UPDATE: We have launched a new video on this topic. Click here to register for our FREE Masterclass – What your charity can be working on during COVID-19.
Like everyone, I know you’re pivoting and innovating on the fly. I’ve had so many conversations with clients in the last few months where we’ve talked through their options and found new ways of moving forward. It’s tough when events must be postponed or cancelled, appeals have to be changed, needs are rising and so much more.
I did an IGTV a little while ago that can help you navigate this crazy time from a fundraising and donor perspective.
If you are feeling overwhelmed or stuck with what you should be doing right now or if you find yourself with time to focus on projects you’ve been neglecting, here’s a list of things you can be working on now:
- Your messaging – have you talked to your community about how you’re dealing with Covid-19? How can you best communicate your needs and challenges right now?
- Your events and appeals – what are you going to do about them? Write out what you’ve got coming up in the next 6-12 months and see how you can innovate any of that.
- Your donors – call your donors and check in on them, find out how they’re going, thank them for their support. Think about how you can serve them in this space, can you be sending out tips that are related to your cause (e.g. if you’re about building community, talk to them about creating community in this season, if you’re about health, talk to them about keeping healthy at home, mental health, cooking, etc), send them encouragement.
- Your volunteers – call your volunteers and check in on them, find out how they’re going, thank them for their support. Work on your volunteer agreements and orientation program.
- Your website – put yourself in your user’s shoes and have a wander through your website. What needs to change, what can be better?
- Your bequest program – you know that bequest program you keep meaning to do, now is a great opportunity to invest some time into creating a practical plan of action.
- Your regular giving offering – get your regular giving program off the ground or enhance your current offering. Spend some time working out your price point, what you’re offering donors and how you’re going to communicate with them.
- Your brand – if your branding needs some love, use this time to do the groundwork and have your refreshed or new brand ready to launch later in the year or early next year.
- Your supporter journey – map out what happens to your supporters when they first connect with you, what is their second point of contact, their third? How are they treated after they give a donation?
- Your marketing and fundraising plan – yes there are many uncertainties, but you can always make a start on a plan. It is meant to be a living document, that moves and grows with your organisation.
- Your workspace – does it need a clean? Do you need to file a bunch of things? Do you need to rearrange anything to streamline the space?
- New ideas – spend some time getting creative on new ways you can do things, new opportunities, new programs, new initiatives.
This is just a start, and hope it triggers some ideas for you. It’s tough right now, but as a charity, I know you’ve been through so much. Just keep swimming friends, you’ve got this.