It can be a little depressing when you realize that there are no magic wands in fundraising.
There is just no single strategy that can "do it all".
But there is one skill that can take your fundraising efforts to another level. A level that gets you:
☀️ more donors, faster
☀️ curious donors who understand what you need and how to help
☀️ a path to bringing donors into the complexity of your mission
We're betting you can add this skill to your toolkit whether you've got decades in the nonprofit game or are just getting your confidence. And maybe most importantly, you can use this skill whether or not you have a bunch of rich people in your donor list.
🎵 Hallelujah! 🎵
So what IS this game-changer?
Create a strong top-of-funnel opt-in action and follow up plan for new supporters.
What is a top-of-funnel opt-in?
It's a clearly defined mini-step for folks to take when they are still testing out engagement with your mission. It's a chance for folks to do something bite-sized that you can build on. It's the beginning of building/re-building your base of support from individual donors. It's measurable and progress is regularly shared.
Many of you are 💫 great 💫 at sharing what money it takes to fully fund your mission. If you are a graduate of Values-Based Major Giving Academy (here's the waitlist btw), you already know how important this is to creating the environment for fundraising. DO NOT STOP TELLING PEOPLE HOW MUCH MONEY YOUR MISSION TAKES! This isn't a replacement for a sharing the funding needs transparently. If there was a fundraising magic wand, telling people the funding gap is the closest thing to it. These two can work hand in hand.
What does it sound like?
"We're working to add 400 people to our action list so that we're ready to respond when legislators need to hear our united voice. So far, we're halfway there. "
or
"We're collecting 200 stories from community supporters to uncover why art matters in your life. We have our first 10 from Walker Middle School-- how many can you and your community bring in?"
How do I do it?
Get with your team and decide on a simple action that truly benefits your mission and doesn't create a new program or volunteer management need.
Set it up so that if folks choose to participate they are invited to provide contact information.
If they consent to sharing contact info, track this growing group of opt-in folks as a segment in your database
Create a simple follow up plan for the next 3-9 months. For example:
Thank them for participating within a week
Add them to monthly e-news
Send a personal invite to your next Base-Building opportunity
Ask a board member to invite them to your fundraiser this fall
If they haven't given send a mailed appeal letter at end of year
The bonus of having a strong opt-in (not just "sign up for e-news!") early in your relational funnel is that you can use it with current donors, too. Current donors who need a next action step or engagement opportunity can be invited to help you meet your goal and will get to feel the magic of building a community of support alongside others who care for the mission.
In the end, that is pretty magical.
More on Why Base Building Matters
For us part of the magic of Base-Building comes from how well we know it works for community organizing. We believe that power for change comes from organized people and organized money, and working on this skill helps you with both. You can:
Deepen Connections: By engaging with your community through grassroots efforts like Get Out the Vote (GOTV) initiatives and campaign involvement, you get to know what truly matters to them. This insight helps you align your fundraising strategies with their values, creating stronger, more authentic connections.
Learn and Grow: Offering a top-of-funnel opt-in that let's you attract new values-aligned supports is a hands-on learning experience. You get the chance to mobilize supporters, tell more folks about what it takes financially, invite them in and build power for your cause.
Empower Your Mission: When your fundraising is rooted in shared values, it becomes a powerful force for change. Base building ensures that your community feels invested in your mission and aligned with your values from the very beginning, turning supporters into advocates and donors for the long-haul.
Let’s build something incredible together with our donors—grounded in the power of our values.
Want more Base-Building?
If you'd like a guide to begin or improve your donor acquisition and base-building for fundraising, let's talk. We’ll help you build your own Community Engagement Opportunity and integrate it into your fundraising practice. You choose the level of support.
We can offer right-sized guidance to meet a tight budget or jump in with the heavy-lifting to develop your messaging, identify and coach speakers, script your Community Engagement Opportunity, and write the invitations. We’ll coach you through the follow-up and your engagement strategies for new supporters, including drafting the appeal that invites their first financial gift.
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