Keep Your Organization “Top of Mind” During an Election Year
The race is on for the 47th President of the United States. And the candidates are in it to win it.
According to Jim Shapiro of the Better Fundraising Company, we’re entering into an election storm. And that’s exactly how it feels with the barrage of political ads flooding public broadcasts, social media platforms, inboxes, and mailboxes.
Some fundraisers wonder if it is even possible to break through the noise.
The answer is a resounding “Yes!”
Reports from Classy show that charitable giving during election years has increased since 2008. However, Wisconsin fundraisers need to temper that news with Candid’s segmented research, which predicts that battleground states—which describes Wisconsin—may see a decrease in giving.
So, what is a fundraiser to do?
Jim Shapiro suggests communicating with your donors often during election season to put your organization in a strong position for the year-end push.
Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind as you consider how your organization will break through the clamor of ubiquitous political ads.
Before the election share stories of success. With all the doom, gloom, and negative political messages, your donors will welcome good news. Tell them how their generosity has made a difference in the world. Mail newsletters filled with stories of success. Post good news on social media. Send uplifting updates through email. Your positive stories of impact will stand out like a beacon amidst the negative political narrative.
During the final weeks before the election, find creative ways to thank your donors. In addition to sprinkling your stories of success with gratitude, send your donors printed or electronic thank-you cards from your team. Recruit volunteers and host a thank-a-thon. Call a few donors each day and thank them for their generosity.
Mail your first appeal a few weeks after the election. Win or lose, the outcome of the election will affect your donors. Relief will replace tension. And like most of us, donors will feel confident that with the elections over, life will return to normal. They will want to make a difference and will be receptive to your request. After the ballots are counted and the winner is declared, make any necessary edits to your year-end appeal, and mail it a few weeks after the election.
For more tips on weathering the political storm this year-end, tune into Nonprofit Storytelling’s Tactical Thursdays on September 12, at 1 pm CT (2 PM ET). Steven Screen will be sharing his expert advice for successful year-end fundraising.
Tactical Thursdays is a FREE weekly webinar series featuring fundraising experts who share their tried-and-true fundraising tips. When you sign up, you’ll get access to an extensive library of over 100 Tactical Thursday episodes, including links and other resources.
You’ll learn from presenters like Steven Screen, Jim Shapiro, Chris Davenport, Shannon Doolittle, Josh Alcorn, Jeff Brooks, Jen Love, John Lepp, T. Clay Buck, Diane Leonard, Patrick Schmitt, Diana Heinrich, and many others.
You’ll also receive invitations to upcoming Tactical Thursdays webinars. Just sign-up to be part of this weekly online community of “fundraisers and nonprofit leaders who believe in the power of storytelling.”
Sources:
https://blog.candid.org/post/nonprofit-fundraising-in-an-election-year/
https://www.classy.org/blog/election-year-fundraising/
https://betterfundraising.com/small-shop-fundraisers-should-do-at-year-end/ https://nonprofitstorytellingconference.com/tactical-thursday-signup/
