7 New Year’s Resolutions for Nonprofits

A new year is about to begin, which means it’s time to get creative juices flowing again and develop new strategies to boost nonprofit donations in 2018.

We’ve cooked up seven New Year’s resolutions to help your nonprofit get started.

1. Scrub Your Database

Spend time getting your database of supporters into shape. Weed out contacts who haven’t responded in years and make sure your database is organized in the best way possible.

You probably have supporters categorized according to “volunteer” and “donor,” but could you add more helpful details? Think of adding “skills and interests” to your volunteers, and segmenting your donors according to levels of giving.

2. Utilize Skilled Volunteers

Skilled volunteerism is increasing in popularity, as Millennials desire to leverage their professional skills for good. Think strategically about areas in your organization that could improve with the help of some skilled volunteers.

Graphic design, information technology, grant writing, and data analysis are all popular areas for skilled volunteers. Once you’ve written up a detailed volunteer job description, head to www.volunteermatch.org or www.catchafire.org to post a volunteer opportunity.

3. Optimize Your Social Media Experience

You check all the boxes – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. But, do you use all of these tools effectively? Twitter is doing you no good if your account is inactive.

Sit down with your team and develop a strategy for using your social media tools effectively and regularly, and don’t forget to enlist the help of your volunteers. Many of them might have excellent social media skills that they would love to use in support of your cause.

4. Strengthen Your Board’s Involvement

If you wish your board took a more active role in fundraising, make a resolution to strategize with them this year. This doesn’t mean that they need to be hobnobbing with wealthy people every weekend or making phone calls asking big businesses for money all the time.

They can perform other effective tasks, such as hosting non-ask events, inviting local professionals to advise the organization on different areas, and calling donors to thank them for their support.

5. Start a Nonprofit Professional Development Group

Connect with other nonprofits to form a professional development group. Resolve to meet once per month to discuss nonprofit-related issues: fundraising strategies, social media optimization, volunteer management, board recruitment and more.

You can meet with a group of people who all hold the same position, or meet with people who fill different roles. The point of your meet-up should be simple: to learn from each other and enhance the possibilities at your organization.

6. Update Your Profile on GuideStar

GuideStar is an internationally trusted resource when it comes to nonprofit donations. When donors want to give, they will investigate organizations on GuideStar.

Make sure you meet donors there with an impressive profile. Keep your financial information squeaky clean and up to date, and make sure your organization’s contact information is correct.

7. Enable Mobile Nonprofit Donations

You have surely been urged to get your mobile technologies up to speed. According to Pew Research, over three-quarters of Americans own smartphones and use them for numerous purposes. Furthermore, Geomarketing reported that the time people spend on their mobile devices per day has increased to three hours and 15 minutes, with the majority of that time spent in apps.

These statistics will rise, so nonprofits should make adjustments now to keep pace both with technology and donors’ expectations.

Ready to modernize your giving methods for the new year? Let us show you how.