Campaigns are an excellent way to create urgency amongst your donors. There are national and international campaigns you can hop on board with such as #GivingTuesday or International Women's Day. However, the beauty of campaigns, is that you can start your own as well! Depending on the needs of your organization, you can create campaigns that focus on major donors, recurring donors, or small-dollar donors. If you can find a giving platform, corporate partners, or major donors to partner with your organization and create a "match" that creates even more urgency for your campaign. For example, if your organization partners with L'Oreal, you could set up a 50% match for all donations made on International Women's Day. When it comes to campaigns, the world is your oyster!
Days that have become staples in the nonprofit fundraising world.
Days that are easier to create a campaign around if you don't know where to start.
When it comes to delivering value to your donors, email newsletters are a great option. As you think about crafting and planning your email newsletter it's important to be strategic so that you're updating your donors enough, but also asking them for money (but not always). A good way to think about this is by using the 3:1 rule. This means sending 3 emails that add value to your donors to every email you ask them for money. It's best not to send emails more than twice a week, while the least yous should send is once a month.
Emails: What Not To Do
Dear [name],
Everyone knows money in politics is a problem.
For me, as a climate activist, seeing good Green New Deal legislation -- and even something as basic as a “no drilling where we’re living” oil setback bill, last year’s AB 345 -- killed through industry lobbying and contributions is particularly frustrating. But whether it’s the federal 15 Dollar Minimum Wage, student debt relief, financial regulation or Medicare For All, so many of our popular, urgent priorities are blocked, even with Democratic majorities and supermajorities.
There’s no way to explain this without talking about the power of corporate money in politics.
I’m supporting [name] because he’s been a champion in fighting for systematic change in campaign finance, holding elected officials and the CDP accountable for our own contribution to the problem.
When our friends in the Legislature pushed AB84 to allow more virtually unlimited paths for corporate money to flow into elections, [name] was the only officer who was willing to join the huge coalition of clean money, environmental, and progressive organizations in testifying against it. He has been a strong voice pushing the CDP to address not only its own direct fundraising, but also to be an active part in reining in the millions of dollars that flow directly to candidates and campaign committees. As a longtime county Party Chair and state Party officer, [name] balances pragmatism and a knowledge of what it takes to fund operations with a brave commitment to be a part of the solution.
[Name] supports more accountability and transparency in the CDP’s finances, including giving the Finance Committee the independence and authority to set ethical policies on donations and to empower the Controller to provide real checks and balances on expenditures. This will stop embarrassing, unilateral decisions like taking thousands of dollars from fossil fuel polluters and anti-union dialysis companies.
In the long run, our shared goal of replacing corporate donations to CDP with small dollar contributions takes more than talk. To build a real grassroots fundraising operation, the CDP often faces competition for attention and support from candidates, issue based organizations, and even county Central Committees and the Democratic National Committee. Our activists and supporters are bombarded with requests to donate to an alphabet soup of good causes. That’s why [name] worked with CDP Staff starting in 2008 to develop the MyDEM pilot project, which partnered Central Committees with the CDP in jointly raising monthly donations for use in local areas. Even after being field tested, this popular program was discontinued. Let’s bring it back.
I haven’t always been on the same side as [name] a in everything, That’s politics. But I know that he, like me, wants to make the California Democratic Party a better place, and he has put forth bold and specific proposals for the kind of big structural reform the party needs. And that has won me over.
I hope you will join me in supporting [name], and help him campaign by making a donation. Like his vision for the CDP, [name]'s campaign is corporate-free, and powered by grassroots activists and progressive groups.
Sincerely,
[name]
Some may believe events are a fantastic way to fundraise. But, we need to remember that events are not fundraising things onto themselves. Events can be used as artificial deadlines to bring funds in or for donor stewardship. However, events can be a money-losing enterprise. Events are also useful to disseminate information to donors quickly, while also inspiring them. All in all, be mindful of the intent of the events your organization plans.
Annual Gifts
Should I have an annual event?
Should I spend money on a mail campaign?
Should I send an email newsletter?
How can I raise money on social media?