Back in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, the only ways you could fundraise were by post and out on the street. But throughout the 21st century, fundraising strategies have changed dramatically – and it’s all thanks to technology.
With over 80% of the world’s population owning a smartphone and 4.55 billion people being active on social media. Now, a large amount of fundraising is done via SMS and social media. Many non-profits, political parties, and plenty of other organizations have certainly done that.
So, let’s jump into the guide. Inside are 5 detailed fundraising ideas about how you can use SMS and social media to achieve your fundraising goals.
1. Use SMS Fundraising Software
If you want to be successful at fundraising through text messages, then you need to use SMS fundraising software provided by Tatango.
This software will allow you to send thousands of texts at the click of a button, track the success of your campaign, and ultimately reach your fundraising goals.
Plus, you can schedule texts in advance that can be automatically sent on set dates, allowing you to be nice and organized.
2. Collect Donor Phone Numbers
For maximum outreach, you need to collect donor phone numbers. The more numbers you collect, the more people you can text: it’s that simple.
This raises an important question: what are the best ways to collect donor numbers?
Here are some suggestions:
- Online surveys and questionnaires
- Competitions and giveaways
- Make requests at in-person events (such as speeches and gatherings)
Remember, because of the popularity of SMS fundraising, organizations all across the world are working hard every day to collect donor phone numbers – so make sure you do the same. Otherwise, you’ll get left behind the rest of the pack!
3. Choose the Social Media Platforms Most Suited to You (and Do Lots of Live Broadcasts)
The power that social media holds for fundraising cannot be overstated. Now, non-profit organizations use various different platforms to reach new audiences and gain donations. With the average daily time spent on social media per person is 2 hours and 24 minutes, this makes a lot of sense. It’s the perfect tool for reaching different aged audiences quickly and efficiently.
However, each social media platform is different, so you will need to decide which platforms are most suited to your non-profit organization. Here are the main platforms you can utilize as fundraising sites to choose from:
- TikTok
- Snapchat
- YouTube
Ideally, you should join all of the above-mentioned platforms if you want maximum reach.
But, if you have a highly specific donor audience, then you should choose specific platforms.
Generally, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are used by a variety of different ages, whereas Gen Z and Millennials generally use TikTok and Snapchat.
Facebook, though, is absolutely the best fundraising idea of the bunch when it comes to fundraising. This is because Facebook has built-in features specifically for individuals and non-profits looking to fundraise.
Facebook has a ‘Donate’ button that will clearly be displayed on your Facebook page, as well as the option to receive donations through live videos – which is discussed in more detail in the next tip.
4. Live Stream and Post Stories
Over the past few years, live streaming on social media platforms has become very popular. By live streaming on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, you can communicate with your followers, answer questions in real-time, discuss news and updates, and ultimately raise more money.
Plus, going live on social media helps to position your organization in people’s newsfeed algorithms and attract new viewers.
If you want to receive donations on Facebook live, it’s super simple. All you need to do is:
- Open up Facebook
- Click the ‘live’ button at the top of the post composer
- At the bottom, click ‘Raise Money’
- Select your non-profit or fundraiser
- Fire up your live video
Before going live on Facebook, though, you must have a verified page and be one of the following:
- A non-profit organization
- A celebrity
- A business
Sound good? Great. Before you know it, you’ll have rallied thousands more people to support your cause through social media.
Related: Ways to Use Facebook Live Video for Your Business
5. Use Hashtags and Provide Links to Relevant Pages
Lastly, make sure to use hashtags on social media. This will enable you to reach new audiences and ultimately grow your non-profit’s name. Using hashtags is particularly important if you don’t have many followers at the beginning.
Additionally, make sure to provide links to relevant pages through your social media platforms. A common tactic used by non-profits and businesses is to include a link to their website (or donations page) in their bios and post a link to it every couple of days.
Now that you are familiar with these fundraising ideas go ahead and give them a try. You’ll be amazed by their effectiveness and as you use these fundraising sites more and more you will see your opportunities and the results grow immensely.
Related: 10 Effective Ways To Use Hashtags in Social Media Marketing
