How to Engage Your Fundraising Community in Times of Crisis

You can band together with local businesses, organizations, and politicians to gain support and bring relief to your community. Events like cleanups, food drives, dinners, and walkathons will be more successful with more hands on deck. Here are some tips to connect with your fellow community members to make things happen.

Consider creating social media posts that introduce your Executive Director or board members, explain your specific goals related to the fundraising crisis, and seek to find others who share your compassion. Be sure to include photos so you will stand out in social media feeds, and tag collaborators so they can easily share posts with their network.

Remember that the best way to build your own social media following is by following others! Look for local businesses and organizations that might be affected, or that serve those who have been affected by your emergency. Keep an eye out for new faces who may benefit from learning more about the work you do.

You’re certainly not limited to social media for opportunities to introduce yourself. Don’t be afraid to get out there and greet community members in person, but try not to solicit them right away. Instead of bringing business cards door to door or asking for donations, you can build more genuine connections by striking up a conversation while showing your support. Try patronizing local businesses, attending charity events, or sitting in on community meetings. When discussing the state of your neighborhood, possible solutions will come up naturally, and people will be eager to hear about how your nonprofit can help.

After introducing yourself and your nonprofit in a community forum, whether it’s online or in person, stay in touch to provide updates about what you have planned.

On social media, on your website, and at local events, invite feedback from community members about what they’d like to see accomplished in the near future. Start by finding out their top concerns about the emergency situation, and ask what would make them feel more comfortable.

Try to do this as often as possible, even after your fundraising crisis has subsided. Think of ways you can continue to solicit feedback on a consistent basis. Maybe you can host regular video calls with business owners and neighborhood organizations to discuss what they need. Maybe you can post weekly polls on your organization’s Facebook page.

• Try making a Facebook group for relief efforts in your community and inviting local businesses and organizations to join the conversation.
• Include a button on your online donation form that allows supporters to create their own fundraiser and invite friends and family to donate, also known as crowdfunding.
• Post about your upcoming event and, in the comments, tag local businesses and organizations who may be interested in participating. Invite them to send you a direct message if they’d like more information.
• Create a Twitter hashtag for your community’s emergency response efforts. This will be an easy way to keep everyone updated on what you’re doing to help and stay informed about what efforts are being made by others.
• Have a favorite local restaurant or boutique? Are you a regular at a local coffee shop? Next time you visit, ask if they’d be interested in submitting items or gift cards for a charity auction to benefit victims of your emergency.

DonorPerfect Online Forms empower you to create an emergency donation page for your fundraising crisis, or quickly update your existing donation page to include powerful photos and crowdfunding options.

Once you have collaborators, be sure to post a list of participating businesses and organizations online – including tags and/or links to their sites – to encourage further collaboration and provide an incentive to get involved.

5. Stay connected

Once you’ve established relationships with new donors and fundraising partners, you can maintain these connections by keeping them engaged with all the good you’re doing in your community. Create a contact list for letters, emails, and calls announcing your upcoming fundraising opportunities. 

Not sure how to word your email reminders or how often to send them? We created fill-in-the-blank templates to help you! Download your free Crisis Fundraising Templates, available below, and New Donor Welcome Series Email Template Kit.

We wish you and your organization the best of luck in your relief efforts. No matter your fundraising emergency, the DonorPerfect team would like to thank you for going the extra mile to uplift your community, and for your trust in us to support you.