{"id":10304,"date":"2018-02-16T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-16T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.causevox.com\/?p=10304"},"modified":"2024-05-08T21:34:28","modified_gmt":"2024-05-08T21:34:28","slug":"volunteer-fundraising","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.causevox.com\/blog\/volunteer-fundraising\/","title":{"rendered":"Promote Volunteer Fundraising Using These 5 (Proven) Strategies"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly a quarter of all Americans participate in volunteer opportunities<\/a> with charitable organizations. Many choose to do volunteer fundraising projects. This is excellent news for your nonprofit.<\/p>\n

When a person chooses to work with your cause to further your mission, support your programming, and leverage your impact, it means something\u2014they care.<\/p>\n

One of the greatest benefits of volunteerism is that the volunteer can get an in-depth look \u201cbehind the scenes\u201d of your organization. By providing your volunteers the chance to interact with your staff, other volunteers, and even your client base, they gain a better understanding of the need they\u2019re helping to address. And the best part? Anyone, from members of the baby boomer generation to the children of millennials can help!<\/p>\n

Every nonprofit provides volunteers with different jobs, from packing backpacks full of non-perishable food for families-in-need to cleaning up playgrounds. As you know, there are unlimited ways your volunteers help your organization thrive.<\/p>\n

But, have you ever thought of recruiting your volunteers to help boost your organization\u2019s financial side?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Promoting your volunteers to fundraisers is a surefire way to get them involved on a deep level, leverage your volunteer\u2019s influence, and really make a difference for your org\u2019s bottom line. Here are some strategies to help encourage your volunteers to assist with fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n

5 Volunteer Fundraising Ideas<\/h2>\n

1. \u201cThank You\u201d Notes<\/h3>\n

I know you know it already, but it always bears repeating: a simple, straightforward, and above all, genuine \u201cThank You\u201d note<\/a> isn\u2019t just a nice gesture, it\u2019s essential in today\u2019s fundraising landscape. With hundreds of thousands of nonprofits out there, it\u2019s important to stand out, and a \u201cThank You\u201d helps accomplish that.<\/p>\n

Naturally, your nonprofit staff is strapped for time. So, instead of scrambling to write those notes during your lunch hour (been there, done that), recruit your volunteers<\/a> to help. Schedule a set time each week for volunteers to come in and help. Provide them with stationary, writing utensils, and a sample template put on some jams, and make them feel at home.<\/p>\n

The letter recipient will undoubtedly appreciate the letter, especially if it comes from the perspective of someone who devotes their time to your cause.<\/p>\n

2. Donor Phone Calls<\/h3>\n

Does your nonprofit or charity participate in donor phone-a-thons or something similar? If so, then you know these fundraising campaigns require \u201call hands on deck.\u201d To help ease the burden and also diversify your volunteer opportunities, ask volunteers to help make the calls.<\/p>\n

At United Way, we would often provide our volunteers with call lists and a sample script to help frame their conversation. Our volunteers were free to make the calls in their own time during a certain period, so it was comfortable, flexible, and easy for everyone involved.<\/p>\n

3. Sharing Stories on Social Media<\/h3>\n

Social sharing is becoming more important year after year. Today, nonprofits must rely on the support of our online followers to promote our messages of impact and campaign-related information. You simply don\u2019t have the same reach you one did when posting to your social media account anymore.<\/p>\n

Leverage the influence of your volunteers among their networks by asking them to share their own nonprofit stories on social media. Prompt volunteers to share how they are impacted by your work, why they give of their time, and why they believe your cause is worth supporting.<\/p>\n

Positive word-of-mouth stories validate your work in the eyes of readers.<\/p>\n

4. Connecting You With Potential Prospects<\/h3>\n

Prospective donors are everywhere, and one of the most effective ways to reach these prospects is through your current relationships.<\/p>\n

If your volunteers know someone who may be a good fit with your cause, such as a potential major donor or board member, let your volunteers know you\u2019d love for them to help foster this connection!<\/p>\n

Ask volunteers to facilitate a meet-up, at your office, over coffee, at their workplace\u2014wherever! This is the perfect (and necessary) first step to educate and inspire this prospect to become a lifelong supporter.<\/p>\n

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NTEN Fundraising Website<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NTEN utilized their board members<\/a> to mobilize prospective donors into action using peer-to-peer fundraising<\/a>. Through their campaign, they raised money for scholarships, engaged the board, and connected NTEN with 155 new and returning donors!<\/p>\n

5. Peer-to-Peer Fundraisers<\/h3>\n

To truly excel at peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns<\/a>, your nonprofit needs the help of volunteers. At CauseVox, we call these people personal fundraisers, <\/strong>and they\u2019re truly the lifeblood of your fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n

Personal fundraisers set up a fundraising page complete with motivation for their friends and family to give, such as a personal story, moving images, and video clips. Then, with the assistance of your staff, they share their campaign in-person, through email, and on social media to garner financial support for the campaign.<\/p>\n

Peer-to-peer fundraising uses community-driven fundraising to activate and rally your volunteers to use their influence to inspire new donors.<\/p>\n

What Your Volunteers Need to Evolve Into Fundraising<\/h2>\n

There are so many ways to promote your volunteers to fundraisers. Before you begin shaping your own volunteer engagement plan, remember that it\u2019s up to your organization to provide the necessary tools for fundraising success. After all, some of your volunteers may have never fundraised a day in their lives.<\/p>\n

To effectively evolve into rockstar fundraisers, give your volunteers the following:<\/p>\n