3 years, 3 months ago
What are the most effective campaigns/methods/activities in raising money for a charity? LivingCompassion.org
The org stems from Zen awareness practice and peace through personal transformation. Not a lot of razzle dazzle.
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M$4 Answers
Depending on how you measure effectiveness, word of mouth is usually the most effective, although it is time-consuming.
- Direct advertisements such as billboards can assure thousands of people are seeing your message every day and at $500-$1500 per month, are considered to provide a high ROI.
- Consider a sporting event of some kind. For example, in order to raise awareness about breast cancer at most professional sporting events, you notice people wearing the pink ribbon. The umpires have them on, the players are wearing pink sweat bands etc. With thousands of people in the stands, and millions watching, it is an opportunity to raise awareness to another level. Find an opportunity to speak at one of those televised games. Look into getting the face of your foundation to speak in the booth with the announcers.
Cost is usually minimal as you are a non-profit organization. You may only get 5 minutes to speak, but the exposure is enormous.
- Next, take a look at viral marketing. YThe internet is a vast resource field that can get you tremendous exposure for awareness campaigns.
Take advantage of social media, such as YouTube. Post compelling stories on YouTube and then send a blast email - with a link - to your supporters and other interested parties. Use Twitter, Facebook, and similar sites to get your message out.
- Get a third party group to endorse your effort - the local medical association for example. That always lends credibility.
- Stage an unusual event, such as having those swimmers who jump in the water to pledge a sum of money for every minute they stay in the water. The media always covers these.
Check out this online document for some good advice:
http://www.kintera.org/atf/cf/%7B3CB09D28-6832-4B53-BE6E-DE3E85DA6676%7D/FOCUS_Top10Handout%20FINAL.pdf
Also, read "The 20 Biggest Fundraising Mistakes", which is especially meaningful for non-profit organisations:
http://www.guidestar.org/DisplayArticle.do?articleId=1164
images:
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M$Report Abuse
Drop Your Change
Donate Raw Food Materials
Hold Bake Sales
Silent Auction
Organize A Fair
Walk-A-Thon
Donate Raw Food Materials
Hold Bake Sales
Silent Auction
Organize A Fair
Walk-A-Thon
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Here are 4 sequential ideas. Each one builds on the one before it.
I think that you might be looking for a simple list of things to do. However, understand that there are an almost unlimited number of "things" that can propel marketing, increase awareness, and raise money for your charity.
Here's what I think is wrong with what you're doing and how you can find the ABSOLUTE BEST list of ways to increase your revenue:
1) CLARIFY YOUR MESSAGE
"The org stems from Zen awareness practice and peace through personal transformation. Not a lot of razzle dazzle."
I have no (litterally zero) understanding of what your charity does. Jargon like "Zen awareness practice", "peace through personal transformation" is meaningless to me.
I'm sorry if this is harsh or overly direct, but the underlying flaw of many marketing efforts lies in this exact area. Without a clear message, your marketing will not be successful.
I suggest that you form a small (4-5 person) team of people with various backgrounds and specific strengths in the exact direction that you would like your business to grow. For example, if you'd like it to grow online ensure that you enlist a proven Internet Guru as a team member. Employ this team to uncover, refine and test a clear message and direction for your marketing.
2) HIRE A PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Every day, folks are inundated with every form of marketing imaginable. It is important that you convey your marketing message (as discovered above) in creative and meaningful ways.
Consider this: Lets say that one of your marketing activities is to host a community bake sale. Bake sales are a great way to foster a bit of community spirt while providing tasty baked goods as a reward for participation. Charity bake sales work really well to increase donations both at the event and after the event. However, between school bake sales, local sport bake sales, church bake sales, etc... people are generally full of the tasty treats that come from these events.
If your bake sale had the BEST photographs of what was being offered maybe with a little online ordering and donation capability tossed in and some outstanding creative flyers to promote the event.... your event would be number 1.
Reviewing your website, it looks like your site has been "home made". It looks like you're a really good teacher. Stick to teaching and allow a professional graphic designer along with maybe a professional photographer to form your marketing message into the graphic and photographic elements that will convey it.
3) TRUST IS FICKLE
When marketing anything without an immediate tangible benefit, it's important to earn and maintain trust.
People are overexposed to marketing and as a result, can easily sense any degree of deception. It is very important to convey through your words, actions, graphics, photographs, etc, etc, etc, that what you are marketing is not only trustworthy at the moment but trustworthy in the future as well.
I know that this sounds erroneous. However, think deeply about marketing campaigns that have worked for small, medium and large companies in the past. Each one of those campaigns maintained trust from the initial exposure right through to action.
Deeply consider how your marketing will convey trust.
4) EXPOSE YOUR MARKETING
Now that you've got your problems fixed up (through the previous 3 steps), it's time to get your message out there.
There are an unlimited number of ways to get your message out there. Above all else, it looks like you already have a community of people who believe in what you're doing. Turn to them individually, in small groups and as a whole for their ideas and suggestions on how to push your message (number 1) out there. Employ these people and rally them behind your message to market on their own. Simply put, there is more power in a group than a single individual.
CONCLUSION
Your problem won't be solved with a list of marketing ideas. Your problem lies in your message.
Fix your message, employ pro's to overcome sociological obstacles, turn to your community for help, and push your message out. The physical places to push your message out will become blatantly obvious when you preform this process.
I think that you might be looking for a simple list of things to do. However, understand that there are an almost unlimited number of "things" that can propel marketing, increase awareness, and raise money for your charity.
Here's what I think is wrong with what you're doing and how you can find the ABSOLUTE BEST list of ways to increase your revenue:
1) CLARIFY YOUR MESSAGE
"The org stems from Zen awareness practice and peace through personal transformation. Not a lot of razzle dazzle."
I have no (litterally zero) understanding of what your charity does. Jargon like "Zen awareness practice", "peace through personal transformation" is meaningless to me.
I'm sorry if this is harsh or overly direct, but the underlying flaw of many marketing efforts lies in this exact area. Without a clear message, your marketing will not be successful.
I suggest that you form a small (4-5 person) team of people with various backgrounds and specific strengths in the exact direction that you would like your business to grow. For example, if you'd like it to grow online ensure that you enlist a proven Internet Guru as a team member. Employ this team to uncover, refine and test a clear message and direction for your marketing.
2) HIRE A PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Every day, folks are inundated with every form of marketing imaginable. It is important that you convey your marketing message (as discovered above) in creative and meaningful ways.
Consider this: Lets say that one of your marketing activities is to host a community bake sale. Bake sales are a great way to foster a bit of community spirt while providing tasty baked goods as a reward for participation. Charity bake sales work really well to increase donations both at the event and after the event. However, between school bake sales, local sport bake sales, church bake sales, etc... people are generally full of the tasty treats that come from these events.
If your bake sale had the BEST photographs of what was being offered maybe with a little online ordering and donation capability tossed in and some outstanding creative flyers to promote the event.... your event would be number 1.
Reviewing your website, it looks like your site has been "home made". It looks like you're a really good teacher. Stick to teaching and allow a professional graphic designer along with maybe a professional photographer to form your marketing message into the graphic and photographic elements that will convey it.
3) TRUST IS FICKLE
When marketing anything without an immediate tangible benefit, it's important to earn and maintain trust.
People are overexposed to marketing and as a result, can easily sense any degree of deception. It is very important to convey through your words, actions, graphics, photographs, etc, etc, etc, that what you are marketing is not only trustworthy at the moment but trustworthy in the future as well.
I know that this sounds erroneous. However, think deeply about marketing campaigns that have worked for small, medium and large companies in the past. Each one of those campaigns maintained trust from the initial exposure right through to action.
Deeply consider how your marketing will convey trust.
4) EXPOSE YOUR MARKETING
Now that you've got your problems fixed up (through the previous 3 steps), it's time to get your message out there.
There are an unlimited number of ways to get your message out there. Above all else, it looks like you already have a community of people who believe in what you're doing. Turn to them individually, in small groups and as a whole for their ideas and suggestions on how to push your message (number 1) out there. Employ these people and rally them behind your message to market on their own. Simply put, there is more power in a group than a single individual.
CONCLUSION
Your problem won't be solved with a list of marketing ideas. Your problem lies in your message.
Fix your message, employ pro's to overcome sociological obstacles, turn to your community for help, and push your message out. The physical places to push your message out will become blatantly obvious when you preform this process.
source(s):
I have successfully helped small, medium and even a couple of large businesses overcome marketing challenges just like this one.
I have successfully helped small, medium and even a couple of large businesses overcome marketing challenges just like this one.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Boy, I'm disappointed that i lost this one.
Nadiraziz had a good answer too though, I can't knock it.
Looking at his answer and mine, I should have expanded on some more ideas. However, I'm firm on believing that the methods of marketing come from the message itself and not from what works for other people.
Oh well, I'll get 'cha next time :)
Good question. Thanks for making me think.
Excellent advice, thank you!
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*street shows ... these are most effective
*charity shows by celebs
*students .... students are the most common ones who contribute for charity
*charity shows by celebs
*students .... students are the most common ones who contribute for charity
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
