… by Rob Wu
You’re an influencer. You’ve built up a strong following on Twitter and your blog readership is increasing every day. People listen to you and want to hear from you. What you say changes opinions and spurs people to action.
You’re also passionate about a non-profit and the work that they do. Many of you want to raise funds for your non-profit or cause, but don’t know how to approach it. How can you leverage your influence for good? We’ve seen lots of people spin their wheels to figure out how to get more donations to their cause.
We’re with you and want to help you become the best fundraiser possible. The 7 Habits of Effective Personal Fundraisers is a free ebook we wrote to help you become the best possible fundraiser for your non-profit.
To do that, we combed through the thousands of individuals that used our platform and selected some of the most successful to study. We examined what and how much they raised, and identified seven habits that they all had in common; a few non-profit experts weighed in also.
As an influencer, you’re in the perfect position to leverage an audience for your cause. We can’t guarantee that you will raise a ton in donations easily, but if you follow these habits, you’ll be on the right track.
Here’s a quick overview of the seven habits.
1. Personalize your fundraising
The most effective fundraisers use their personalities to promote their campaign as well as personal stories. Your relationships are compelling enough reasons for your network to give to your cause.
2. Use multiple ways to raise awareness
Reach out to your network, especially friends, family, and co-workers. A personalized email is the best way to get donations. Social media is helpful to augment your message.
3. Keep up the human connections
Help other people connect with the cause and need by focusing on being human. Meet people face-to-face to help them understand your passion for and commitment to the cause.
4. Emphasize how everyone can make a difference
Show that even small contributions will amount to big, tangible results. Let donors know exactly where their money is going and how much of a difference it makes.
5. Your cause is worth the effort
Getting donations for a cause isn’t easy. You’ll have to persevere through some dry spells and be assured that your efforts matter (because they really do!).
6. Remind others to contribute
Update and share progress. This is an opportunity to remind others of your fundraising progress and how they can help.
7. Be appreciative
Always thank your donors and supporters! They want to be recognized and your appreciation goes a long way.
Check out our video with Rob prior to the BWENY event, where he talks about why he attends conferences, and the question he gets asked most:
View more videos from BlogWorld on the BlogWorld YouTube channel.
For more details and to hear directly from experts and the most successful fundraisers, download the free 7 Habits of Effective Personal Fundraisers ebook.
Rob Wu is a Founder at CauseVox, an innovative online fundraising platform that empowers non-profits to easily design and personalize their own fundraising tools and site. Most recently, Rob co-created SXSWCares, a campaign that raised over $120,000 in 10 days. His work has been recognized by the Mayor of Austin and featured in the NYTimes, CNN, Forbes, and NPR. Previously, Rob consulted for the Department of Defense and the US Federal government. Rob spends his free time helping NGOs abroad solve social problems more effectively. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Recent Comments