How to Get Donations for Your Cause

Donations are the backbone of many charitable and nonprofit organizations. Though soliciting for donating can be challenging, it is often a rewarding experience. Follow the steps listed below to ensure success in getting donations for your cause.

Instructions

1. Decide on your target audience (will it be local businesses, friends and family, or people who have donated in the past?) Write a letter to them describing your cause. Donation letters should be very specific. Are you asking for monetary donations or donations of goods and services? Make sure you anticipate any questions they may have and answer them in your letter. Follow up with a telephone call about a week after you mail the letter.

2. Visit area businesses and ask for donations. It helps to provide a handout describing your cause and well as what kind of donations you are seeking. Offer area businesses something in return for donation, such as free advertising at an event or a public thank you in the local newspaper.

3. Create a website to add credibility to your cause. Be sure to include contact information as well as a list of items needed.

4. Utilize social medias such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. According to help.firstgiving.com, social networking sites make it easy to ask for donations and allows you to keep others updated on your progress.

5. Make donating easy. If it's a tangible item, offer to pick it up. If it's a monetary donation be prepared to accept payments in the form of cash, personal check, money order and PayPal.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to thank everyone who donates to your cause.

References

• Tips of Facebook and fundraising

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish