For charity fundraising to be successful, it’s essential that various methods are used as part of a strategic plan. Focusing your efforts in just one place doesn’t make good financial sense, especially when there are so many different ways to reach new donors.
Pledging is one of several highly-effective fundraising methods that charities can utilise and we’re going to talk more about it today!
If you’ve primarily been giving your time to hosting more conventional charity events and campaigns, then you might want to consider giving pledge fundraising a go.
What is a Fundraising Pledge?
Fundraising pledges will be made by people who wish to support your charity because they believe in the good work that you’re doing. These pledges are essentially promises of future support.
Organising a pledge fundraising campaign can be slightly more complex than a regular fundraising drive. This is because you’ll have to be very clear and specific about the conditions of the pledges, as well as the timeframe in which the promises must be fulfilled. Ensuring all potential donors are fully aware of any requirements is key to the smooth running of your campaign.
How is a Fundraising Pledge Different from a Donation?
When a supporter makes a donation, this will usually happen in the moment and the payment will be processed immediately. A pledge, on the other hand, is a commitment to giving this support in the future, whether this is financial or otherwise.
Pledges will typically only be made during a specific campaign, whereas donations can be made to your charity at any time.
How to do a Pledge Fundraiser
Organising a charity event can be a huge task and this is especially the case if you’re putting together an in-person event. Taking the time to carefully plan your pledge fundraiser campaign will help you to secure more funds while also reaching new audiences.
Before you settle on the idea of pledging, you should consider what the purpose of your campaign is. This method of fundraising is generally more suited to raising money for:
- Disaster relief work
- Unexpected costs
- Urgent social issues
- Advocacy work
Pledge fundraising typically works best in these scenarios due to the urgency of the fundraising. This prompts people to take an immediate action that will help in the near future.
If you decide that this is the best route for your charity campaign, then you’ll first want to clearly define your mission and precisely what the money will be used for.
If you plan to run an online campaign, then you’ll need to create compelling content to appeal to potential pledgers. This might be in the format of a video that you can use on your website and social media profiles, or it could be written content that explains the work you’re trying to fund. You’ll also want to set up a dedicated webpage where people can make their pledges.
You will then need to circulate your content as widely as possible through various methods of online promotion.
If you plan to host a pledge fundraising campaign in person, then there’s naturally going to be a great deal of work to do.
For an in-person event, you’ll need to secure a venue, hire a host and make the necessary arrangements for catering and entertainment. You’ll also need to decide how you’re going to receive your pledges at the event and then make the necessary arrangements.
If you’ve hired a professional fundraising service to help, then much of this hard work will be done for you!
At Full Event Fundraising, we can assist you with gathering pledges in the following three ways:
- General Pledge
- Tangible Pledge
- Super Pledge
1.General Pledge
A General Pledge simply invites the donor to promise a certain amount to the fundraising campaign. The amount will be given as a pledge and the actual donation will be collected at a later date.
2. Tangible Pledge
With a Tangible Pledge, the donor is given precise information about the amount of money needed for different items, actions or services. This can help to encourage more generous pledging as the donor can see exactly what their money will be put to use for.
3. Super Pledge (Live Event)
Our Super Pledge service takes place at a live event and is a highly-effective proven method of fundraising. With iPads positioned around the venue at the event, guests will be prompted by the host to make pledges, usually within a short timeframe in order to encourage everyone to make a bid.
By making pledges electronically, guests will be able to see how much money has already been pledged and also how much more needs to be raised in order to hit the target. This can either be on the iPads or also connected to a big screen with a thermometer displaying the amount raised.
When we work with you to organise a Super Pledge event, this will include the facilitation of our seamless payment collection service.
Pledge Fundraising Tips
Embracing the following tips will help to give your campaign a boost and ensure your message reaches as many people as possible!
1. Maintain Momentum
One of the most effective ways to increase your pledges is to keep the momentum going throughout your campaign.
Potential pledgers need to see that you’re passionate and dedicated to the cause. Your enthusiasm will be infectious to those who already have a desire to support you, as well as to people who are just learning about you for the first time.
2. Utilise Digital Tools
These days, there are so many different online tools and technologies to serve all kinds of purposes. Getting to grips with these tools and using them effectively should be a priority within your wider marketing plan.
Utilising the right tools for your promotional efforts is a simple way to spread your message and reach the right audiences. So take the time to discover what’s best for you and your goals.
3. Collect Your Pledges Efficiently
Reaching out to collect the pledges promised to you can be the most time-consuming and complicated part of the process.
The first step to getting this right is to ensure you have the correct contact details for everyone who makes a pledge. To avoid any issues, request at least two points of contact, such as a landline number, mobile number, home address or email address.
It’s also a good idea to automate a ‘thank you’ email to be sent immediately to everyone who makes a pledge.
4. Network
During your event, it’s important that you take the time to get to know your guests and build relationships with them.
These people are at your event because they believe in you and the goals of your organisation. They want to see you succeed and have come to help you do just that. So, make sure you’re talking to your guests about your mission and explaining why their help is essential!
Alternative Charity Fundraising Techniques
As we mentioned at the start of this article, it’s important to use a variety of different fundraising methods to reach your goals.
In addition to unleashing the power of pledge fundraising, you might also want to look into organising a silent auction or another type of charity fundraising event.
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