The New Year is upon us, and organizations from coast to coast are planning their 2014 budgets, and putting their charity PR plans into action. Everything feels fresh, and new, and exciting. If only you could capture that energy and transform it into additional donation funds for your non profit enterprise.
According to Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR, and president of the Ronn Torossian Foundation, you can. More importantly, you definitely should. Here are 3 tips Torossian offers to charities interested in increasing their donation commitments in the New Year.
#1 – Focus on new donors
New Year means New Year’s resolutions. Millions of Americans decide to give more in the new year. But how? And to whom? This is your chance to connect with that sentiment by clearly articulating how supporting your cause will benefit your donors, make a difference in their community, and in the lives of people, or things they care about. The message here is all about the message. Don’t just talk about what you do. You need to get specific about how what you do matters, who it impacts, and how their donation can make a difference. Tell a story. Don’t just throw words out there.
#2 – Reward previous donors for continued support
When focusing on new donors, don’t forget to show appreciation for your previous supporters. You need to do so in a tangible way. Offer a prize, a reward, or a tangible “thank you” at the beginning of the year. Remind them what you accomplished with their help in the previous year, and explain your plans to do even more in the year to come, again, with their support. Remember, never stop saying “thank you.”
#3 – Make it as simple as possible to give
In the time of New Years resolutions, people may be more apt to give, but they are not any more motivated to work hard to discover a way to do it. People often won’t give if they are not asked, but they definitely won’t give if you make it difficult, or frustrating.
Bottom line, it is your job to keep the line of communication healthy, and flowing. Not theirs. Keep up the good work.