Fundraising For Non Profits

Fundraising for non profits is an incredibly important way to help your NGO organization achieve their mission and make a meaningful impact in the community.

This can be a daunting task, but with the right strategies and resources, it is also a very rewarding one. It requires creativity, planning, and dedication.

Whether you are fundraising for a small local non-profit or a large international organization, the same principles apply.

With the right approach, you can create a successful fundraising campaign that raises awareness, builds relationships, and generates the necessary funds to support your cause.

Let’s dive in

What are the steps to take when fundraising for a non profit?

Types of non profit fundraising activities

Ethical considerations when fundraising for a non profit

What media can you use for non profit fundraising?

Advantages of using video for non profit fundraising

Why use a professional video production company for non profit fundraising?

Bonus: Common mistakes when fundraising for a non profit

Bonus: What organisations are donating to non profits?

Next steps and starting your fundraising journey

What are the steps to take when fundraising for a non profit?

Image with steps depicitng steps to follow when fundraising for non profits — Following definite steps can help make your fundraising campaigns more effective

Fundraising is more effective when you have a step-by-step strategy. Here are some suggested steps you can take to begin your fundraising journey:

Research potential funding sources and determine the best fit for your organization. You can even look at companies that donate to NGOs.
Identify potential donors and create an NGO donors list.
Develop a fundraising strategy that outlines your goals, objectives, target audience, timeline, and budget.
Create a fundraising plan of action that breaks down tasks and assigns responsibilities.
Reach out to potential donors and begin cultivating relationships.
Follow up with donors to keep them informed and engaged.
Track progress and adjust the fundraising plan as needed.
Celebrate successes and use them to fuel future fundraising endeavors.

Types of non profit fundraising activities

There are many fundraising activities that you can do to raise money for your non-profit organisation. Depending on the resources you have available, you can choose to use one or two or even all of these activities. But be careful of spreading yourself too thin. We suggest you pick 1 or 2 (at most 3) activities and run with them diligently.

There are many activities you can do to fundraise for non profit — There are many activities you can do to fundraise

With that said, here are some fundraising activities you can do for your non profit:

Crowdfunding. Raising money online from a large number of individuals. The most effective way to do this is to do it online. There are many crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe Charity. But always be careful and make sure to check the authenticity and security of the site as your donors will have to share their card details on the site.
Your own website. If you are not keen on using third party websites to collect donations, you can set up a website to accept donations via credit cards or PayPal. But bear in mind that Zimbabwe is limited in terms of using Paypal. However you can use PayNow to accept national and international donations. At ReelNet Multimedia, we can help you set up a website to accept donations.
Fundraising Events. Hosting an event such as a gala, auction, or walk-a-thon to raise money. Make sure to advertise the event well. You can take advantage of digital marketing to reach a wider audience.
Corporate Giving. Companies provide donations or sponsor events. You can make a list of companies that you know donate to NGO’s. You can even make a list of other companies you can approach who do not have a history of donating to Nonprofits. Who knows, you may the first organisation they will give to.
Direct Mail. Sending letters to potential donors to solicit donations. We do not recommend this activity unless you have express consent to send the potential donors emails. Most people do not like to receive unsolicited emails especially those asking for money…
Grants. This activity is the most popular and most effective way organizations can receive funding. You can apply for grants from foundations and government agencies. However, this involves a lot of work but you have potential to get millions of dollars.
Planned Giving. You can ask people who have donated to you before to make long-term commitments to the organization. This can involve making monthly or yearly donations. Some donors may even be willing to leave a gift to your organisation in their will.
Peer-to-Peer Fundraising. Peer-to-peer fundraising is a method of fundraising where individuals or teams raise money on behalf of your charity or organization by reaching out to their social network for donations. It involves leveraging personal relationships to encourage others to donate and can be done through various channels, such as social media, email, or text messaging.
Social Media Fundraising. Social media is an extremely powerful tool. You can leverage social media to reach a larger audience and build awareness of the organization. Another way you can use social media is by asking social media influencers to reach out to their followers to donate to your organisation.

Ethical considerations when fundraising

When fundraising non profits, it is important to be aware of the ethical considerations involved. Here are some key points to consider:

Ensure that all donations are used for the purpose intended. If the donations are to provide school fees for underprivileged children, then do not use them to pay an outstanding electricity bill or to pay outstanding salaries. Fundraise for each section separately.
Be transparent about where the money is going and how it will be used.
Follow local laws and regulations regarding fundraising. It is always good to check with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority regarding tax laws and customs duty for things like cars donated from outside the country.
Be aware of any potential conflicts of interest that may arise.
Understand the donor’s expectations and ensure that their donation is used in accordance with their wishes. Do not overpromise the donor or misrepresent facts. Make sure the donor knows exactly what they are donating to and the expected results from their donations.
Keep accurate records of donations, expenses, and other related transactions. If you do not have an accounting team, then we suggest you hire an accounting consultancy firm to help you with proper record-keeping. Remember, when it comes to money, transparency is key.
Respect the privacy of donors and protect their personal information. Do not be tempted to sell their information to third parties. Also, as we mentioned above, do not send unsolicited emails unless they have give you express permission to contact you again.
Follow appropriate marketing practices, such as avoiding making misleading or false claims. When doing non profit marketing campaigns, the temptation is to exaggerate the extent of the problem or inflate the results. Don’t. Non profit fundraising is built on trust and once that is lost, it is difficult to get back.
Honor any commitments made to donors, such as providing recognition or sending thank you notes. There are several ways to recognize people who have donated to your non-profit organization. You can send them a personalized thank-you note, publish their names in your newsletter or website, or invite them to a special donor appreciation event. You can also offer them a small gift or token of appreciation, such as a t-shirt or keychain. It’s important to make sure that the recognition you provide is appropriate and respectful of the donor’s wishes.
Act with integrity and responsibility in all fundraising efforts. We cannot emphasize this enough. Integrity and transparency are key in non profit fundraising.

What media can you use?

There are a variety of media you can use when fundraising for non profits, including:

Digital media such as email and social media campaigns,
Print media such as flyers, brochures, and postcards, and direct mailers.
Audiovisual media such as videos,

With the right combination of media, you can create a successful and effective fundraising campaign.

Advantages of using video for non profit fundraising

Using documentary video when fundraising for non profits can be an incredibly effective way to reach potential donors. Videos can be highly engaging, memorable, and encourage people to take action. Here are some advantages of using video for non profit fundraising:

Tell powerful stories that can evoke emotion, which can help to inspire people to give.
Help to increase visibility for your cause and provide a platform for donors to share your mission with their networks.
Create a strong bond between your organization and donors as they can help to humanise your cause and build a sense of connection.
Highlight the impact of donations, which can help to motivate people to give.
More cost-effective than other forms of advertising and can help to stretch your fundraising budget.
Reach people such as the younger generation that you may not have access to through other channels.

Why use a professional video production company for non profit fundraising?

You might want to make the fundraising video by yourself but in the 14 years we have been working with non profit organisations we have seen that some organisations will try to make the video themselves and then when it does not come out well, they will contact us to fix it through post production editing.

We strongly suggest you get in touch with a professional video production company from the moment you decide to make a fundraising video.

Here are a few advantages of getting a professional to make your video when fundraising for non profits:

Professional-Grade Quality. A professional video company will be able to produce a high-quality video that looks and sounds great. This can help make your message more impactful, and give your fundraising campaign a professional edge, especially if you are asking for millions of dollars.
Reach a Wider Audience: A professional video company can help get your video seen by a wider audience. At ReelNet Multimedia we can even help you set up social media marketing campaigns to reach your target audience.
Compatible with many devices. Professional video companies often have access to the latest technology and equipment, so your video will look and sound great no matter what device it’s viewed on. We have created videos that have been screened on phones and others that have been shown on huge screens during policy meetings.
Creative Ideas: Professional video companies can help generate creative ideas to make your video stand out from the competition. This can help your fundraising campaign have a greater impact and reach more people.
Cost Savings: As we mentioned above, working with a professional video company can often be more cost-effective than trying to produce a video yourself. They can help you maximize your budget and produce a great video that will help your fundraising campaign.

So even if you have a small budget, contact us and we can see how best to make use of that budget to bring out the best fundraising video for you.

Bonus: Common mistakes when fundraising for a non profit

These common mistakes can be detrimental to a successful fundraising campaign:

Not being transparent about how the funds will be used.
Not having a unified message across all fundraising channels
Not planning ahead. Establishing a fundraising plan at the beginning of your endeavor will help you be more successful in the long run.
Not setting realistic goals. Aim for achievable goals that are tailored to your specific organization’s needs.
Not reaching out to enough potential donors. Make sure to cast a wide net and contact as many potential donors as possible.
Not creating a pitch. Have a clear and concise explanation of why you are fundraising and what the money will be used for.
Not following up with donors. Keep donors informed and engaged with your cause by sending them regular updates and thank you messages.
Not leveraging technology. Utilize online resources to make fundraising easier and more efficient.
Not diversifying your fundraising approaches.Don’t rely on a single fundraising method, explore different approaches and strategies to ensure success.
Not having a good tracking system to measure success.

Bonus: What organisations are donating to non profits?

There are always many organisation giving grants to non profits. Here is a list of useful websites that list available grants for non profits.

Next steps and starting your fundraising journey

ReelNet Multimedia is an award-winning video production company which has filmed documentaries in over 14 countries and has made videos that have helped organisation lobby for fundraising both nationally and internationally.

Unlike other organisations who will just film, we will take the time to understand your non profit fundraising goal and walk you through the process step by step of fundraising for non profits.

Call us on +263781276513 or email us on info@reelnet.video

Disclaimer: this information is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice or endorsement of any organisation.