| Small nonprofit organizations face many challenges | | | | called or visited them? |
| when it comes to fundraising. Often, they must build | | | | 3. Communicating poorly. One tiny step up from a |
| a reputation in the community while building a donor | | | | failure to communicate is to communicate but do a |
| base, and do this with limited staff and resources. | | | | poor job of it. If you send out a newsletter that's |
| Unfortunately, too many small nonprofits never give | | | | badly written and send it sporadically, that's poor |
| themselves a chance. They hamstring their own | | | | communication. You need to send information that |
| efforts by making critical mistakes in fundraising and | | | | the donor is interested in reading and send it on a |
| resource development. Here are the top 5 mistakes | | | | regular schedule. Make effective communication a |
| made by small nonprofits when it comes to raising | | | | priority. |
| money. | | | | 4. Static website. People visit you online to learn |
| 1. Not thanking donors. The absolute fastest way to | | | | more about your organization. You can electronically |
| kill your fundraising program is to neglect your donors. | | | | shoot yourself in the foot by never or rarely |
| Thank-you letters need to be warm, sincere, and | | | | updating your website. You want people to visit your |
| quickly sent, which lets the donor know you received | | | | website again and again, and in order to get them |
| their gift and have set it to work. By not thanking | | | | back, you must update your content regularly. |
| your donors, you send all the wrong messages - you | | | | 5. Lack of exposure. Before people can donate to |
| aren't organized, you aren't trustworthy, and you | | | | you, they must first know you exist. A lack of |
| don't appreciate your donors. | | | | exposure in the community can severely limit your |
| 2. Failure to communicate. Another quick way to put | | | | ability to raise money and generate support. Be sure |
| an end to your fundraising potential is to fail to | | | | to send out press releases to the media when you |
| communicate with your donors and supporters. It's | | | | have a great story to tell. Get out to speak to all the |
| tough to build and maintain relationships if you don't | | | | local civic clubs. Get all the free publicity you can so |
| let them know what you're up to. Think about your | | | | that people in your community know about your |
| closest friends for a moment. How often do you talk | | | | organization and the work you are doing. |
| with them? How close would you be if you never | | | | |