On August 17, the United States celebrates National Nonprofit Day to recognize the impact of the social sector and highlight the importance of charitable organizations across the country.
The first step is to start early and plan to make the most out of National Nonprofit Day.
Here are the top tips to make the most of national nonprofit day.
Launch a crowdfunding campaign with compelling impact blocks
Crowdfunding platforms offer nonprofits a powerful way to share their stories, rally supporters, and fund their programmatic initiatives.
Rather than simply informing their supporters that their campaign is essential, create a felt experience. Impact blocks ensure a supporter understands where their donation goes, who it benefits, and what it accomplishes.
One should consider sharing brief stories about their beneficiaries or describing what each dollar amount can achieve.
Drive traffic to your social posts with #NationalNonprofitDay
Generating momentum with a hashtag on social media boosts awareness of the cause and drives traffic to one’s campaign page.
When it comes to hashtags, think engagement. Within the first 24 hours of posting, it’s crucial to draw in as much activity as possible for the best chance of expanding the reach to new followers.
High engagement signals to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn that the post is quality, which means one’s content is pushed higher on supporters’ newsfeeds.
Craft a powerful caption with descriptive language, and consider asking donors to leave a comment with a few reasons why they support the organization. Include a link to the campaign page and #nationalnonprofitday, as well as any broader hashtags like #donate or #charity, to expand the reach and join the more extensive conversation.
Thank donors with a personalized message
National Nonprofit Day is the perfect opportunity for one should let their donors know how much they’re valued and appreciated. Personalized communication creates a touchpoint that humanizes one’s organization and develops stronger donor relationships.
To help show major donors your appreciation, consider a handwritten “thank you” card, special gift, or a custom-designed appreciation wall for any major donors who have contributed substantially past the average donation amount for your organization. One should let their donors know that they took time out of their day to write an intentional message.
Other ways of appreciating donors include but are not limited to;
- Newsletters shoutouts
- Thank you, videos
- Social media posts
- Share appreciation on websites
- Custom swag
Promote in-person and virtual volunteer opportunities
One can explore ideas like serving hot meals, handing out water at a 5k, or assisting at a pet adoption event.
Promote these opportunities on the website, social media channels, and in the newsletter leading up to the day. One can consider adding an online component to each in-person volunteer opportunity to expand their reach and connect with new audiences.
Regardless of what idea one lands on, ensure each volunteer feels valued and appreciated. Establishing that relationship could be enough to keep them coming back or motivate them to start supporting others in monetary ways.
Encourage donors to amplify their impact with a recurring gift
A well-developed recurring giving program can protect the long-term health of an organization and help them scale. Leading up to National Nonprofit Day, spend some time studying the donor base to identify a list of candidates for subscription giving, how to appeal to them, and how much to ask for.
