Wednesday 30 January 2013

How Your Blog Can Support Your Fundraising Efforts


Board meetings can be long and dull, particularly if you are focussing on some of the tough financial issues every not for profit organisation has to deal with.  The problem is that these kinds of tasks suck your energy and stifle your creativity.

It’s difficult to find a way to inspire people to support your charity when all you can think of are numbers.
That’s where your blog can be very useful.  The organisation’s blog is the perfect vehicle for spreading the message about what you do and why you do it.  As volunteer treasurer you should be involved in creating posts which show what happens to the money that people donate.

Take a look at the Starlight Foundation blog as an example.

What’s good about it?

·         It’s filled with photos which tell a story about the people they are helping.

·         It takes readers right into the lives of the children who need the help.

·         It shows their corporate successes and acknowledges their big benefactors.

·         It shows the volunteers actively helping people.

·         It introduces members of the team.

·         It is filled with personality and touches of humour.
Can you imagine how influential that blog could be for someone looking for a charity to support?  It touches every emotion you can think of plus it builds faith in the commitment of its workers.

As a volunteer treasurer you know where the money is being spent and why.  You know when your not for profit is going to need extra funding and you will know when to celebrate success and share it with your followers.  This can be used to help you plan the kind of posts you need to share and their timing.
The volunteer treasurer role isn’t just about counting and managing the money that comes in; it also involves inspiring people to donate.
If you don’t have a blog which tells the story of the work your not for profit organisation does, why not suggest starting one?