4 Nonprofit Fundraising Mistakes and How To Fix Them

Nonprofit fundraising is not as easy as it looks. The fewer roadblocks you have in your donors’ path, the more successful your charity will be. But what are some of the most common mistakes you should avoid?

Mistake #1: No Mobile Nonprofit Fundraising Option

Mobile is important, and not just to companies that sell phones. The vast majority of people — 90% — own a mobile phone, and 91% of adults keep their smartphone within arm’s reach at all times. Your donors are just as tied to their devices as any other person in today’s society.

Your nonprofit fundraising efforts need to incorporate mobile. If not, you could be alienating a lot of your potential donors. They already use their phones to shop, do banking, and transfer funds to family and friends. Why shouldn’t they be able to use the same technology to give to your organization?

Mistake #2: Too Many Form Fields

When attempting to drive donations, how much information do you request from your supporters? Do you have a long list of boxes that have to be filled in before they are able to give?

If so, you could be limiting your nonprofit fundraising potential. Your donors have limited time on their hands, and no one enjoys filling out long forms. If they have to take that extra time to give to your organization, they might decide it isn’t worth the effort.

That is why it is imperative that you make the giving process as fast and simple as possible. The less time it takes, the more likely they are to complete their donation.

Mistake #3: Not Showing Where The Money Goes

The best way to get people interested in supporting your cause is to give them a sneak peek of where their money will go. Without that context, they may question whether your nonprofit is the best choice for their charitable contributions.

Tell your potential donors exactly what their gifts will fund. List out the different causes they can support. When they see the specific good they can help you do, they will be more likely to get on board and make a donation.

Mistake #4: Failing to Train Staff and Volunteers

One important part of the nonprofit fundraising process that often slips through the cracks is this: training your staff and volunteers. How can your fundraising be successful if the people you have on the front lines do not understand your giving options? If they don’t know how it works, they cannot correctly pass that information along to your supporters.

To fix this problem, educate all of your volunteers and staff members on your various giving options. Demonstrate how online or mobile giving works. Show them how to spread the word to potential donors. When they can effectively drive donations, your nonprofit fundraising efforts will soar to new heights.