I am sure you are familiar with some variation of the “donor engagement cycle” by now. Inspire, Learn, Engage, Ask, Thank, Show Impact. This cycle benefits all nonprofits because it provides one way to follow that all organizations can utilize. The first three stages in this cycle can be accomplished by meeting donors where they are, and moving forward from there.
Nonprofits must also distinguish themselves as a unique and separate organization, apart from the millions of nonprofits also looking for new donors and continuing to engage their existing donors. Engage with your donors within platforms they already use regularly.
Be active and specific in your social media posts. In the nonprofit space, it is not wise to take a “one size fits all” approach. Your brand and your voice are unique to the mission you have and the opportunities for others you provide. Use a combination of popular hashtags with specific organizational hashtags, interact daily by inviting donors to give, volunteer, and attend events, and use that voice you have found to post blogs that keep donors up to date on the going ons of your nonprofit.
By prompting donors to give or attend events through your active social media presence, be sure to have a user-friendly platform for online giving and event registration that is available for use by potential and existing donors. Keep in mind that online giving needs to be designed with the donor’s time in mind. To complete a form should just take a few clicks of their mouse.
Engage the donor through social media conversation and make the ask to the donor through connecting them to your online giving portal.
Join us for our next webinar, discussing volunteer engagement on November 10th!
Marianna Woodruff is a Business Development Executive at DonorLynk, LLC. DonorLynk is focused on helping nonprofits increase effectiveness and efficiency.