How do you make a volunteer a donor? Much like you make a new donor a regular one, you encourage and acknowledge them, you ASK them to give. However, with a volunteer, they are already educated about your mission and goals, and are furthering the mission regularly. The ask is what is new here, and it is important that you are creative in inviting your volunteers to give of their funds and their time.
When signing up online to volunteer, share with them the fundraising goals for the specific opportunity they will be participating in. Provide an online giving link on the confirmation page after they have signed up, so that access is simple. In addition to encouraging them to give personally, they could also create a fundraiser on your behalf, to get you closer to the goal needed to complete the project.
In follow up emails after volunteering, direct volunteers to future opportunities to give of their time or resources. By educating them on additional ways that your mission is being played out in the community, supporters can plan in advance to give appropriately.
Email blasts that are sent out should include calls to action for both the donor and the volunteer. An opportunity to give is then right there in their inbox!
Events for your nonprofit are a great way to bring volunteers and donors together in one place. Regardless of the role they play in contributing to your mission, each cares deeply about the work you do. Tailor the information given at events toward donors and what their donations go toward, but also toward volunteers, and how their participation helped to complete many projects. When all supporters see the impact made from both, it is more encouraging to contribute in multiple ways.
Be sure to read our next blog post, in which we explore ways for donors to become volunteers.
Sign up now for our webinar TOMORROW on volunteer engagement!
Marianna Woodruff is a Business Development Executive at DonorLynk, LLC. DonorLynk is focused on helping nonprofits increase effectiveness and efficiency.