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Top 10 Fundraising Trends
A study by Blackbaud ( www.blackbaud.com) has identified the hottest issues for raising funds in the coming years. This compilation was printed in the November/December issue of Nonprofit World, published by the Society for Nonprofit Organizations. www.snpo.org.
1. Donor Pools Will Change. Constituents once composed mostly of baby boomers now include millennials and generation thumb (another term for Generation Y). To attract these generations, you need to view donors as partners and speak their language, leveraging social media and cutting-edge technologies.
2. Proving Value Will be Critical You'll have to show you're making a difference, using radical transparency to make it clear where funds are going. Note from Jean - post your 990 on your website). 3. Fundraisers must acquire an Entrepreneurial Spirit. The best nonprofits will become experts on techniques such as location-based initiatives and crowd-sourcing. Note from Jean - and you must consider diversifying into social enterprise. 4. Social Media Will Play a Greater Role in Engagement. Mobile devices, the Internet, and social networks provide platforms for fundraisers to quickly organize a community of interest around a cause. Over the past few years, social networks have taken off; they're now becoming location-based and in the future other capabilities will make them even more useful. 5. Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Will Grow. Because of the ubiquity of mobile devices and social networks, supporters will reach out to friends and family to raise funds on behalf of nonprofits. This peer-to-peer contact may ultimately become the most popular fundraising initiative in years to come. 6. Donor Stewardship Will Become Even More Important. As the world economy continues to struggle, keeping donors informed and happy becomes a greater priority. Your organization will need to change along with the technology and generations to stay part of the conversation and remain relevant. 7. Increased Government Regulations Will Have a Greater Impact. The trend is toward more taxes for nonprofits as various levels of government look for new revenue streams. Nonprofits need to be fully aware of possible changes in legislation and work to make their voice heard. 8. You'll Need to Move From a Broad Donor Management System to a Single Supporter Database. This shift will facilitate lifelong relationships requiring accurate, easily accessible data and will lead to more, larger gifts. 9. Relationships Will Still Rule. Despite all the excitement over new technologies and networking applications, don't forget the importance of personal relationships with donors. Because of the way people can "virtually" interact, having a good personal relationship is a unique differentiator. 10. Finding the Right Balance of Online and Offline Presence is Critical. You need to plan for online growth while maintaining your offline presence. You have to be tech savvy, stay current with social media and keep up with the expectations of a new generation of donors. I love this magazine (Nonprofit World) and almost always find something to clip and save. Visit www.snpo.org now to subscribe. | 
