Learn How To Communicate With Donor Organisations...

Emails and the Internet

Email and Internet communication is becoming more common. It is quite possible that donors and supporting companies and groups will contact your non-profit via email or other online means (such as Instant Messaging) in order to ask you questions about your fundraising efforts and to find out more about your group. Meet the team and start fundraising

In general, email and Internet communication is similar to letter writing. You will want to begin with a salutation, add a body of text, and close off with your name or a sign off of some sort. However, online communication tends to be more casual. It is perfectly ok to use a casual salutation such as hello, Also, the body text of online notes and messages tends to be shorter.

When writing online, use smaller sentences and paragraphs, as people often only skim online communications. The formal formatting and closing of a letter are also not necessary. A simple thank you or best wishes, is often adequate to close. Run out of creativity? here are tips to choosing the best fundraising ideas

One thing about email and online communication is that it is not completely safe. You do not quite know who you are speaking to online or who else may be monitoring your transmission.

For this reason, you should not share personal information over online channels and never allow donors to pass on their credit card numbers, banking information, or other personal data in an email or instant message. If you want to raise money?

It is best to keep online communication general. Offer the donor or person you are chatting with online some basic information and provide contact information (such as a telephone) for further contact.

Telephone

If you are telemarketing, you will need to worry about telephone communication a great deal, but even if you are not you should strive to make your telephone communication with others as effective as possible. Always identify yourself and your non-profit group when you answer the phone or call someone in regards to fundraising business.

Modulate your voice so that you are speaking neither too loud not too quiet. Also strive to speak at a good pace - one that is neither so fast as to be incomprehensive or so slow as to be annoying. Be polite on the phone and take care not to keep someone waiting on the line. If you are not sure how you sound on the phone, tape yourself and evaluate how pleasant your phone is. A little practice can help you alter your phone manners and phone voice enough to make a very good impression. Who gives money?

Campaigning/Marketing/Public Relations

Marketing and public relations are similar to advertising but more subtle. Advertising is clearly identified as advertising. We all know what an ad looks like. Marketing, PR, branding, and other like ways of advertising something, though, are more subtle. Consider some of the more subtle ways to let people know about a non-profit or a fundraising venture:

  • Have possible donors read about the group in an interview or newspaper article about new non-profit groups in the area.

  • Have possible donors notice the groups logo and name on caps, t-shirt, water bottles, and other items

  • Have possible donors overhear people talking about a group in the elevator or on the street

  • Have possible donors notice art work or street chalk drawings of a groups logo and name

In most cases, this is a very sophisticated form of advertising used by large business corporations that have huge advertising budgets. On a smaller scale, though, you can do your own marketing.

Consider the following ideas, which are possible even for a small non-profit:

Appear on a local radio or even college radio show for an interview. This may take some setting up, but some stations will agree. During the interview, mention your groups name and upcoming event.

  • If any member of your non-profit group has a DJ friend, have that friend mention your non-profit at a club, gig, or on air.

  • Offer to write an article for the local paper, a local online site, or a local magazine. Refer briefly to the group and any fundraising efforts that are upcoming.

  • Have caps or t-shirts with your non-profits name and logo on them and distribute these to people who will wear them. You CAN fundraise from a computer