2022 seemed to come with a little less fanfare than usual due to the ongoing pandemic. In some ways, it might feel like a continuation of 2020 and 2021. You might be feeling tired and worn or refreshed and energized, confused, hopeful, or even optimistic about 2022.
No matter how you're entering this year, having a solid strategy for personal and fundraising success remains critical. We'd like to take the opportunity to offer some ideas and to help you refocus as the calendar resets.
Being prepared felt difficult over the last two years because of many unpredictable factors and variables. Still, there are a few areas where preparation (even for the unexpected) can be instrumental and lead to greater success overall.
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4 Ways to Prepare for Fundraising Unknowns
You've just wrapped up a stellar year-end fundraising campaign. Now it's time to turn to the new fundraising calendar. The key to fundraising success in 2022 might just be diversifying your fundraising strategies to prepare for unknown events and circumstances!
1. Diversify your fundraising events
Major giving events continue to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual and hybrid events or gatherings with much smaller guest lists continue to remain popular and more reliable to plan.
Though you're probably well into filling your fundraising calendar, prepare for the unexpected by ensuring you've got a wide variety of events on the docket. Keep a list of "backup" options in the wings just in case COVID, bad weather or another unexpected obstacle disrupts one of your fundraisers.
The truth is, many of your donors have become accustomed to a range of participation options, and they won't give that up easily. A 2021 survey found that 85% of organizations plan to continue offering virtual participation options.
2. Track donors effectively to improve donations
The first three months of a donor relationship are crucial to retention. One strategy for fundraising success (and preparing for the unknown) is tracking donors in a quality CRM system to see how each relationship develops and keeps donors engaged.
Pay attention to open and response rates for different campaigns to see what resonates best with your donors in the first three months. Better data translates to better fundraising strategies.
Make 2022 the year where you really solidify your fundraising and communication strategies, especially in those critical first months.
3. Diversify your revenue streams
If the Coronavirus pandemic taught us anything, it's that we shouldn't rely on a single fundraising revenue stream. Create more stability by finding one or two new revenue sources to add to your fundraising strategy in 2022.
Grants: Many organizations rely on grants for a substantial portion of their annual funding. Other nonprofits use grants to supplement fundraising tactics. No matter how you approach them, grants can be a stabilizing asset to your nonprofit budget.
Corporate sponsorships: The COVID-19 pandemic mobilized many businesses and communities to invest in local nonprofits and charities. Corporations in your community can be a great source of volunteers as well as financial or in-kind support. Explore corporation foundations or reach out to community leaders to look for corporate sponsorship options.
Memberships or recurring giving options: Though recurring giving or membership options are not a new fundraising strategy, it's a strategic way to cultivate more stable funding streams. People are more likely to continue monthly giving as long as possible, even amid uncertainty. Membership programs also enhance community engagement which can help you expand your network and influence in the community.
4. Invest in donor relationships
No matter how many different fundraising strategies you use, having solid relationships with your donors is a cornerstone for stability and success. The past few years proved the necessity of effective donor engagement strategies. Fewer supporters are interested in passive participation in the mission.
The best way to engage donors is to communicate regularly, build an authentic connection, and be transparent about how their donations affect change. Invest time and energy in developing a strong donor care strategy to enjoy better stability and more consistent giving even in uncertain times.
4 Ways to Prepare Your Nonprofit for Unknowns
If 2020 and 2021 taught us anything, it's that resilience and self-care are critical, especially for hard-working development professionals. Though we don't know what the future holds in 2022, we can learn from the last 24 months to cultivate habits, choices, and routines that will help us remain resilient, healthy, and balanced in the midst of it all.
1. Make self-care a necessity
Self-care isn't just going for a spa day or being on vacation, or sleeping in on a Saturday morning (though it might include any of those things). Self-care is a lifestyle that includes strategic actions to improve and sustain mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. It's not a weekend activity but a lifestyle of awareness and intentionality.
Self-care includes proactive habits and choices to prevent burnout, avoid bottleneck behaviors, and keep people performing at their best in every area of life.
At its core, self-care is about becoming the best version of yourself at this stage of your life and career. Self-care also means being at your best, so you can be more attentive to your donors.
Identify specific actions you can take in 2022 to be proactive about your self-care. Whether it's setting boundaries around work hours, actually using those vacation days, or attending a conference to help you learn new skills, self-care can look like all kinds of actions and choices.
2. Incorporate hybrid work models
While many businesses and nonprofits are returning to in-office work, many development professionals thrive on the flexibility of a hybrid work model. Additionally, with schools vacillating between in-person and virtual learning, parents are in limbo on childcare and other family dynamics.
Ease the strain on your entire team and offer the benefit of a hybrid work model. Many professionals have grown accustomed to the benefits of working from home. You may be able to attract (and retain) talented fundraisers with such a perk. Plus, when people are satisfied with their work environment, it can positively impact productivity–everyone wins!
Implementing a hybrid work model allows you to be dynamic and adapt to all kinds of variables, from pandemic closures to bad weather!
3. Boost your board with new members or positions
Are you thinking of adding a specific person to your board or a new position? Having a high-quality board to offer guidance, support, and advice can set your nonprofit up for greater success even in uncertain times!
Diversity on your board is also a key factor for success. Having diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences increases the quality of leadership and strategic decision-making.
If you're unsure about the strength or effectiveness of your board, consider dedicating some time to assess the skills, experience, and expertise of your existing board to identify any existing gaps.
Use your networks (friends, donors, social media, the nonprofit network, etc.) to identify and recruit effective board members to fill those gaps and strengthen your leadership.
4. Have a plan… even if you have to change it along the way
As the old saying goes, "failing to plan is a plan to fail." It's tempting to not dedicate the time and energy to creating strategic plans, especially when there are uncertainties and unknowns.
Adopt a proactive but agile fundraising plan in 2022. From your strategic plan to your marketing approach, having a solid plan allows you to focus on the bigger priorities and adapt as needed rather than react to whatever comes.
A fundraising plan will give your team a strategy to rely on when things get tough. Seeking guidance and input from experienced professionals to help create your fundraising plan can help you prepare for different variables.
Though we're only a few weeks into 2022, we're hopeful that things will begin to look more "normal" (whatever that is). But, no matter what happens, you'll be better prepared for whatever 2022 brings us by incorporating these strategies!
Here are three more resources to keep you going strong.
- Practical Self-Care for Development Professionals: Self-care is a key part of your performance and wellbeing as a development professional. It doesn't just allow you to be at peak performance; it can actually improve your overall performance, sense of balance, and overall health. Check out this blog for some practical self-care for fundraisers!
- 6 New Years Resolution Ideas for Nonprofits: Even if you're not into resolutions, the first of the year is an excellent opportunity to do a "systems check" for your nonprofit. Ensure you're on the right track and progressing toward the right goals at the start of the new year. This blog offers some resolution and assessment areas that can help you set the best trajectory for the new year.
- How to Retain and Engage Donors after a Virtual Event: It takes a lot of time, money, adn energy to recruit new donors to your nonprofit. Many nonprofits began incorporating virtual fundraising events during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue fundraising and connect with new donors. Now, it's critical to retain and engage donors after those virtual events, and this article has some strategies and ideas to do just that!
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