You usually need not worry about very small items like a refrigerator magnet or a pen. For quid pro quo contributions, you must provide an acknowledgement if the cash donation is $75 or greater, even if the deductible part is less than $75.
Acknowledgements must be written, but can be electronic or printed. Although the threshold is $250, it’s good practice to acknowledge every gift you receive, even if it’s $5.
A house party does not have to be fancy. It can be a dinner party or a cocktail party. It can have 20 guests or 6. Refreshments can be catered, or as simple as coffee and cake. Make sure that the host of the party directly asks guests to donate. Have staff and board members on hand to mingle and answer questions. If appropriate, consider asking a program participant to attend. It can be very powerful and compelling for donors to meet and speak with someone who has received your organization’s services.
Understand the terms. Restaurants have different guidelines and rules for fundraisers. Some donate a percentage of the entire bill; some exclude alcohol sales. Some require that customers present a coupon or other document for your group to receive a donation, others don’t. Make sure you are clear on what’s expected so you can take full advantage of the event. Get the word out. Make sure your constituents and everyone in your group knows about your event. Encourage them to invite their friends too. Provide materials. Set out brochures, postcards or other items to let diners know that their purchases are supporting your organization.
Add to the fun and interest of the event by scheduling performances, speakers or other entertainment throughout the day. Make sure there are opportunities for customers and visitors to learn about and make a donation to your organization during the event. Consider holding a raffle as an additional way to generate revenue at the craft fair.
Most donations made online are done by credit card transaction. If you are not already set up to accept credit cards, there are a number of companies that provide credit card donation processing services for a fee. Offer the option of recurring donations. Recurring donations can benefit your organization in a few ways. Many donors find it easier to make a larger donation if its split up into quarterly or monthly payments; some very committed donors may want to make an annual donation to you. Make this as easy as possible by setting up recurring payments. Ask your online donation processing service how to offer this to your donors. Some organizations opt to accept online donations through PayPal. Visit PayPal’s website to learn more. [18] X Research source
There are dozens of merchants and portals that offer this fundraising tool. You can sign up for more than one to maximize your potential donations. Consider your constituents. When you select a merchant, consider where your constituents are likely to shop online. It might be a good idea to do a survey or ask a few key players to make sure you’re choosing well. Get the word out. Most affiliate programs offer widgets or banners that are easy to drop into your website. Include these on your website and in electronic communications to let your supporters know how they can help.
Crowdfunding is particularly well suited for funding discrete projects. [19] X Research source Rather than launch a campaign asking for all the money you need to operate a program, consider how you can break it up a bit. For example, a school music program could launch a campaign to purchase 10 instruments for low income students. Articulate your needs and your project clearly. The clearer you can be about why you need the money and how you will use it, the better. Get creative. Add media to your campaign page to increase readers’ interest. Videos, images and success stories are great for telling your story, so use them to your advantage.
