We’ve all heard the saying ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get.’ But we also all know how hard it is to ask for help. And it’s even harder asking for money.
But as charitable organisations that rely on donations, you need to know how to effectively ask for both these things.
So how do you ask for donations when you’re fundraising online?
1. Share your ‘why’ to inspire empathy
Evoke empathy in those with the means to donate, and you’re likely to inspire them to make a donation. When people part with their money, they want to believe that it’s truly going to make a difference to someone. They need to believe that your worthy cause is trustworthy and doing vital work. Donors will be much more willing to make a donation if they feel a connection with your ‘why’. You obviously feel passionate about your cause and why you do what you do – Share this passion with your potential supports and convince them to be a part of something great. A huge part of asking for donations is telling your story, so make it compelling. Convert their empathy into meaningful donations by directing them to your online fundraising page to share more of your journey with them as well as a clear call to action.
Part of our suite of digital fundraising tools here at Donater, is a dedicated, branded online donation page. This makes it easy for your donors to trust that their donation is going to your cause, as well as being able to donate quickly and simply using Apple Pay or Google Pay on a mobile device.
2. Who are you asking for donations and where are you asking them?
It’s important to know your audience. More traditional ways of fundraising have had to stop during the pandemic due to social distancing restrictions, for example door-to-door and street fundraising. Along with everyone else, charitable organisations have had to connect with people online more. It’s important to take into account your target audience and where you are approaching them. For example, the content of a social media post encouraging support and donations will be very different to a formal email. If you want a positive response, then you need to consider who your target audience is and how you are contacting them.
Our digital fundraising tools make it easy to convert support into online donations on various platforms, from QR codes and Smart Stickers providing a digital alternative to cash in face-to-face scenarios to online donation pages that can be shared on social media posts, email newsletters and via a Donate Now button on your website.
3. Do you need donations NOW?
Your potential donors need to know you need their donation now. Not in a week or a month’s time – Your cause is working hard now and their immediate donation means you can continue your vital work. If potential donors believe that they can come back and donate at a later date, they have more time to change their mind, spend their money elsewhere or forget altogether. Don’t waste your hard work on convincing them to donate by failing to share the urgency. We’ve already said about how hard it is to ask for money – You don’t want to have to ask multiple times for one donation. What will happen if you don’t raise enough funds by a certain date? What important projects will be put on hold? Will your charity be able to continue it’s work without donations? How has the pandemic affected charitable giving, and why does that mean donations are more important now than ever? You don’t want to make it all about negative consequences, but you can show how immediate donations can make such a positive difference to your work.
Here at Donater, we can install a Donate Now button on your website, creating a sense of urgency and making it easy for donors to make their online donation. By clicking the button, they are taken straight to your branded, online donation page where donors can be confident they are donating directly to your good cause.
4. Email is a valuable tool
Yes, social media tends to steal the spotlight. But not everyone has social media accounts, whereas many people of all ages do have an email address. E-shots are a great way of reaching a large audience, but still being able to add personal touches like names. They are also just as easy to share with friends and family as it is to click ‘share’ on a social post. Email is a valuable tool when it comes to online fundraising – It’s low cost, efficient and easy to keep track of the progress you’re making.
5. Making a donation online needs to be easy
Don’t ask people to donate without making the actual process straightforward. If potential donors have to search for a way to donate on your communications or website, you’ve already lost them. Make it obvious where and how they can donate. On any online communications, such as emails or social media posts, make sure you share the link to your fundraising page. It’s likely that potential donors will visit your website to find out more before making their donation, so having a Donate Now button clearly located in the same place on every page will make it easy to convert that interest to a donation.
Donater’s online fundraising pages are an easy way of sharing your fundraiser with potential donors. Our Donate Now button is also the perfect addition to your website, taking donors straight from your compelling story to a transaction. With our mobile friendly payment options, donors can make their donation quickly and easily with Google Pay and Apple Pay as well as with their card details if they so wish. Donater digital fundraising tools are specifically designed to make online donations as straightforward as possible.
6. Be clear and concise
Why should donors give money to your cause? Share the reasons clearly and show donors exactly how their donation will make a difference. How would £10 make a difference to the people you help – Be specific. Show donors in real terms exactly how their money is going to help people.
On our online donation pages, Donater give you the option to choose a suggested donation amount on the buttons. Linking these amounts to your message give potential donors clear information about where their donation is going and the difference it will make. For example, ‘£5 will provide one life-saving vaccine.’
7. Be creative
Asking for help and money doesn’t need to be formal. Be creative! There are so many ways you can appeal to supporters for donations. Think outside the box to help your fundraiser stand out from the rest – Be innovative! Think about what would motivate people to get involved with your fundraiser. Video, for example, is a great way of connecting more emotionally to your supporters, and there are plenty of platforms to help you get creative with it.
‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’
Remember what we said at the start of this article – If you don’t ask, you don’t get. We know not every request will be met positively with a donation, but don’t let that put you off asking in the first place. In general, people actually enjoy helping others and as we’ve seen over the past year, most people are willing to make donations even during the toughest of times.
So don’t be afraid to ask. You need to embrace that vulnerability in order to reap the rewards. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and donations for your charitable organisation. Your work is vital and your fundraisers are important – Make sure you get your message out there and reach as many potential donors as possible.
How can Donater help with your online fundraising?
We’ve mentioned a few ways in which Donater can help with online fundraising through facilitating digital donations. For more information on how Donater’s suite of digital fundraising tools can help your charity fundraise online, please get in touch with us today.