Lesson 2 How do I set up a fundraising network?

You must choose the type of fundraiser to hold or develop a campaign theme before you can begin seeking out fundraisers. If you’re not sure where to begin, observe the types of fundraising events that other organizations in your neighborhood have held. To replicate their fundraising success, think about the factors that contributed to it. Then, think about how you may differentiate your fundraising event. You want your campaign to be distinctive in order to grab people’s attention and inspire your supporters to host fundraisers for your cause.

• Consider making your network fundraiser a part of your annual fundraising strategy
• Consider pairing your network fundraiser with a fun event for your supporters to raise even more money.

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Start hiring your fundraisers once you’ve begun preparing your campaign and have an idea of how your fundraising will appear. Create a network of contacts and connections to identify people who are eager to raise money. The ideal candidates to hire are those who have a lot of influence and their own extensive networks. Contact local influencers, politicians, and celebrities who may be familiar with the goals of your group.

You can also start within your organization to find influential people with ties to the greater community. Your best bet as well-connected network fundraisers and a fantastic starting point is typically your board members, donors, and volunteers who are the most engaged. Once you’ve exhausted the direct network of your company, look online to see if there are any networking events taking place nearby. You can network with companies and possible business partners at these events.

Whether you already have business partners, get in touch with them and ask if they’d be willing to encourage their staff to raise money for you. Many companies and enterprises have internal philanthropy initiatives where workers are encouraged to lead fundraising teams or volunteer with nonprofits.

Your fundraisers must feel supported and confident that they may turn to you for assistance. To build your relationship with each of your fundraisers, you might start by scheduling individual meetings with them. Ask them about their hobbies and potential fundraising ideas, and then offer them suggestions on how to handle any difficulties they may foresee.

• Start things off by helping your fundraisers set up their personal online fundraising pages. These fundraising pages will be the place your fundraisers direct their networks to when they’re ready to donate.
• To help your fundraisers jumpstart their fundraising efforts, provide them with a list of fundraising ideas to consider. Giving your fundraisers ideas that interest them will make the fundraising process fun and engaging for everyone.
• In addition to a list of fundraising ideas, provide your fundraisers with email and social media templates.
• Τry to offer a list of talking points for fundraisers to hit on when asking for donations.
• A branding guide can also be extremely helpful for your fundraisers. Providing them with a branding guide will help them post on social media and share information in a manner consistent with your organization’s brand and messaging.

1. Provide updates throughout your campaign on how much money your network has collectively raised and how close to the fundraising goal they are. It can be helpful to add gamification elements to your campaign so fundraisers can easily gauge how well they’re doing.
2. Sharing the impact your fundraisers are making on your organization can also encourage them to continue their fundraising efforts. Provide in-depth information about how the money they’ve raised so far will help you with your nonprofit’s mission and how they’re making a difference.
3. Showing your fundraisers their impact can also be more effective than just telling them. Share photos and videos from the programs and initiatives your network fundraisers helped to fund so that they better understand why the fundraising work they’ve done is so important. Seeing the results of their hard work will make them more likely to agree to become network fundraisers again in the future and stay engaged with your organization between fundraising campaigns.

Your fundraisers have gone above and beyond the typical donor in helping your nonprofit’s ability to carry out its purpose. It’s crucial to reward and recognize current fundraisers for all they have accomplished for your organization in order to get supporters enthusiastic about potentially joining your fundraising network and to make them feel valued and significant.

• They should get special recognition in places like your annual report, your newsletter, on social media, and at events.
• In addition to name recognition, special perks like free swag, advance ticketing access to events, invitations to exclusive events, and an awards ceremony to celebrate fundraisers’ contributions can be great ways to make them feel appreciated
• Facilitate this retention strategy by creating special alumni groups to keep past fundraisers engaged.
• You can use social media groups to give your network fundraising alumni an easy place to virtually gather and connect, or create a special, gated webpage on your website where they can go to get updates and stay in touch.

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