It’s seemingly been years since the world shut down on March 13, 2020. Businesses and nonprofits wondered in unison, “How are we going to survive?” And yet, Baruch Hashem, so many of us are still here to help the world!
How did we do it?
We Got Creative
We turned to online fundraising events and platforms and brought people together through Zoom. This brought both the online and offline worlds together. Moving forward, we believe that this is a trend that will continue and is a reason why more and more nonprofits will need an IT person/department and an active online/social media presence. This shift in funding from in-person events to online events and gift solicitations not only kept organizations afloat, it also helped us all explore a more sustainable, long-term funding model.
FUNDRAISING IS NOW A DIGITAL-FIRST SPACE
Digital-first fundraising? This is not something that anyone would have dreamed up pre-pandemic. Alas, as we mentioned in the earlier post, this is now the default way to raise significant funds for millions of nonprofits around the globe.
What is a digital-first fundraiser? Candid states that, “This refers to campaigns that are conceptualized to take place online from the start. A digital-first fundraising mindset has numerous benefits, including the ability to reach new, expanded audiences and insulation from changes in public health guidelines.”
Candid also pulled from the latest Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Thirty to highlight some of the successful digital fundraisers. For instance, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s “Play Live.” This virtual gaming peer-to-peer fundraiser saw a 46.9% increase in revenue in 2020, during a year when many campaigns saw a marked decrease. Likewise, Children’s Miracle Network launched: “Extra Life.” This was a video gaming fundraiser that saw a 17.3% increase in revenue in 2020.
As you work your way through 2022 and beyond – consider digital-first fundraisers. Looking for brainstorming ideas? Check out GoodUnited’s virtual fundraising events. We are certain that it can help you think of fundraising in a new light that is certain to bring in more funds!
