-style fundraising campaigns even before the pandemic. This means that the technology you need to handle these types of campaigns is already fully developed and ready to use.
You’re not limited by a single platform either! You can schedule multiple types of virtual fundraising campaigns throughout the coming months to engage your audience in a variety of ways. For example, you might schedule a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, plan your own dedicated day of giving for people to give to your online donation page, or host a virtual fundraising event to raise money while stewarding your supporters.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than just a shift in our day-to-day work and social lives. It has also caused a drastic downturn in the economy. More and more people are filing for unemployment benefits while many businesses have had to shut their doors.
Because of this, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for supporters to contribute to fundraising campaigns. As a nonprofit, this means your primary source of revenue is depleting.
But there is something you can do about it! There are resources available to help nonprofits deal with the ever-impending recession, including:
If you’re worried about raising enough money to get your organization through these difficult times, consider reaching out to a fundraising consultant. Many top consulting firms are offering free access to services, toolkits and other helpful resources to help nonprofits navigate the shifting economy. You can also recruit their help for your organization to develop a fundraising strategy that will work for you.
Many nonprofits, when faced with difficult times, make the mistake of halting or slowing down the frequency of communications they have with supporters. Keeping up with communication and engagement during these difficult times is what helps support future donor retention for your organization.
Future donor retention will ensure successful recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic ends. Therefore, consider brainstorming the types of engagement strategies that your organization can organize to keep your supporters involved.
Here are some examples of our favorite engagement strategies:
Truly engaging your supporters in a way that’s meaningful for them shows that your relationship extends beyond their wallets. Donors don’t want to feel like ATMs. Show them you care by getting creative with free engagement strategies.
You’ve probably realized how difficult it is to keep up with your different technological resources, especially while your team members are working from a distance. For instance, if a team member has a question about the functionality of one solution, they can’t just walk across the office to ask the best person.
Another problem that many are running into is that there is a connection issue between two of the software solutions. If this occurs, it can be difficult to figure out who should deal with the problem, which can halt all of your operations for a period of time if everyone needs access to the solutions.
For this reason, it’s become more and more apparent how valuable complete nonprofit software solutions are for virtual operations.
Consolidated technology helps prevent issues like:
A single platform with more functionality or a single provider with multiple solutions helps consolidate your technology for seamless connections. For example, if your CRM is accompanied by a fundraising software solution, you can rest assured that the data collected from your donation pages will be streamlined into donor profiles without a hitch.
We recommend starting with your CRM solution and building technology out from there. If you’re considering consolidating technology and want to look for a new donor database, this CRM guide from SalsaLabs should help walk you through the decision and purchasing process.
Everyone thought they knew what 2020 would bring in terms of nonprofit trends. However, no one could have guessed the extent of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the times and on nonprofit strategies. By adjusting your nonprofit’s plan accordingly, you’ll get through the pandemic and come out on the other side of it stronger than ever before.
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