The 6 Unchanging Principles of Social Media Fundraising in Church
Looking to use social media to meet fundraising goals? Although social platforms change regularly, the way in which we use them remains the same. Here are six tips for boosting social media fundraising.
Do you need help using social media to meet your fundraising goals?
Even though you will need to adapt to the ever-changing social media platforms regularly, there are several principles of fundraising on social media that will never change. Here’s what you need to know:
#1. Make a plan!!!
You need to make a strategic fundraising plan before you share anything online.
Here are some things you’ll need to nail down:
- How much money do you want to raise?
- How many people do you want to support or projects — e.g., water wells — do you want to complete?
- Who do you want to reach?
- What is the theme of your campaign?
- How will you connect with the people you want to reach?
- How much is your budget for this campaign?
- Who is taking the lead in this campaign?
- Will you use a hashtag for your campaign?
- What content will you need to create?
- How will you track your efforts?
There are more questions you’ll need to answer. But these few questions above will help you to think through what you’ll need to do to make your fundraising campaign a success.
#2. Focus your efforts
After completing the first step above, you’ll have a good idea of who you're targeting. Now, a significant part of your plan will be spending time on the actual social media platforms your supporters use.
If you’re just getting started or you need help focusing your efforts, then it will probably be best for you to use Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter. As of this post, these four social media platforms boast the most massive user base, and they are already equipped for raising support.
There are many other platforms you can consider. But unless you have a large team or a diverse donor base, there’s no need for you to spend time on social media platforms your supporters don’t frequent.
#3. Invite people to participate
How can people participate in your campaign? What steps do they need to take?
From leading people to “donate now,” “download this resource,” or “share this story,” there are several calls to action you can consider for your social media updates.
Make sure after people read, watch, or listen to your message that you give them a next step to take.
For example, on Facebook, you can easily provide people with the ability to share or invite people to your campaign or to click on a button to “donate now.”
#4. Engage your audience
Regardless of the tactics you use for raising funds via social media, at the end of the day, there’s one thing you’ll need to be: social.
Make the time to engage with your followers. Respond to their comments. Like what they share. And ask them questions.
#5. Share transformational stories
“Don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle.”
This phrase was coined in the 1920s, and this is what it boils down to: Show people how God is at work instead of telling them what he is doing something.
When it comes to donating to your church or organization, people want to know how their support is making a difference. As you move forward in your fundraising campaigns, be sure to share stories of God’s work through your church or organization through social media.
Tell people stories of how their financial support changed individual lives. Show them how their support helped complete an important project. One of the most powerful storytelling techniques you can use is “show, don’t tell.”
#6. Make it simple to give
Maybe the most obvious of all the tips, but one that if neglected would seriously hinder your social fundraising efforts. Be sure you have a very simple to use online giving tool. One that makes it easy for first time givers to support your church. One that allows people to easily setup recurring giving if you're focusing on building your regular giving. One that makes it simple for people to designate their gift the the campaign or cause your targeting (eg. missions, building fund, helping the poor, supporting kids for camp, etc).
You get the point! If it's not simple to give, all the other efforts will ultimately lead to lack luster results.
What tips would you add to this list?
Share your ideas in the comments below!
Sign Up for Product Updates
Do you need help using social media to meet your fundraising goals?
Even though you will need to adapt to the ever-changing social media platforms regularly, there are several principles of fundraising on social media that will never change. Here’s what you need to know:
#1. Make a plan!!!
You need to make a strategic fundraising plan before you share anything online.
Here are some things you’ll need to nail down:
- How much money do you want to raise?
- How many people do you want to support or projects — e.g., water wells — do you want to complete?
- Who do you want to reach?
- What is the theme of your campaign?
- How will you connect with the people you want to reach?
- How much is your budget for this campaign?
- Who is taking the lead in this campaign?
- Will you use a hashtag for your campaign?
- What content will you need to create?
- How will you track your efforts?
There are more questions you’ll need to answer. But these few questions above will help you to think through what you’ll need to do to make your fundraising campaign a success.
#2. Focus your efforts
After completing the first step above, you’ll have a good idea of who you're targeting. Now, a significant part of your plan will be spending time on the actual social media platforms your supporters use.
If you’re just getting started or you need help focusing your efforts, then it will probably be best for you to use Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter. As of this post, these four social media platforms boast the most massive user base, and they are already equipped for raising support.
There are many other platforms you can consider. But unless you have a large team or a diverse donor base, there’s no need for you to spend time on social media platforms your supporters don’t frequent.
#3. Invite people to participate
How can people participate in your campaign? What steps do they need to take?
From leading people to “donate now,” “download this resource,” or “share this story,” there are several calls to action you can consider for your social media updates.
Make sure after people read, watch, or listen to your message that you give them a next step to take.
For example, on Facebook, you can easily provide people with the ability to share or invite people to your campaign or to click on a button to “donate now.”
#4. Engage your audience
Regardless of the tactics you use for raising funds via social media, at the end of the day, there’s one thing you’ll need to be: social.
Make the time to engage with your followers. Respond to their comments. Like what they share. And ask them questions.
#5. Share transformational stories
“Don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle.”
This phrase was coined in the 1920s, and this is what it boils down to: Show people how God is at work instead of telling them what he is doing something.
When it comes to donating to your church or organization, people want to know how their support is making a difference. As you move forward in your fundraising campaigns, be sure to share stories of God’s work through your church or organization through social media.
Tell people stories of how their financial support changed individual lives. Show them how their support helped complete an important project. One of the most powerful storytelling techniques you can use is “show, don’t tell.”
#6. Make it simple to give
Maybe the most obvious of all the tips, but one that if neglected would seriously hinder your social fundraising efforts. Be sure you have a very simple to use online giving tool. One that makes it easy for first time givers to support your church. One that allows people to easily setup recurring giving if you're focusing on building your regular giving. One that makes it simple for people to designate their gift the the campaign or cause your targeting (eg. missions, building fund, helping the poor, supporting kids for camp, etc).
You get the point! If it's not simple to give, all the other efforts will ultimately lead to lack luster results.
What tips would you add to this list?
Share your ideas in the comments below!
podcast transcript
Do you need help using social media to meet your fundraising goals?
Even though you will need to adapt to the ever-changing social media platforms regularly, there are several principles of fundraising on social media that will never change. Here’s what you need to know:
#1. Make a plan!!!
You need to make a strategic fundraising plan before you share anything online.
Here are some things you’ll need to nail down:
- How much money do you want to raise?
- How many people do you want to support or projects — e.g., water wells — do you want to complete?
- Who do you want to reach?
- What is the theme of your campaign?
- How will you connect with the people you want to reach?
- How much is your budget for this campaign?
- Who is taking the lead in this campaign?
- Will you use a hashtag for your campaign?
- What content will you need to create?
- How will you track your efforts?
There are more questions you’ll need to answer. But these few questions above will help you to think through what you’ll need to do to make your fundraising campaign a success.
#2. Focus your efforts
After completing the first step above, you’ll have a good idea of who you're targeting. Now, a significant part of your plan will be spending time on the actual social media platforms your supporters use.
If you’re just getting started or you need help focusing your efforts, then it will probably be best for you to use Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter. As of this post, these four social media platforms boast the most massive user base, and they are already equipped for raising support.
There are many other platforms you can consider. But unless you have a large team or a diverse donor base, there’s no need for you to spend time on social media platforms your supporters don’t frequent.
#3. Invite people to participate
How can people participate in your campaign? What steps do they need to take?
From leading people to “donate now,” “download this resource,” or “share this story,” there are several calls to action you can consider for your social media updates.
Make sure after people read, watch, or listen to your message that you give them a next step to take.
For example, on Facebook, you can easily provide people with the ability to share or invite people to your campaign or to click on a button to “donate now.”
#4. Engage your audience
Regardless of the tactics you use for raising funds via social media, at the end of the day, there’s one thing you’ll need to be: social.
Make the time to engage with your followers. Respond to their comments. Like what they share. And ask them questions.
#5. Share transformational stories
“Don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle.”
This phrase was coined in the 1920s, and this is what it boils down to: Show people how God is at work instead of telling them what he is doing something.
When it comes to donating to your church or organization, people want to know how their support is making a difference. As you move forward in your fundraising campaigns, be sure to share stories of God’s work through your church or organization through social media.
Tell people stories of how their financial support changed individual lives. Show them how their support helped complete an important project. One of the most powerful storytelling techniques you can use is “show, don’t tell.”
#6. Make it simple to give
Maybe the most obvious of all the tips, but one that if neglected would seriously hinder your social fundraising efforts. Be sure you have a very simple to use online giving tool. One that makes it easy for first time givers to support your church. One that allows people to easily setup recurring giving if you're focusing on building your regular giving. One that makes it simple for people to designate their gift the the campaign or cause your targeting (eg. missions, building fund, helping the poor, supporting kids for camp, etc).
You get the point! If it's not simple to give, all the other efforts will ultimately lead to lack luster results.
What tips would you add to this list?
Share your ideas in the comments below!
VIDEO transcript
Do you need help using social media to meet your fundraising goals?
Even though you will need to adapt to the ever-changing social media platforms regularly, there are several principles of fundraising on social media that will never change. Here’s what you need to know:
#1. Make a plan!!!
You need to make a strategic fundraising plan before you share anything online.
Here are some things you’ll need to nail down:
- How much money do you want to raise?
- How many people do you want to support or projects — e.g., water wells — do you want to complete?
- Who do you want to reach?
- What is the theme of your campaign?
- How will you connect with the people you want to reach?
- How much is your budget for this campaign?
- Who is taking the lead in this campaign?
- Will you use a hashtag for your campaign?
- What content will you need to create?
- How will you track your efforts?
There are more questions you’ll need to answer. But these few questions above will help you to think through what you’ll need to do to make your fundraising campaign a success.
#2. Focus your efforts
After completing the first step above, you’ll have a good idea of who you're targeting. Now, a significant part of your plan will be spending time on the actual social media platforms your supporters use.
If you’re just getting started or you need help focusing your efforts, then it will probably be best for you to use Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter. As of this post, these four social media platforms boast the most massive user base, and they are already equipped for raising support.
There are many other platforms you can consider. But unless you have a large team or a diverse donor base, there’s no need for you to spend time on social media platforms your supporters don’t frequent.
#3. Invite people to participate
How can people participate in your campaign? What steps do they need to take?
From leading people to “donate now,” “download this resource,” or “share this story,” there are several calls to action you can consider for your social media updates.
Make sure after people read, watch, or listen to your message that you give them a next step to take.
For example, on Facebook, you can easily provide people with the ability to share or invite people to your campaign or to click on a button to “donate now.”
#4. Engage your audience
Regardless of the tactics you use for raising funds via social media, at the end of the day, there’s one thing you’ll need to be: social.
Make the time to engage with your followers. Respond to their comments. Like what they share. And ask them questions.
#5. Share transformational stories
“Don’t sell the steak, sell the sizzle.”
This phrase was coined in the 1920s, and this is what it boils down to: Show people how God is at work instead of telling them what he is doing something.
When it comes to donating to your church or organization, people want to know how their support is making a difference. As you move forward in your fundraising campaigns, be sure to share stories of God’s work through your church or organization through social media.
Tell people stories of how their financial support changed individual lives. Show them how their support helped complete an important project. One of the most powerful storytelling techniques you can use is “show, don’t tell.”
#6. Make it simple to give
Maybe the most obvious of all the tips, but one that if neglected would seriously hinder your social fundraising efforts. Be sure you have a very simple to use online giving tool. One that makes it easy for first time givers to support your church. One that allows people to easily setup recurring giving if you're focusing on building your regular giving. One that makes it simple for people to designate their gift the the campaign or cause your targeting (eg. missions, building fund, helping the poor, supporting kids for camp, etc).
You get the point! If it's not simple to give, all the other efforts will ultimately lead to lack luster results.
What tips would you add to this list?
Share your ideas in the comments below!
Sign Up for Product Updates
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