For-profit companies are using technology tools to keep their businesses going, and nonprofits have adjusted too, but another important donation date is approaching: Giving Tuesday. Since its inception in 2012 as a movement to unleash the power of “radical generosity,” Giving Tuesday has helped nonprofits raise billions of dollars. Last year, around 35 million people donated almost $2.5 billion.
Is your nonprofit ready to maximize donations on Giving Tuesday? Here are some tips on how to make the most of your interactions with donors this year:
- Use an online donation signup form: You can find free, customizable donation signup forms online that allow your nonprofit to collect and manage donor contact information, the types of donations received (e.g., cash, donated goods or services, etc.), dollar amounts, and frequency. If you haven’t already deployed an online donation form this is the perfect time to do so. It streamlines giving for donors on Giving Tuesday — and all year long.
- Remove friction from the payment process: Make sure it’s easy to donate with a secure, integrated payment system that allows you to accept payments online via a donation button on an online form. This is especially important for an event like Giving Tuesday, which is a great time to appeal to donors in the spirit of the moment. Ideally, you want to give them a way to respond immediately instead of asking them to visit your website or, worse yet, mail a check.
- Make sure online forms are compatible with mobile devices: One factor to keep in mind is that a growing number of potential donors use mobile devices as their primary internet access point, so it makes sense to use online forms that can accommodate mobile viewers and mobile-first technologies like QR codes. Once you get your forms set up, it’s a good idea to test them on several devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Deploy a digital donations tracker: Many nonprofits still manually enter donor information on spreadsheets, but creating a digital donations tracker and integrating it with your online donation forms so that donor information is captured automatically frees your valuable time for other tasks. That can be especially important around Giving Tuesday and the rest of the holiday season, when donations hit peak levels for the year.
- Create a digital process to thank donors automatically: With the right platform, you can automate the process of sending digital thank-you notes to donors, adding your nonprofit’s logo and a personalized message. The thank-you message can highlight the great work your nonprofit does and thank donors by name, mentioning the donation amount right in the message.
Nonprofits of any size can easily and affordably implement these digital tools, and some online form platforms even offer nonprofits a special discount rate for higher-volume usage. Once you’ve integrated your online donation processes, you’ll also be able to generate reports that can give you more insight into your donor base.
Giving Tuesday only comes around once a year, but the great work your nonprofit organization does never ends. Technology can help lighten the load so you can maximize donations on Giving Tuesday and keep the conversation with donors going all year long.
Chad Reid, VP of Marketing and Communication, Jotform
