Volunteer grants, also known as “dollars for doers” programs, are a form of corporate giving that rewards employees’ volunteerism by providing monetary donations to the organizations they support.
These programs supply an invaluable source of funding for nonprofits and schools—however, identifying, pursuing, and managing funding through the programs can be challenging without the right tools and strategies in place. So, if you’re looking for new insights to help track volunteer grants effectively for your team, you’ve come to the right place.
In this guide, we’ll explore the essential tools and metrics needed to track and report on volunteer grant opportunities—from identification through completion. Empowering your organization with the following information will ensure your team maximizes its potential from the programs with ease:
Corporate volunteer grants offer immense potential for nonprofits, but few organizations are making the most of the opportunities before them. Why? A lack of an established volunteer grant tracking process can certainly play a role. Meanwhile, tracking volunteer grants effectively allows fundraisers to supercharge their corporate giving and volunteer engagement efforts alike.
If you’re wondering why your team should invest in revamping its volunteer grant tracking system, our leading reasons include:
Increasing Financial Support: Volunteer grants provide additional funding, which can be significant for nonprofits relying on external support. Tracking volunteer grants through completion allows organizations to increase revenue ultimately collected through the programs. More money = more beneficiaries receiving value from your services!
Enhancing Volunteer Engagement: Encouraging volunteers to apply for grants increases their commitment and engagement with your organization. By tracking volunteer grants—and your volunteers’ involvement in the programs—you can grow stronger relationships with supporters who participate.
Building Corporate Relationships: Strengthening ties with corporations that offer dollars for doers programs can lead to further partnership opportunities as well. Source tailored insights from tracking volunteer grants to demonstrate employees’ devotion to their causes. For example, you can let a company that has already contributed volunteer grant funding to your organization know that you appreciate their existing support—and that of their staff—and recommend additional ways they can get involved.
Powering Tangible Impact Measurement: Tracking volunteer grants helps measure the financial impact of volunteer efforts, ultimately showcasing the value of each contribution. When volunteers see that their efforts are being appreciated and converted into nonprofit funding, they’ll be more likely to remain dedicated to the cause.
Key Volunteer Grant Metrics & KPIs to Monitor
The best way to determine the success of your organization’s volunteer grant marketing efforts is to track select KPIs (or key performance indicators). The metrics you choose to measure can help your team assess its overall impact, improve outreach efforts, demonstrate value to stakeholders, and more.
Here are a few metrics we recommend tracking within your volunteer grant strategy.
Recommended KPI: Volunteer Grant Eligibility Rate
Why it Matters: This metric represents the portion of your volunteer network identified as eligible for a volunteer grant program through their employers. The figure allows your team to better understand and pursue the volunteer grant opportunity.
How to Track This Volunteer Grant Metric: Use a volunteer grant database tool to triage volunteers based on whether their employers offer volunteer grant programs. Then, divide the number of volunteers who work for participating companies by the total number of volunteers in your community.
Recommended KPI: Volunteer Grant Completion Rate
Why it Matters: This metric represents the portion of your volunteer-eligible supporter base that ultimately submit in a volunteer grant. Understanding this figure allows you to measure the efficiency of the full volunteer grant process and identifies areas for improvement in your strategy.
How to Track This Volunteer Grant Metric: Divide the number of volunteer-grant eligible individuals who ultimately produce a volunteer grant for your organization by the total number of volunteer-grant eligible individuals.
Recommended KPI: Total Volunteer Grant Funding Received
Why it Matters: This metric represents the direct financial benefit from companies through volunteer grant programs, indicating the overall level of support.
How to Track This Volunteer Grant Metric: Add the sum of each volunteer grant you receive in a given time period.
Recommended KPI: Grant Amount per Volunteer
Why it Matters: This metric represents the average value a volunteer grant brings. It also allows you to more accurately forecast incoming grant revenue and aids in tailoring realistic targets and expectations for the results of your implemented strategies.
How to Track This Volunteer Grant Metric: Add the sum of each volunteer grant you receive in a given time period, then divide the total amount of funds by the number of volunteer grants received.
Recommended KPI: Number of Companies Providing Volunteer Grants
Why it Matters: This metric represents the extent of your organization’s current corporate volunteer grant contributor network, and demonstrates your potential for future growth.
How to Track This Volunteer Grant Metric: Count each company that contributes one or more volunteer grants to your organization in a given time period. See if these top volunteer grant companies are supporting your efforts!
Top Tools to Track Volunteer Grants Accurately & Efficiently
Equipping your team with the right tools to track volunteer grants is an essential component of the process. After all, doing so allows for increasingly accurate and efficient management of volunteer data. Plus, innovative technology allows you to enhance reporting capabilities and strengthen relationships with individual volunteers and corporate partners alike.
Effective tracking tools will help your organization streamline volunteer grant identification and promotional efforts, too, ultimately leading to increased funding, improved engagement, and better, more-informed decision-making.
Here’s what we suggest:
A specialized volunteer grant database
For example, Double the Donation can provide exclusive access to forms and guidelines for thousands of companies that provide volunteer grants (and matching gifts, VTO, etc.). This ultimately simplifies the process of securing volunteer grants, making it easier for volunteers to do their part in the request and driving more volunteer grants to completion.
Comprehensive volunteer time-tracking tools
For volunteers to submit grant requests to their employers, they’ll generally need to supply some sort of record of their activities.
For that purpose, you’ll want to ensure you’re making it easy for volunteers by equipping them with tools to track and verify the hours they spend with your organization.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) portals
Many companies facilitate volunteer grants through their CSR platforms. In that case, your team will need to log in to the portals to verify volunteer hours. (Don’t worry—we have a handy guide here on navigating those platforms.)
These portals will also allow you to see how many volunteer grants have made it to this step!
Remember: the right tools can go a long way. Effective tracking tools will help streamline your identification and promotional efforts, too. In the end, it ultimately leads to increased funding, improved engagement, and better, more-informed decision-making.
Next Steps for Tracking More Volunteer Grants
Tracking and reporting on volunteer grant opportunities is a vital component of a successful corporate engagement strategy. With the right tools and key metrics, your team can track volunteer grants more seamlessly than ever before.
As a result, your organization can boost its financial resources, strengthen relationships with corporate partners, and encourage greater volunteer involvement.
Interested in learning more about how you can track volunteer grants and other forms of corporate giving? Check out these recommended resources:
Volunteer grants (also known as dollars for doers programs) present a lucrative opportunity for nonprofits to maximize their available resources and bolster their impact. However, navigating the complex world of research, engagement, eligibility guidelines, and submissions can be daunting. Lucky for you, that’s where our complete guide to volunteer grant research comes into play.
Designed to demystify volunteer grant research and more, this resource equips nonprofits with the knowledge and tools they need to identify, pursue, and secure more dollars for doers revenue than ever before.
In order to build much-needed familiarity with the programs, we’ll walk you through each step of the volunteer grant research process here. These phases include:
Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer manager or new to the corporate volunteerism sector, our guide will help you uncover more funding opportunities, allowing your organization to thrive.
Let’s begin!
Understanding the Volunteer Grant Opportunity 🧠
Volunteer grants are financial contributions provided by corporations to nonprofits where their employees volunteer. These programs are offered by thousands of businesses of all shapes, sizes, and sectors—including IBM, Google, Home Depot, Starbucks, Microsoft, Disney, and 40% of the Fortune 500.
However, a lack of volunteer grant awareness among teams and supporters alike has resulted in a significant gap in the programs being utilized and funding being secured. Therefore, for the best results, it’s crucial that a nonprofit’s team has a solid understanding of the volunteer grant opportunity before it can maximize its funding potential. After all, a well-informed team can more effectively communicate the benefits to volunteers, encouraging greater participation and maximizing the organization’s grant earnings.
Familiarity with companies offering these programs—and the specific eligibility criteria for each—is also essential for effectively targeting the right opportunities. Since each volunteer grant program is unique, having extensive knowledge of the programs allows nonprofits to tailor their outreach and engagement strategies according to each supporter’s eligibility.
Recommended resource to take your corporate volunteer knowledge to the next level: Double the Donation’s free downloadable Ultimate Guide to Volunteer Grants
Identifying Your Organization’s Needs & Goals 🎯
For a nonprofit to effectively pursue volunteer grants, it should first identify the unique needs and goals related to these grants. What, specifically, is holding your organization back from reaching its volunteer grant potential?
Perhaps you need better data on where your supporters work.
Or, if you do have accurate and up-to-date employment information for your volunteers, perhaps the roadblock is determining which individuals qualify for volunteer grant programs.
Or maybe you experience drop-off getting supporters to complete the request process on your behalf.
Regardless of the reason, once you’ve determined what’s stopping you from fully leveraging the opportunity, make a plan for overcoming the challenge. Clearly defined goals provide a roadmap for targeting volunteer grants in a way that will have the most significant impact on your cause. We recommend establishing goals that are SMART—or Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example: “To secure $1,000 in volunteer grant funding by the end of the fiscal year.”
A detailed understanding of your objectives allows your team to craft compelling narratives for volunteer grant-related content. As a result, you can better demonstrate how a volunteer’s participation enables your organization to achieve tangible outcomes, thus making a stronger case for engagement.
It also ensures that everyone—staff, volunteers, and beyond—is working toward a common objective: maximizing the potential for volunteer grant success.
Collecting Employment Information from Supporters 💼
Collecting employment information from supporters is a strategic approach for nonprofits to identify and leverage volunteer grant opportunities to their greatest potential. By understanding which companies their supporters work for, organizations can pinpoint potential sources of volunteer grants.
Fortunately, there are a few ways for fundraisers to source this information. For the best results, we recommend implementing a combination of the following methods:
Ask volunteers to share their employers’ names on volunteer sign-up forms
Conduct email domain screening (or enlist a tool that does!) to scan for corporate email addresses
Once you have this employment information on hand, you can use it to tailor your outreach and engagement efforts. For instance, knowing that a significant number of volunteers are employed by a company with a grant program might lead you to focus on building relationships with the business.
Uncovering Eligible Volunteers in Your Network 🔎
Volunteer grants are a specific type of grant generally tied to an employee engagement program offered by the company. As a result, an employer donates money to the nonprofit based on the number of volunteer hours contributed by their employees.
Recognizing which volunteers work for participating companies allows nonprofits to strategically identify and pursue the opportunities available to them.
Ultimately, this targeted strategy leverages existing volunteer efforts to generate more substantial funding, enabling the nonprofit to further its mission and enhance its programs and services.
You might want to scan your entire database for opportunities, too—including existing volunteers, donors, and prospects. From there, you can alert current volunteers of their eligibility while informing donors and other non-volunteers about how they can provide more comprehensive support for your cause, empowering them to get involved in a new way.
Encouraging Volunteers to Pursue Corporate Grants ✍️
Once you know who qualifies for volunteer grants from your network, it’s important to take time to encourage them to actually participate. By motivating eligible supporters to apply for said grant opportunities, nonprofits can unlock significant funding and supercharge their volunteer engagement.
Many volunteers are unaware that their employers offer such programs, so simply providing information on eligibility and involvement can inspire volunteers to take action. Help supporters navigate the submission process and remind them to take advantage of their eligibility before it expires. By encouraging volunteers to pursue corporate grants, your organization can significantly increase its funding, thereby enhancing its ability to fulfill its mission and expand its reach in the community.
Encouraging volunteers to log their hours and apply for grants can lead to substantial financial contributions from their employers. This approach not only boosts the organization’s funding but also strengthens volunteer engagement, as volunteers see a direct impact of their work being amplified through additional resources.
Bonus: Enlisting a Volunteer Grant Database Tool 🦾
Our final recommendation is one that is powered by innovative technology: a corporate giving or volunteer grant database.
Enlisting a volunteer grant solution like 360MatchPro in your nonprofit’s engagement strategy is an excellent way to efficiently manage and maximize volunteer grants. A database tool can centralize information, provide direct links to online submission forms and eligibility criteria, and streamline the grant application process for volunteers.
By aggregating all the information you need in one place, the tool saves time and effort for both the nonprofit team and its supporters. Volunteers can easily access up-to-date information about available grants, application deadlines, and eligibility requirements, and being equipped with the right information makes them more inclined to complete the process.
Next Steps & More Volunteer Grant Resources
Securing funding through volunteer grants can be transformative for mission-focused organizations. Not only do the programs provide access to new streams of corporate philanthropy revenue, but they also incentivize greater levels of engagement among volunteers in the first place.
By leveraging this guide, nonprofits like yours can systematically approach the grant research and application process with greater confidence and efficiency. Remember, the key to success lies in thorough preparation, a clear understanding of the opportunity before you, and a compelling narrative that resonates with your audience.
Let this guide be your roadmap to making a greater difference in the communities you serve. Good luck!
Interested in learning more about volunteer grant research and other workplace giving programs? Check out these recommended resources:
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DTD_The-Volunteer-Grant-Research-Guide-Finding-More-Funding_Feature.png6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-06-24 22:20:482024-10-01 15:36:07The Volunteer Grant Research Guide | Finding More Funding
Employee matching gifts are one of the most popular forms of corporate philanthropy. Still, the source is widely untapped, largely due to a lack of knowledge surrounding the programs. If you’re looking to drive participation at your organization (in order to maximize funding and elevate donor engagement), it’s time to get matching gifts trending among supporters.
But how can you go about doing so? Start a buzz around matching gifts at your nonprofit with these helpful tips:
Our hope is that, by incorporating our recommended practices, matching gifts will become a well-known and fully utilized source of support among you and your supporters.
Let’s jump in with our first trick.
1. Share a blog post.
Blog articles are an effective medium for marketing matching gifts and other employee giving forms to your
supporters. A well-written post provides an opportunity to share an in-depth explanation of the philanthropy programs, along with showing donors that your organization is focused on maximizing fundraising from every source.
Not sure where to get started? We’ve written the following article that your team can use to kick off your matching gift blogging strategy. From there, you can send a link to the newly published resource in your newsletters and other communications to ensure donors know about this opportunity to increase their impact.
Corporate Employee Matching Gift Programs: The Secret to Boosting Revenue
For nonprofit organizations, every dollar counts. Corporate employee matching gifts offer the opportunity to turn one dollar donated by a match-eligible employee into two, three, or even four dollars!
Did you know that more than 26 million employees work for companies with matching gift programs? You might be one of them!
In this article, we’re going to explore exactly what to expect when working with matching gifts and how to make the most of this incredible fundraising opportunity.
What are corporate matching gift programs?
Employee matching gift programs are a type of corporate philanthropy set up to encourage employees to give back to their communities. These companies encourage community outreach by making donations to the same nonprofits that their employees have donated to.
These programs have become quite widespread, but many donors have not heard of them or aren’t aware of their own match-eligibility. $4-7 billion in matching gift revenue is left on the table each year, and we want to work with our donors to claim as much of it as possible.
While the specifics of these programs vary from company to company, the elements that shape these guidelines are generally the same:
Match ratio: This defines what kind of donation the company will make in relation to the employee’s initial contribution. A 1:1 ratio indicates that the company will donate the exact same amount, doubling the contribution to the employee’s chosen nonprofit.
Minimum and maximum: The minimum refers to the amount an employee must donate to qualify for a matching gift. The maximum is the total amount that a company will donate in matching contributions per employee annually.
Employee status: Sometimes, the employee’s role at the company can affect the match that they qualify for. For example, Gap Inc. offers a $1,000 maximum to part-time employees and a $10,000 maximum to Senior VP’s.
Nonprofit eligibility: Some programs offer different matches based on the mission of the organization being donated to. However, most companies offer “unrestricted” programs where any registered nonprofit can receive funds.
Submission deadline: Every program identifies a deadline when the matching gift request must be submitted by the employee. This deadline can be either a firm date (December 31st is common) or a threshold based on the date of the initial donation (90 days after donation is made).
Here are a few examples:
Johnson & Johnson — Triples donations with a 2:1 match up to $20,000 for current employees, while also doubling donations (1:1 match) for retirees
Bank of America — Matches donations 1:1 between $24 and $5,000 annually per employee
Home Depot — Matches donations 1:1 up to $3,000 annually per employee
The impact of these programs can be substantial! In fact, Microsoft has been known to match over $48 million worth of employee donations to schools and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in a single year.
Want to help [your organization’s name]?
Increasing revenue with matching gifts isn’t too tricky, but we need our donors’ help. Last year we received [insert number] matching gifts, which helped us raise [insert dollar amount]. We’ve set a goal of raising [insert dollar amount] from these programs.
If we meet our goal, we’ll be able to better [insert organization’s mission and how the organization would use the additional funding].
You can help us reach these goals by searching for your own match-eligibility. Immediately assess your eligibility and gain access to detailed information about your employer’s corporate giving program by searching our database of companies with matching gift programs [link to your dedicated matching gifts page or Double the Donation hosted URL].
We’ll provide you with as much of the following as possible:
Up-to-date, company-specific program guidelines for your employer
Links to the correct online matching gift request forms or downloadable PDFs
Our contact information (Tax ID, address, fundraising contact), which you may need for your matching gift request
If your company isn’t listed, make sure to check with your company’s HR department. We appreciate you taking a few minutes to double the impact of your donation!
Meanwhile, if you choose to write a blog post from scratch, we recommend:
Providing an overview of employee matching gift and/or volunteer grant programs
Sharing examples of companies that offer employee giving programs
Explaining the positive impact these additional funds will have on your organization’s work
Requesting that donors and volunteers search for their employer’s matching gift information using your matching gift search tool from Double the Donationa
2. Use hashtags on social media.
Your organization likely relies on social media as a core tenet of your digital marketing strategy. But do you have a plan in place to maximize your reach and engagement on key networking platforms?
Research indicates that incorporating hashtags in your posts goes a long way in terms of visibility, audience engagement, and more. A hashtag, which is essentially an octothorpe symbol followed by a key word or phrase, is a social media tool used to organize posts based on content topic. And including one or more in your postings can drive engagement by up to 100% compared to posts without hashtags.
In your next social media post about matching gifts for your organization, consider utilizing a few related hashtags and see how your audience responds. Here are a few examples you can use:
#match
#matchinggifts
#doubleyourdonation
#donationmatch
#amplifyingimpact
#[nonprofit name]matchinggifts
#getyourgiftmatched
#nonprofitmatching
#matchingdonations
#corporatematching
#doyoumatch
#doublethelove
#corporatephilanthropy
#employeegiving
#makeyourmatch
It’s also important to note that the way you use hashtags can and should vary depending on the social platforms you use. For example, studies show that Tweets with 1-2 hashtags see more than twice as much engagement as those without hashtags. But Tweets with more than two hashtags actually see a drop in engagement.
Meanwhile, the most-interacted-with Instagram posts typically include 11+ hashtags!
3. Prioritize video content.
According to content marketing research for nonprofits, video content is one of the most essential components of an optimized engagement plan. In fact, 66% of individuals find short-form videos to be the most engaging type of material published on social media.
Not to mention, of an organization’s audience…
Over 75% find videos useful when determining whether to give;
57% then go on to donate;
39% purposefully research the nonprofit within 24 hours of watching a video.
In the age of YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, Snapchat, and more, video-sharing is becoming an increasingly integral part of nonprofit marketing. And when it comes to matching gifts, producing video content can play a critical role in informing and inspiring action among donors.
For example, check out this exemplary matching gift video that demonstrates the ease with which a donor can complete the process to amplify their impact on behalf of a cause they care about:
Once they had the video created, the organization opted to share the content on both its website and social media channels to further its reach.
Take a look at the Facebook post here:
Want to make your own video? Here’s a sample script you can use to get started:
“Increasing revenue with matching gifts isn’t too tricky, but we need our donors’ help. Last year we collected $[total revenue] worth of matching gifts. This year, we’d like to receive even more. We’ve set a goal to raise over $[revenue goal] from these programs by the end of the year. If we meet our goal, we’ll be able to [summary of your nonprofit mission and/or specific project or programming].
You can help us reach these goals by searching for your own match eligibility. Immediately assess your eligibility and gain access to detailed information about your employer’s corporate giving program. All you have to do is search our database of companies with matching gift programs. Click the link in the caption [to your organization’s dedicated matching gift page] to learn more.”
4. Explore artificial intelligence and technology for content creation.
A significant roadblock facing all sorts of nonprofits is a lack of time and effort dedicated to their marketing strategies—especially when it comes to matching gifts. In fact, Nonprofits Source finds that over 80% of nonprofits report difficulty building strong workplace giving strategies due to limited staff and resources.
One unique and innovative solution? Artificial intelligence and smart technology.
AI-powered tools are currently sweeping the nation, particularly in regard to brands streamlining content creation while putting more time back into the hands of staff members. To provide some examples of how this can impact matching gifts, we tested a few artificial intelligence tools to see what they could come up with.
Here’s a sample social media caption written by one AI chatbot tool, ChatGPT (from the emojis to the hashtags and everything in between):
“Did you know that matching gifts can double or even triple your impact as a donor? 💰💸 Not only does this benefit your favorite nonprofit, but it also shows your employer’s commitment to supporting causes that matter to their employees. 🤝 Learn more about the power of matching gifts and how you can get involved to make a difference today!
Not to mention, our very own 360MatchPro can help streamline donor communications while maintaining targeted and personalized efforts. With this tool, you can easily collect and track donor employment data, identify match-eligible donations, and trigger automated email follow-ups that drive more matching gifts to completion. And it can all take place without your fundraising team having to lift a finger!
5. Host a real-time Q&A online.
From the perspective of a donor who has never requested a matching gift, the entire process can seem a bit overwhelming. What your team can do, as the nonprofit they’re supporting, is make an effort to answer any questions your supporters may have.
And what better way to do so than with a real-time Q&A session? According to recent live-streaming research, real-time content generates 27% more watch time per viewer than on-demand video. Users like interacting with their favorite organizations, and doing so as a nonprofit can help facilitate deeper relationships with donors. In fact, 79% of marketers indicate that a more authentic interaction with their audience is a top benefit of live-streamed video.
While you’ll likely aim to answer a number of questions in any pre-recorded content you share, it can be hard to predict what exactly your donors will want to know. So let them tell you in real time. We recommend:
Sharing the date and time beforehand so supporters can plan accordingly;
Accepting matching gift Q&A submissions ahead of time through email or an online form on your site;
Encouraging live viewers to ask questions in real-time using the streaming site’s chat or comment functions;
Preparing your team with a number of in-depth resources on corporate matching gift programs (hint: check out our webinars, blog posts, and free eBooks here);
Posting your live-stream recording to your website and/or social media pages, so those who missed the real-time engagement can still savor the insights shared.
Today, most social media platforms offer some sort of live-streaming option—including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and even Twitter. So pick your favorite platform (ideally one that already sees a lot of user engagement with your nonprofit) and go live!
6. Consider influencers and peer advocates.
Influencer marketing and peer-to-peer fundraising are based on a shared principle: social proof. Social proof revolves around the psychological finding that people are more likely to assume the actions of others when making their decisions.
Luckily, you can use this idea in your next matching gifts campaign!
The first step in leveraging social proof for matching gifts involves locating a number of individuals who you’d like to promote matching gifts to your audience. When donors see other supporters participating in matching gift initiatives, it can be the inspiration they need to get involved themselves.
These so-called “influencers” might be someone closely associated with your nonprofit cause, such as:
Major donors to your organization
Well-known board members
Dedicated volunteers
Well-connected P2P fundraisers
Your nonprofit’s executive director, president, or CEO
Or, you might even be able to get a popular influencer (or micro-influencer) on board! For the best results, look for individuals who share a similar target audience to your nonprofit. Plus, existing connections to your organization or its mission can go a long way toward making that connection.
Regardless of who you choose to get involved, encourage these individuals to share information about gift-matching opportunities—such as your new matching gift videos—on their personal social media pages. Provide them with pre-made images, suggested captions, video scripts or outlines, and more, empowering champions to advocate for matching gifts and encourage others to get involved.
From there, your nonprofit can typically re-post the content to your own pages (depending on the platform or platforms used), furthering the reach of the posts.
7. Make the most of free advertising with Google Grants.
Another marketing strategy that you won’t want to overlook is paid search engine advertising. And don’t be alarmed by the word “paid,” either. Google offers nonprofits access to a generous in-kind grant in the form of free ad space (the equivalent of up to $10,000 per month), known as the Google Ad Grant.
Now, why should you promote matching gifts to your audience with the Google Grant? First of all, it’s a free marketing opportunity. Of course you want to make the most of it! Not to mention, research indicates that search advertisements (such as Google Ads) have the highest ROI for nonprofit paid advertising—with an average value of $4.78 for every dollar.
When you participate in the Google Ad Grant, you essentially choose a page (or pages) and the keywords you’d like to advertise for. Then, when a donor or prospect searches the phrase (e.g., matching gifts for Cat Rescue Club), they’ll be met with your relevant sponsored content (i.e., your donation form, dedicated match page, ways to give page, blog article) at the top of the results page.
The Google Grant is a great way to increase visibility and expand the reach of your organization’s fundraising efforts. And when done well, it can drive more match-eligible donors through the giving—and matching—processes.
When it comes to getting donation-matching (or just about anything else) “trending” at your organization, it’s important that you have a solid understanding of current trends. After all, trends can change fairly quickly, along with the introduction and development of new technology, changing consumer—and supporter—preferences, and more.
And in order to get matching gifts trending effectively, there are a few key types of trends to consider as you craft your strategy. These include…
Marketing and engagement trends — Things like new social media platforms emerging, communications best practices (e.g., optimal number of hashtags per post), etc.
It ultimately boils down to this: just because something is a key trend today doesn’t mean it will necessarily be the same five years from now. So keep an eye out, make a note of any significant shifts you see, and reconvene with your marketing team on a regular basis.
And if you’re a Double the Donation user, we’ll always keep you up to date with the latest trends that our team is seeing! Check back with our blog, attend upcoming webinars, or explore our online Matching Gift Academy to stay at the forefront of matching gift innovation.
Next Steps
You’ve heard the tips. Now, get started by implementing these tried-and-true practices in your own organization’s strategy.
Just remember: the more familiar your audience is with the idea of matching gifts, the more likely they are to partake in their employers’ programming. And the more funding you’ll ultimately receive from corporate philanthropy opportunities available to your cause.
Want to learn more? Explore additional resources and discover how you can double your organization’s fundraising impact with matching gifts:
Matching Gift Process | A Complete Step-by-Step Guide. Dive into a comprehensive overview of the corporate matching gifts process. Understanding what’s involved can lead to higher success rates and better outcomes for both donors and recipients.
Top Matching Gift Practices | Actionable Insights & Examples. Learn from and be inspired by some of the leading nonprofits’ matching gift strategies. Check out these top tips and practices from real-world organizations that you can incorporate into your own matching gift plan.
Winning Workplace Giving Strategies For Nonprofits. There’s more to workplace giving than just matching gifts, too! Expand your knowledge of other available workplace giving programs—from corporate volunteer grants to annual fundraising campaigns and more.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/DTD_How-to-Get-Matching-Gifts-Trending-at-Your-Organization_Feature.png6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-06-24 07:53:202024-06-24 14:41:13How to Get Matching Gifts Trending at Your Organization
In the dynamic landscape of nonprofit operations, organizations constantly face the challenges of recruiting and retaining dedicated volunteers, sourcing sufficient funds, and maintaining high levels of engagement. Various strategies have been devised to overcome these challenges, but one opportunity stands out as a potent yet often underutilized resource: corporate volunteer grants.
What are Volunteer Grants?
Volunteer grants, which are also known as “Dollars for Doers” or employer-sponsored volunteer programs, are corporate giving initiatives in which companies provide monetary donations to nonprofits where their employees volunteer. These grants can significantly enhance a nonprofit’s funding while also fostering a culture of collaboration between corporations, nonprofits, and their shared teams.
As a result, the approach you take to marketing volunteer grants to supporters is crucial. In order to drive the best results, the marketing process generally includes the following steps:
In this guide, we’ll walk you through each item so you can ensure your team is marketing volunteer grants effectively. Plus, create the greatest positive impact for your cause.
Let’s begin!
Segmenting your volunteer grant marketing approach
In the realm of nonprofit fundraising, a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing rarely yields optimal results. Marketing volunteer grants is no different.
Therefore, understanding your nonprofit’s audience is crucial for effectively promoting the opportunities to your supporter base. By tailoring your communications with a data-driven strategy, you can increase engagement, awareness, and participation in the revenue-generating programs.
For example, existing volunteers could receive one piece of content asking them to see if their employer will match their time. Meanwhile, volunteer prospects might receive another message informing them about the opportunity and encouraging them to sign up for a volunteer shift to get started.
If you know the supporter’s company, you can also segment your marketing based on a recipient’s likely eligibility for a grant. And, if there’s a history of eligibility for—or participation in—other forms of workplace giving programs (such as matching gifts or volunteer time off), this can also be helpful information to note.
Creating and sharing useful volunteer grant marketing content
Creating and sharing volunteer grant-related content through your marketing efforts is pivotal for nonprofits aiming to promote the opportunity to their supporters. By providing clear, informative, and engaging materials, you can educate volunteers about the programs, demystify the process, and invite supporters to get involved.
When done well, your content should strengthen the connection with volunteers by highlighting the dual value of their time alongside financial support from their employers. This targeted approach not only raises awareness but also empowers volunteers to take action, leading to increased participation in the programs.
Check out the following content topics and ideas for marketing volunteer grants to your audience:
Highlight examples of top companies with volunteer grant programs, including Microsoft, Disney, Allstate, Dell, Aetna, and more. Then, encourage supporters to look into their employers’ participation.
Offer an interactive volunteer grant database like 360MatchPro on your nonprofit website, and direct your audience to engage with the tool to locate their volunteer grant eligibility. This allows supporters to access company-specific program criteria to get started!
Share testimonials that demonstrate the positive impact volunteer grants have had on your cause in the past. Invite real volunteers to share their experiences with the programs, too!
Supplement text with multimedia content such as photos, videos, infographics, and more to attract and retain your audience’s attention.
💡 Top tip: Looking to up your workplace giving marketing? Double the Donation supplies its users with pre-made, customizable graphic templates within 360MatchPro.
Just log into the platform → navigate to the Resources tab → select Marketing Assets → browse our library of free materials for clients to utilize → personalize your selected template to match your organization’s unique branding style, objectives, and more.
Here’s an example of an email header graphic we edited to promote volunteer grants:
Not yet a 360MatchPro client? Get started with a demo of our complete volunteer grant and matching gift automation tool here.
Marketing volunteer grants with multi-channel promotions
There’s no one perfect platform through which your organization can market volunteer grants to reach 100% of your audience. That’s why we recommend taking a multichannel approach, ensuring your message has a broader reach, and you expose a greater percentage of your audience to the opportunity.
While the specific means you use will vary according to your existing promotional plans and resources, we recommend marketing volunteer grants across the following channels:
1) Your website
Your website can serve as a central hub for providing detailed information about volunteer grants to your supporters. We recommend establishing a dedicated page to explain what these are, how supporters can apply for them, and the impact they have on your mission. You’ll also want to embed a volunteer grant database in the page to ensure users have easy access to program guidelines and next steps.
Plus, add a section about the opportunity on your website’s Ways to Give hub. However, you may decide to combine your Match Page and Volunteer Grants Page, creating a complete workplace giving resource instead.
2) Social media
Social media platforms are excellent for raising awareness and driving traffic to your website. Regular posts, stories, and updates about grant opportunities, testimonials, and submission tips can reach a wide audience and encourage eligible volunteers to get involved. Meanwhile, interactive content like polls and Q&A sessions can also boost engagement and get supporters excited about the opportunity. Then, link back to your dedicated volunteer grants page so you can supply hyper-personalized information even from your broader marketing efforts.
3) Email
Email campaigns can deliver personalized and targeted information directly to your supporters’ inboxes. Digital newsletters can feature detailed step-by-step walkthroughs, reminders about submission deadlines, and success stories to encourage participation.
At the same time, more segmented emails can ensure each volunteer receives targeted content relevant to them, their engagement history, and their employing company.
4) Text messages
Text marketing offers a powerful opportunity for sharing short, sweet, and to-the-point messages with your audience. When it comes to marketing volunteer grants, it’s a direct, quick, and easy way to remind supporters about volunteer grant opportunities.
For the best results, we recommend prioritizing brief, concise messages linking out to additional information to prompt quick and tangible next steps from supporters.
5) Volunteer sign-up forms
Integrating information about volunteer grants into your organization’s volunteer sign-up forms ensures that new and existing volunteers are exposed to the programs.
Even better, volunteers expect to share a good amount of information about themselves when they sign up to donate their time to your cause. As each volunteer completes an online sign-up form, your team has a unique opportunity to promote volunteer grant opportunities and source employment data that can help uncover funding in your network.
💡 Top tip: Embed a company database tool in your sign-up forms by integrating your volunteer registration platform with 360MatchPro! Make it easy for supporters to learn about the opportunity and provide invaluable employment insights.
6) Paid advertising
Our final recommendation is what is often referred to as paid advertising. However, don’t let the “paid” part hold you back. Sites like Google and Microsoft each offer registered nonprofits free access to their platforms, meaning you’ll benefit from sponsored search listings at no cost.
In doing so, you can effectively target specific demographics likely to be interested in volunteer grants. Plus, drive new qualified traffic to your website, raise awareness among a broader audience, and attract new supporters to your cause.
💡 Top tip:Request a free consultation with our recommended paid advertising consultant, Getting Attention, to initiate the Google Grant application process today.
Marketing volunteer grants with one-off corporate partnerships
More than likely, a lot of your supporters already work for companies with volunteer grant programs. For those who don’t, however, custom or “one-off” partnerships can offer an excellent way to begin facilitating relationships with employers in your network.
This targeted approach allows nonprofits to build a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with a specific company, fostering a sense of exclusivity and dedicated support. It can even lead to increased volunteer engagement from the company’s employees, who may feel more connected and committed to the cause due to their employer’s direct involvement.
Check out this example of marketing a custom volunteer grant partnership in action:
The Central Texas Food Bank is the Largest hunger relief agency in the region, serving nearly 46,000 individuals across 21 counties each week. In order to meet the immense needs of its communities, tech giant Oracle has supported the organization for nearly three decades, encouraging its employees to support the cause since 2007.
Recently, the company awarded the Food Bank a $35,000 grant in response to nearly 3,000 volunteer hours its employees contributed toward the inspection, packing, and distribution of food items. An article regarding the partnership even describes the company’s team as a common and welcome sight at the organization, further demonstrating the deep and ongoing impact it has on the cause.
💡 Top tip: Reach out to existing supporters’ employers to pitch a volunteer grant partnership. You may even be able to source a warm introduction from a donor or volunteer to help break the ice!
Sourcing inspiration from real-world examples of marketing volunteer grants
Sourcing inspiration from real-world examples of volunteer grant marketing efforts can help nonprofits promote the opportunities to their own audiences more effectively than ever before. Examining case studies, testimonials, and best practices in action from fundraising peers allows nonprofits to identify innovative approaches and avoid common pitfalls.
By adapting and implementing these tested methods, nonprofits can enhance their outreach efforts, increase awareness of volunteer grant programs, and ultimately boost their results.
Check out the following examples of nonprofits marketing volunteer grants well:
Organization A 🐶
In our first example of standout volunteer grant marketing, one animal welfare nonprofit has effectively harnessed the potential of volunteer grants through a multi-faceted and user-friendly online approach. Specifically, this team created a dedicated employee giving page and embedded Double the Donation’s database tool. This way, they can provide real-time information on thousands of companies’ volunteer grant programs with just a few clicks.
But the nonprofit didn’t stop there, either! Instead, this team also integrated employment-related questions directly within their volunteer application forms. As an individual completes the sign-up process, they are prompted to supply details such as their company name, role, and knowledge of workplace giving (matching gift) program availability. Thus, by gathering this information upfront, the organization can identify potential grant opportunities and proactively assist volunteers in applying for them.
Organization B 🩺
Our next example is an organization that focuses on health and medical support. This nonprofit’s strategy for marketing volunteer grants is built around detailed guidance and robust information. The organization has built out a dedicated volunteer grants page with an embedded company search tool, making it easy for volunteers to find out if their employers offer grant programs.
The online resource also features a step-by-step walkthrough of the process for requesting a volunteer grant, ensuring that volunteers understand each stage and what is required. Plus, to further underscore the value of volunteer grants, this team highlights statistics that showcase the prevalence of these programs with concrete data.
Organization C 🩺
Another health and medical nonprofit has also developed a multi-channel approach to promoting volunteer grants. This organization’s dedicated employee giving page includes everything an individual would need to know to get involved—from an embedded company search tool with a detailed FAQ section to information about the nonprofit and more.
Additionally, the organization prominently mentions volunteer grants on its “Ways to Give” page, ensuring potential donors and volunteers are aware of this opportunity and encouraged to participate.
Organization D 🥫
For this food bank, promoting volunteer grants begins with visibility on crucial web pages—including a prominent mention on the organization’s “Ways to Give” page. This ensures visitors are made aware of this opportunity and encouraged to get involved. They’ve even embedded 360MatchPro’s search tool right within the page, providing information on thousands of companies’ programs and making it easy for volunteers to see if their employers participate.
Organization E 🧪
This research foundation leverages a combined approach to marketing volunteer grants with informational content, practical tools, and more. In a detailed blog post, the team illustrates the power of volunteer grants and matching gifts, explaining the process and encouraging supporters to get involved.
From there, the blog links to the organization’s workplace giving page, which provides extensive information on various companies’ volunteer grant programs and is complete with a company search widget.
Organization F 🌳
Organization F, an environmental nonprofit, has used a digital newsletter to educate and motivate its supporters about volunteer grant opportunities amongst other content. This sample newsletter included a section dedicated to the impact of workplace giving and other unique fundraising opportunities and encouraged readers to look into their volunteer grant eligibility to strengthen their impact even further.
Organization G 🧒
This organization, which is focused on youth mentorship opportunities, ensures that information about volunteer grants and other workplace giving opportunities is easily accessible by mentioning them directly on its donation page. This strategic placement means that anyone considering a financial contribution is also made aware of the potential for additional support through volunteer grants.
By integrating this information into a key page, the nonprofit increases the likelihood that visitors will explore and take advantage of volunteer grant opportunities, enhancing their overall fundraising efforts.
Organization H 🐶
Another animal welfare nonprofit designed a “pawsitively” adorable employee giving page that overviews the top types of workplace philanthropy. Of course, this includes volunteer grants!
By offering a comprehensive overview complete with eye-catching facts and figures, the team is able to educate its supporters about various ways to contribute through their workplace. This increases participation in volunteer grant programs and maximizes funding potential overall.
Organization I 🧒
This youth-focused organization’s workplace giving page prominently highlights Dollars for Doers as a key opportunity for corporate involvement. In order to foster a complete understanding of the programs, the nonprofit’s online resource includes alternative names for these programs and details how participation can benefit both the organization and its supporters on a personal level.
Organization J 🧒
Social media can also be a great tool for marketing volunteer grants, as demonstrated by this youth and community organization. To increase awareness of the opportunity and inspire participation through social proof, the nonprofit took to Facebook to celebrate a successful volunteer grant received. The post thanks the grant-giving institution, thus fostering greater engagement, and outlines the intended use for the funding. It’s a great way to inspire others to seek volunteer grant funds on your behalf, too!
Organization K 🧒
Another Facebook post, this youth and community organization utilizes social media to raise awareness and share informational content regarding volunteer grants. Specifically, the post highlights the growing trend of such grants, details how supporters can get involved, and provides specific next steps to encourage participation.
By using social media to educate and motivate their audience, the fundraiser increases volunteer grant visibility and drives more supporters to take the intended action.
Wrapping up & additional volunteer grant marketing resources
Volunteer grants represent a tremendous opportunity for nonprofits to enhance their funding and engagement simultaneously. By educating supporters, partnering with companies in your network, and powering your promotional efforts with the right tools, your organization can optimize its volunteer grant marketing efforts with ease.
Now, it’s time to embrace the potential of volunteer grants for your cause. Incorporate the above tips and tricks in your strategy, then sit back and watch it thrive as you harness the power of corporate partnerships for your nonprofit’s mission.
Interested in learning more about leading employee philanthropy opportunities? We recommend the following resources:
Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to Marketing Matching Gifts. It’s just as crucial to market matching gifts as it is for volunteer grants! Get our free comprehensive guide to see how your team can promote donation-matching opportunities to supporters.
Volunteer Time Off | The Ultimate VTO Guide For Nonprofits. Another way to incentivize volunteers is with paid volunteer time off. Tons of companies offer these programs, and this guide shares how you can increase participation among your supporter base.
Volunteer grants are a vital source of funding for nonprofits, enabling them to maximize their impact and encourage their supporters to do the same. However, navigating the various programs available to your organization can be challenging. That’s where volunteer grant databases come in!
If you’re looking to expand your organization’s fundraising toolkit with a volunteer grant database, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about top volunteer grant databases and how they can benefit your mission.
By incorporating a database tool into your tech stack, your nonprofit can streamline its fundraising, better engage its volunteer base, and support its mission more effectively than ever before.
A volunteer grant database is a specialized tool designed to help nonprofits identify and manage volunteer grant opportunities. These grants, which are also known as “dollars for doers,” are offered by businesses as a way to provide monetary donations to nonprofits based on the volunteer hours their employees contribute.
Tons of companies offer the programs, but keeping track of each one’s criteria and submissions can quickly become an overwhelming task for nonprofit teams. Supporters often lack knowledge of their companies’ programs, too, so it often falls on the organization to uncover qualifying opportunities.
Fortunately, volunteer grant databases do it for you!
How? A volunteer grant database tool compiles comprehensive information on thousands of corporate giving programs (including volunteer grants, matching gifts, and volunteer time off). Each listing supplies company-specific eligibility criteria (e.g., qualifying employees, minimum number of hours, grant thresholds, etc.), links to online submission forms, and more.
How Does a Volunteer Grant Database Impact Fundraising?
Incorporating a volunteer grant database into your fundraising strategy can significantly enhance your supporter engagement, financial health, and more.
Here’s how it can do so.
More Identified Dollars for Doers Opportunities 🔍
By providing access to a centralized repository of grant opportunities, a volunteer grant database can help your team quickly screen for eligible volunteers. Even if supporters are unaware of their grant potential, your team can flag eligible individuals to pursue a more personalized approach and encourage their submissions.
Simplified Request Process for Volunteers ✍️
Speaking of submissions, each volunteer is generally required to complete a request form for their employer in order to secure grant funding on your organization’s behalf. Providing access to a volunteer grant database is one of the best ways to streamline submissions and reduce unnecessary friction in the process. All an individual has to do is enter their employer’s name and navigate to the provided request form.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency ⚡
Manually identifying and researching volunteer grant opportunities requires a lot of organizational bandwidth. By automating the process with a volunteer grant database tool, you can free up your team’s time for other high-value activities.
Improved Grant Tracking 📌
Volunteer grants follow a multi-step process from identification to submission and through the disbursement of funds. A volunteer grant tool like 360MatchPro offers tracking functionality that helps monitor the status of available grants and address any issues that may arise.
Increased Funding through Corporate Giving Opportunities 🏢
The easier it is for volunteers to request funding from their employers, the more likely they are to do so. That means more corporate giving revenue making its way to your organization.
But it’s not just volunteer grants, either. A volunteer grant database will often supply resources on matching gifts and other corporate giving programs, too!
Our Volunteer Grant Database Recommendation: 360MatchPro
When selecting a volunteer grant database for your nonprofit, it’s important to consider several key factors. After all, you want to ensure the tool effectively supports your fundraising efforts and organizational needs—both now and in the time to come.
Lucky for you, we’ve explored potential database options and would like to supply you with our top recommendation: 360MatchPro by Double the Donation.
Now, let’s see why this tool stands apart as the leading solution:
Comprehensive Database: Double the Donation maintains the industry’s most extensive collection of corporate volunteer grant programs, making it easy to locate accurate and up-to-date information about your supporters’ companies.
User-Friendly Interface: The platform is designed with ease of use in mind, allowing users to quickly search for and access the right information. For this reason, the tool includes auto-completing search functionality and automatically accounts for subsidiaries and spelling variations, too!
Integration Capabilities: Double the Donation integrates seamlessly with a wide array of CRM systems, fundraising tools, and volunteer management platforms. When you add the tool to your website, donation forms, and more, you can also determine an individual’s eligibility for a match as they give!
Support and Resources: The platform provides a wealth of resources and support to get your nonprofit up and running. This includes personalized onboarding experiences, educational webinars, and more to help your team maximize its use of the database.
Other Top Tools & Resources For Growing Volunteer Grants
In addition to volunteer grant databases, there are a number of other handy tools and resources that can help supercharge your organization’s volunteer grant strategy.
These include:
Volunteer grant compilations
If your team has yet to make the leap to a volunteer grant database—which we highly recommend doing—free online resources (such as those offered by Double the Donation) can help identify select opportunities in your database.
For example, this compilation of top volunteer grant programs highlights several generous companies’ initiatives. It provides an excellent chance to cross-reference your supporter data and see if any existing or prospective volunteers work for these well-known examples.
Volunteer time-trackers
Time-tracking tools are generally software applications that help nonprofits record and manage the hours contributed by their team members. When volunteers are encouraged (or required) to track the time they spend with your cause, you’ll find it’s easier than ever to streamline volunteer grant requests.
Keep in mind that these tools can also vary greatly in their level of sophistication. Some organizations manage hour-tracking efforts with paper forms, others employ spreadsheets, and others still invest in dedicated solutions.
Volunteer management tools
You may already have a Volunteer Management System, or VMS, in your nonprofit toolkit. This type of tool is designed to help nonprofits organize, recruit, and manage their volunteer workforce, typically offering features for scheduling, communication, task assignments, and more. When it’s easy for supporters to sign up and partake in volunteer activities, you’ll have more eligible individuals to pursue volunteer grants in the first place!
Not to mention, a well-managed volunteer program can typically provide the necessary documentation and proof of volunteer hours needed for grant applications.
CSR platforms
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platforms are comprehensive solutions that assist companies in managing their employee giving and volunteer programs. These platforms also facilitate collaboration between companies and nonprofits, making it easier to coordinate philanthropic efforts for both teams.
As a result, most CSR platforms incorporate a nonprofit-facing portal that organizations can access for free. From there, they can manage their side of the programs (i.e., reviewing and verifying volunteer requests).
Final Thoughts on Volunteer Grant Databases & More
Investing in a volunteer grant database can significantly boost your nonprofit’s fundraising capabilities. By streamlining the volunteer grant discovery and submission processes, dedicated tools like Double the Donation’s 360MatchPro can help maximize the value of volunteer grants for your cause.
Integrating these tools into your tech stack allows you to ensure your nonprofit is well-equipped to leverage the full potential of volunteer grants, ultimately powering organizational growth.
Continue growing your corporate giving knowledge. Read up on these recommended resources to learn more:
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DTD_Top-Volunteer-Grant-Databases-to-Grow-Your-Tech-Stack_Feature2.png6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-06-19 20:52:372024-09-27 19:15:51Top Volunteer Grant Databases to Grow Your Tech Stack
Did you know that the value of a single volunteer hour (according to the benefit it produces for an organization) is estimated to be $29.95? Or that thousands of companies offer generous volunteer grant programs to encourage staff to support philanthropic efforts? Volunteerism trends like these can shed significant light on an invaluable opportunity for your team.
To help your nonprofit understand your volunteers a bit more, this guide will conduct a deep dive into the following essential volunteer trends and patterns:
Volunteers play an integral role in your nonprofit, handling responsibilities from behind-the-scenes bookkeeping to on-the-ground work at your program sites. When solidifying your volunteer program’s recruitment strategies, understanding the nonprofit landscape allows you to source powerful insights from broader trends in volunteer behavior and motivations. Then, you can use the insights to adjust your strategy and better attract and retain a solid group of volunteers.
Ready? Let’s begin with the first trend!
One-third of the nonprofit workforce is made up of volunteers.
For U.S.-based nonprofits, volunteers are everywhere. In fact, recent reports indicate that an estimated 63 million Americans volunteer their time and energy with organizations like yours.
That said, your nonprofit’s staff is instrumental in providing beneficiaries with the services they need. However, most nonprofits have tight budgets and often rely on volunteer labor to get work done. This is so much the case that an astounding one-third of all nonprofit workers are volunteers.
Of course, the ratio of paid employees to volunteers will vary from one nonprofit to the next. For example, many small organizations do incredibly important work but are entirely made up of volunteers. In contrast, enterprise-size nonprofits often have entire departments of paid employees.
What does this volunteerism trend mean for your nonprofit?
Because so much labor at charitable organizations goes unpaid, calculations of the nonprofit sector’s economic value will always be off. Don’t let this impact how your nonprofit values your volunteers. Instead, show your appreciation and ensure your volunteer staff feel like they’re a real part of your team. Ultimately, they are!
This also means that, by sourcing new volunteers, organizations can often expand their capabilities and do even more for their missions.
Most U.S.-based volunteers are between the ages of 35 and 44.
Reports show that the average U.S. volunteer is a woman between the ages of 35 and 44, usually with a child less than 18 years of age.
It’s important to recognize that non-women, along with people of other age groups, certainly volunteer, as well. However, there are a few key assumptions we can draw from the average organization’s volunteer profile.
For example, middle-aged mothers are likely to volunteer at their children’s school, church, and neighborhood activities. This assessment also holds true for reports of informal volunteering—such as cooking for neighbors, taking care of children, and improving the state of their communities.
What does this volunteerism trend mean for your nonprofit?
Assess your current supporter base to see if your nonprofit’s average volunteer fits this profile. Then, use the information to tap into audiences your nonprofit may have previously neglected.
For example, how can you reach more families? Do you offer volunteer positions that are convenient for working professionals? Be sure to assess not just your volunteer marketing but the overall accessibility of your volunteer program for individuals with differing circumstances, needs, and opportunities.
Regular volunteerism offers numerous benefits for individuals.
Partaking in volunteerism provides numerous and widespread benefits for volunteers, the organizations with which they devote their time, and their communities as a whole. For volunteers themselves, the value includes personal fulfillment, a deepened sense of purpose, and professional skill development.
When asked why they volunteer, 35% of individuals indicated their primary reason was to socialize. However, the majority of volunteers (83%) say their main motivator is helping a cause they care about.
What does this volunteerism trend mean for your nonprofit?
It’s easy to focus solely on how volunteering helps the nonprofit recruit supporters. However, while volunteers do want to help causes they care about, it never hurts to mention the benefits they can receive in addition to making a positive impact.
Be upfront about the skills and experience supporters can gain from volunteering. This can include anything from customer service experience, data management, specific labor and technical skills, or anything else related to your programs that’s also applicable in the workplace.
Formal volunteerism rates are declining in most states.
Nonprofits need volunteers to staff events, help during fundraisers, and complete tasks that keep their programs running. However, finding enough people to fill all available volunteer positions isn’t always easy, and 62% of nonprofit CEOs state that recruiting enough volunteers is an issue. This goes hand-in-hand with additional data reporting that the demand for many nonprofit services is up.
If your nonprofit has had trouble filling volunteer positions, know that you’re not alone. The majority of U.S. states have seen a decrease in the percentage of their population that formally volunteers. How much volunteering has declined varies from state to state, with some following routine ebbs and flows, while others have experienced as much as a 10% drop. For example, in Florida, already a state with low volunteering rates, 22.8% of the population volunteered in 2017. Four years later, it’s just 15.9%.
What does this volunteerism trend mean for your nonprofit?
While volunteer rates can shift for a number of reasons, there are several factors your nonprofit can control. For example, consider what roles you have open for volunteers. How do you promote these opportunities? Are these roles volunteers would be interested in, or are they positions that are mostly rote work? Is your team sourcing support through corporate volunteer initiatives?
Additionally, if you’re constantly having to find new volunteers, that might be a sign to take a step back and assess your volunteer retention strategy. Talk with these volunteers about improvements to your program they’d like to see and show your appreciation. Even if you’re low on staff, make sure not to overwork them to avoid volunteer burnout, too.
Companies are increasingly encouraging their staff to partake in volunteerism.
More and more, companies are actively encouraging their employees to engage in volunteerism, recognizing the benefits of such initiatives for team building, employee satisfaction, corporate social responsibility, and more.
For example, 40% of Fortune 500 companies offer volunteer grants, where they encourage their employees to volunteer by donating to the nonprofits their employees support. It generally works like this:
An employee volunteers at an eligible nonprofit.
The employee reports their volunteer hours and other needed information. Most employee volunteer grant programs are based on the hours an employee volunteers. Some provide a per-hour rate, while others require a certain number of hours to be met before donating a flat amount. Additionally, employers often require the nonprofit’s name, tax ID, and mailing address.
The company donates to the nonprofit. Once a volunteer grant application is submitted, the company reviews it. If the nonprofit and hours requirements have been met, the grant application is improved, and the nonprofit receives a donation.
While the amount offered will vary from one company to another, 80% of employers report offering grants worth $8 to $15 per hour a team member volunteers.
Another way companies incentivize volunteerism is through volunteer time off (VTO), generally offering between 8 and 40 hours each year. Around 60% of companies currently provide employees with paid VTO, with an additional 21% planning to implement a VTO policy in the coming months.
What does this volunteerism trend mean for your nonprofit?
Your supporters’ time is already an invaluable resource for your organization. When you consider that your nonprofit may qualify for grant funding in addition to the hours volunteers donate, you’re presented with an excellent opportunity to maximize this group’s support. Every hour a volunteer spends with your organization not only contributes their time and skills (which is currently worth an estimated $29.95), but also translates into direct financial support.
Therefore, start educating your volunteers about the power of volunteer grants and other incentives. Keep careful track of their hours, and help them discover if they’re eligible for employer-sponsored programming. Most companies will have the relevant information accessible through their CSR portal or in their office handbook. If you can’t find any information there, it also never hurts to ask!
Meanwhile, Volunteer Time Off programs provide employees with the opportunity to volunteer during work hours without sacrificing their income. And 67% of survey respondents say having paid time off to volunteer would make for a positive engagement experience! Take a look at the supporters in your network, and see if any work for companies that offer these programs.
There’s a significant overlap between companies offering matching gifts and ones offering volunteer incentives.
You may have heard that more than 24,000 companies offer matching gifts for their employees. But did you know that companies contributing matching gifts often overlap significantly with those offering volunteer grant programs? In fact, recent studies indicate that over 85% of the top matching gift companies also offer volunteer grants.
In other words, philanthropic-minded employers generally offer more than one opportunity for staff to get involved. If you know a company matches monetary donations, the chances are good that it’ll match volunteer time as well—and vice versa!
What does this volunteerism trend mean for your nonprofit?
If you’re looking for volunteer grant opportunities to pursue, identifying well-known matching gift companies can give your organization the boost you need. This can also provide an excellent chance to pitch volunteer activities to matching gift donors and matching gift opportunities to “Dollars for Doers” volunteers.
This also means that a dual approach to marketing can further amplify fundraising efforts. When engaging with donors, it’s beneficial to educate them about both matching gift and volunteer grant opportunities. You don’t want to let either program fall by the wayside!
Many corporate volunteer incentives continue to be underutilized.
Despite the rise in corporate encouragement for volunteerism, many corporate volunteer incentives remain underutilized. Why? Unfortunately, awareness rates are often low, suggesting a need for better promotion around the program to maximize the opportunities.
Today, the average employee participation level for volunteer grants, or Dollars for Doers, is a mere 3%. Like matching gifts, there’s a significant knowledge gap when it comes to eligible volunteers being aware of the opportunities.
Meanwhile, the average corporate volunteer participation rate stands at 33%. Although not all employees participate in existing volunteer incentive programs, it’s worth noting that companies with fewer than 10,000 employees achieved a higher-than-average participation rate of 39%. At the same time, those with more than 50,000 employees had a participation rate of 24%.
What does this volunteerism trend mean for your nonprofit?
For nonprofits, a steadily low participation rate represents an opportunity to increase awareness and, subsequently, engagement in the programs. Volunteers who don’t know about their companies’ existing programming won’t know to request volunteer grant funding on your organization’s behalf, thus leaving dollars on the table.
By actively promoting the benefits of volunteer grants and other corporate incentives to volunteers, donors, and partners alike, your nonprofit can encourage higher participation and secure more employee giving revenue than before.
Wrapping Up & Additional Philanthropy Resources
As the volunteer landscape continues to evolve, nonprofits like yours face a unique opportunity to make the most of your supporter base. Companies are recognizing the dual benefits of volunteer programs: enhancing corporate social responsibility while fostering employee engagement. Meanwhile, innovations in technology are making it easier than ever for individuals to find and participate in volunteer activities that align with their passions and skills.
Incorporating these trends into your organization’s volunteer strategy can lead to more robust and effective programs. By staying ahead of these developments, businesses and nonprofits alike can maximize their impact, build stronger communities, and create a more engaged and fulfilled workforce.
Interested in learning more about volunteerism trends and other philanthropy opportunities? Check out these recommended resources:
Essential Corporate Giving and Matching Gift Statistics. Dive into the world of corporate giving and employee matching gifts with a look at our key research. Uncover must-know statistics and see how these findings can impact your team.
Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to Volunteer Grants. Make the most of volunteerism for your organization by leveraging corporate volunteer grants. Learn everything you need to know about Dollars for Doers programs, and how your cause can benefit.
Winning Workplace Giving Strategies & How to Leverage Them. Explore top workplace giving strategies offered by companies across the globe. From volunteer incentives to matching gifts and more, these programs can significantly elevate your fundraising.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DTD_Volunteerism-Trends-in-2024-Corporate-Incentives-and-More.png6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-06-19 02:10:082024-07-23 12:43:24Volunteerism Trends in 2024 | Corporate Incentives and More
Strapped for resources but still want to make a big impact? Effective nonprofit marketing doesn’t have to break the bank. There are so many exciting marketing ideas for nonprofits that can attract supporters, raise awareness, sell your offerings, and grow your impact.
In this article, we’ll share over 40 budget-friendly nonprofit marketing ideas to help you maximize your existing resources and discover new, affordable tools. Get ready to elevate your marketing game with these creative and cost-effective strategies. Here’s a sneak peek at the categories we’ll cover:
At Double the Donation, we connect nonprofits with matching gift opportunities. Since we work with organizations looking to maximize their fundraising potential, we know just how important every last penny in your budget is. That’s why we’ve created this guide of marketing ideas for nonprofits that will help you promote your organization at little to no cost.
Now, let’s jump right into these proven marketing ideas for nonprofits!
Nonprofit Marketing Basics
What Is Nonprofit Marketing?
The term “nonprofit marketing” refers to the marketing strategies you use to amplify your organization’s mission, attract donations, promote your products and services, and recruit volunteers.
To achieve your organization’s mission, you need help. It takes donors, volunteers, board members, event attendees, sponsors, and other constituents to ensure that your nonprofit can serve its community and beneficiaries.
Letting others know about the great work you’re doing requires a combination of proven nonprofit marketing ideas. From emails to search ads, choosing the right marketing strategies, tools, and channels will empower you to promote your cause to your target audiences.
The Benefits of Effective Nonprofit Marketing
It’s easier said than done to pull off a nonprofit marketing campaign. As part of your marketing plan, you’ll need to consider your organization’s unique needs, goals, and available resources to ensure the most effective outreach possible.
Despite the challenges that come with nonprofit marketing, the resulting benefits will help your organization soar. Effective nonprofit marketing can empower your organization to:
Rally support for your cause. Educating people about your mission is a crucial part of nonprofit marketing. It allows people to understand not only the work your organization does but also why you do it and how they can help.
Fundraise. Perhaps the most concrete way to measure your organization’s success is by the amount of money raised for your cause. Raising awareness for your nonprofit will help your fundraising efforts immensely.
Foster donor relationships. One-time donations are not a sustainable fundraising source for your organization. Resources indicate that recurring donations are better for maximizing your fundraising potential since they have a compounding effect. The best way to ensure regular donations is to curate good relationships with donors through consistent marketing.
Recruit other supporters. While donors are great assets to your organization, they’re not the only people who can help. Volunteers, board members, and event attendees all serve important roles in your organization. Marketing your nonprofit effectively will allow you to gather all the support you need.
Promote your products and services. Effective nonprofit marketing can help you promote your organization’s products and services, drawing more attention and boosting sales.
It’s clear that nonprofit marketing offers many advantages. However, you might be wondering where to start in the marketing process. To help you out, we’ll go over the best marketing ideas for nonprofits.
Top Nonprofit Marketing Idea 1) The Google Ad Grant
When looking for more information about a nonprofit, a cause, or truly anything, most people turn to Google first. That’s what makes the Google Ad Grant program so powerful. If you’re a qualifying nonprofit, Google will give your organization $10,000 per month in ad credits for free. With these funds, you can create Google Ads promoting any of your website’s content, including:
Educational content
Upcoming events
Volunteer registration forms
Advocacy activities
Donation and sponsorship opportunities
Nonprofit products and services
Your educational content and involvement opportunities are likely to see the best results, because these types of content attract individuals interested in information about and getting involved with your cause. Promoting informative content and available opportunities will position your nonprofit as a trusted resource and encourage deeper engagement.
Making The Most of The Google Ad Grant
Of course, you can promote more than just that content, and most nonprofits using the Google Ad Grant do! Google Ad Grant campaigns allow nonprofits to create ads targeting multiple goals at once. Here’s a breakdown of the Google Ad structure:
As the image depicts, each Google Ad Grant account can run multiple campaigns. Each of these campaigns has an overarching goal, like educating supporters, attracting volunteers, or raising funds. In each of these campaigns are ad groups. Each ad group focuses on a specific keyword, like “volunteer opportunities,” “pet adoptions,” “Chicago homelessness,” and so on depending on the ad campaign’s goal.
Finally, each ad group contains multiple ads which are different messages targeting the ad group’s keyword. Individual ads use different language and strategies to appeal to different audiences, helping you attract a variety of supporters searching your target keyword
To get started with Google Ads, all you have to do is apply and follow the program requirements.
If you need help wielding this amazing resource, reach out to a Google Grants agency. We recommend Getting Attention! They’ll assist you with every step of the process, including applying for the program, choosing keywords to target, and making sure your account complies with all requirements.
Top Nonprofit Marketing Idea 2) SEO
If you’re looking for an organic way to reach supporters and beneficiaries, experiment with search engine optimization (SEO) best practices. This nonprofit marketing idea involves optimizing your website’s content to rank higher in search engine results, allowing you to connect with people searching for keywords related to your nonprofit. This approach involves:
Creating high-quality, informative, and multimedia-rich content related to your cause and services
Researching and using relevant keywords
Ensuring your website is user-friendly and mobile-responsive
Building links back to your SEO content from relevant, trustworthy sites
When done effectively, SEO drives organic traffic to your website without the need for significant advertising spend. This increased visibility will boost cause awareness, sales for revenue-generating programs and services, registrations for annual events, and overall support for your work. Plus, SEO will help build credibility with both search engines and users, as higher-ranking websites are often perceived as more authoritative and reliable.
The ROI for this channel is exceptionally high, because it allows you to target highly qualified audiences. Let’s say someone searches for a niche service or program you sell. If your content related to that offering is optimized for search engines and has built backlinks from external sources, your nonprofit will ideally appear toward the top of search results. Then, potential customers can click through to learn more.
Making The Most of SEO
While it’s possible to make big SEO gains for free, many organizations partner with SEO agencies to reduce their workload and skip the learning curve. We recommend the nonprofit SEO experts at Nexus Marketing!
Unlike generic marketing agencies, Nexus Marketing specializes in the unique challenges and opportunities nonprofits face and has marketing strategies tailored to meet these specific needs. Their team of experts is skilled in optimizing content to resonate with nonprofit audiences and leveraging industry knowledge.
To improve search engine rankings and drive organic traffic, they use proven best practices, such as:
High-quality content creation: The Nexus content team crafts SEO content that delivers results based on extensive keyword research. Between years of experience in writing for the mission-driven sector and a deep understanding of your brand, their content captures attention and converts visitors into supporters.
Connections in the mission-driven space: Nexus has a proprietary network of 500+ partners in the nonprofit, association, faith-based, education, and healthcare sectors. By tapping into this existing network, you can say goodbye to cold emailing authoritative websites and instead scale your organization’s authority-building strategy.
Focus on ROI: Their client engagements are designed for immediate results and long-term success by growing revenue through search engines, industry promotion, and near-term demand generation opportunities. With Nexus, most organizations see qualified leads within 3 to 6 months and achieve a 2x – 5x ROI within 12 to 18 months.
Why You Can Trust This Agency: Nexus Marketing has a proven track record of success. For example, one of their nonprofit clients ranked for only 5 tracked keywords before the partnership began. Today, they rank for 185+ of their most important tracked keywords. As a result, they’ve experienced steep growth in organic search traffic and have sold more of their online curriculum. You can read the complete case study to learn more.
Note that they specifically help nonprofits looking to raise money via revenue-generating programs, services, products, revenue streams that pay royalties, and annual events that attract broad audiences.
By continuously staying up-to-date with the latest SEO trends and best practices, Nexus Marketing ensures that nonprofits not only increase their online visibility but also effectively boost product and service sales. If you’re ready to harness the power of SEO, reach out to our friends at Nexus Marketing.
Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits Building Their Missions
As we’ve mentioned before, your nonprofit’s mission is central to its goals and aspirations. It should also be one of the main focuses of your marketing efforts. Since it lays the groundwork for your organization’s values, your mission should inform your branding, outreach tactics, and promotional content.
If you don’t have a well-developed mission or want to give yours a refresh, try some of these nonprofit marketing ideas for building your organization’s mission:
Write a powerful tagline. When it comes to marketing, people absorb more information when it’s concise. Your mission is one of the most important aspects of your organization, so you’ll want prospective supporters to understand it right away. Take the time to condense your mission into a short tagline that you can use in your marketing materials.
Establish standards for design, personality, and attitude. Make a good first impression with cohesive branding. From the way your website looks to the way your employees act, every aspect of your organization should work together to form a perfect picture of your nonprofit.
Rework your nonprofit’s appearance. Speaking of branding, changing yours up can bring new life to your organization. A funky new logo or elevated graphics can entice potential supporters and demonstrate your willingness to improve your nonprofit. You can even reach out to a graphic design company for help with your organization’s new look.
Be upfront about your organization’s goals and results. People interested in your organization want to know what you’re trying to accomplish and what you’ve been able to achieve so far. Being open about your nonprofit’s operations lays a solid foundation for great supporter relationships.
Share what you do well. Don’t be afraid to brag a little! Your organization is doing amazing work, and people should see that. If you show confidence in your nonprofit and highlight its strengths, people will be more eager to get involved.
Use storytelling. Giving people specific examples of individuals you’ve helped fosters deeper connections between your supporters and your organization. Stories make your marketing more personal and digestible for prospective supporters.
Create a marketing plan. To stay focused and organized, you’ll need a comprehensive marketing plan. That way, you’ll have all of your goals and intentions in one place for you to easily go back and reference.
Your mission is the foundation of your marketing efforts, but now it’s time to expand them! Head to your nearest computer or phone to start sharing your incredible organization with others.
Bonus Tip: Include your nonprofit’s values in all your marketing efforts, including ads, to ensure your messaging reflects your mission and resonates with potential supporters.
Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits Advertising Their Services
Letting others know what your organization does is essential to earning their support. Your nonprofit does great work, so why not show it off? Advertise your services with the following online and offline marketing ideas for nonprofits.
Online Advertising Ideas
The internet allows you to share your services with the click of a button. Whether you want to invest in paid advertising or create eye-catching merchandise, there are endless ways to stand out in the digital space. In addition to the Google Ad Grant, try these online marketing ideas for nonprofits:
Optimize your website content for search engines. Your search engine advertising and SEO campaigns can support one another. By incorporating SEO best practices into your content, you can increase your nonprofit’s visibility and attract organic traffic before you even start advertising. That means you’ll build a sustainable, cost-effective foundation for long-term audience engagement. Use relevant keywords, create high-quality content, and ensure your website is user-friendly to rank highly on search engine results pages. Plus, following SEO practices gives you high-quality content you can use as landing pages for your ads.
Track your analytics. Data is the key to figuring out which of your marketing efforts are effective. Use Google Analytics or another similar tool to track and review website traffic and the actions people take on your site. That way, you can see if there are any patterns or areas where you can improve. For example, if a certain landing page on your site has a high bounce rate, it might be time to refresh it to make it more worthwhile for your supporters.
Sell branded merchandise. Turn your supporters into walking advertisements with branded merchandise! It’s a win-win situation where you raise more for your cause and receive free advertising, while your supporters get to show the world what they believe in. Branded t-shirts are always a great idea, but you could also go with hats, tote bags, or mugs depending on your audience’s preferences. Once you work with a graphic design company to bring your merchandise to life, you can set up an online store and let your supporters know all about it!
Advertise your products and services. If your nonprofit sells products or services, leverage digital advertising to promote these offerings. Showcase them prominently on your website. Then, also turn search engine traffic into a revenue-generating channel with high-value content targeting the keywords your customers are searching for, driving additional revenue and expanding your reach.
Online advertising is a proven way to connect with larger audiences than ever before. Break down geographical barriers by leveraging these marketing strategies.
Digital marketing is all the rage these days, and for good reason. However, that doesn’t mean that more traditional offline marketing efforts should go extinct. While online marketing can expand your reach, offline marketing can help create a personal experience for your supporters. Use these offline marketing ideas for nonprofits in conjunction with your online ones:
Create flyers. A good old-fashioned flyer is a great way to grab potential supporters’ attention. It allows you to fit an abundance of information about your organization into a small, foldable, and engaging handout. You can send fundraising flyers in your direct mail campaigns, hand them out at events, or keep them in your organization’s office for walk-ins. People will love the opportunity to learn about your organization’s services in an easily digestible format.
Recruit brand ambassadors. Influencer marketing is a fairly new yet powerful way to promote your organization. Finding people with an online presence who truly care about your nonprofit’s mission and are willing to spread the word can help you reach new audiences quickly. These brand ambassadors can also help you host in-person events or sell your branded merchandise to get people excited about your organization.
Research larger organizations. If you want to be the best, you’ll have to learn from the best. Look into what larger, more experienced nonprofits are doing and attempt to replicate it. You can even reach out to a team member at an organization you admire and ask if they’d be willing to give your nonprofit some advice.
Personalize your outreach. Reaching out to people using offline methods allows you to establish more personal connections with them. For example, you could go up to a volunteer at an event to learn more about them or promote matching gifts to your donors in a customized postcard. People will appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into these outreach methods and associate that quality with your organization.
For the best results, use a combination of online and offline marketing ideas. That way, you’ll reach different audiences and see which methods work best for which supporter segments.
Your mission is the foundation of your marketing efforts, but now it’s time to expand them! Head to your nearest computer or phone to start sharing your incredible organization with others.
Bonus Tip: Use your Google Ads to support other marketing efforts! Direct traffic to your peer-to-peer ambassador page and merchandise store, increasing visibility and engagement for these initiatives.
Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits Leveraging Technology
These days, there’s so much technology to help us improve and innovate our everyday lives. For nonprofits, leveraging technology appropriately can expand impact and help reach new audiences through different channels.
To make sure your nonprofit knows how to use each type of technology effectively, we’ve split our technology nonprofit marketing ideas into three separate categories.
Website
Like all organizations, nonprofits use their websites to teach others about what they do, what they stand for, and how visitors can get involved. Ensure your organization’s website is the best it can be with these website nonprofit marketing ideas:
Update your nonprofit’s website. From Squarespace to Wix to WordPress, there are so many website building platforms that make updating and maintaining your site easy. Include information about current events and initiatives and provide the latest updates on your service offerings to entice potential supporters to get involved with your organization.
Make SEO a habit. For nonprofit websites, SEO is crucial for increasing visibility and attracting supporters. Even if you’re leveraging the Google Ad Grant, optimizing your website is essential for a strong ad strategy, helping searchers find your content and inspiring them to convert (AKA donate, register for an event, buy your products, and so on). Regularly research and create content targeting relevant keywords to stay current with trends. Additionally, ensure your website is mobile-friendly to improve rankings in mobile search results, making it easier for users to access your information on any device.
Start a blog.Keeping an up-to-date blog allows you to display news about your organization and industry with long-form, informative content. Writing blog content about nonprofit-related topics also establishes your organization as a reputable source of information in the field.
As you create informational pages and blog articles for your nonprofit’s website, focus on quality content creation. Make sure your copy is clear and concise, and break text up with graphics wherever possible to create a user-friendly experience.
If you have the resources, hiring a qualified copywriting team will help make sure the copy across your site is strong and cohesive. For instance, working with a nonprofit marketing agency that fully understands your brand and is knowledgeable about the nonprofit sector can ensure your messaging is both impactful and focused on generating high-quality sales leads.
Event Landing Pages
Your nonprofit may already use event management software to plan and execute its fundraisers. Depending on the type of fundraiser and the software you use, you’ll be able to use different features to promote your fundraising initiatives.
Oftentimes, these platforms can help you build customized event landing pages to spread the word about your upcoming events. These pages can include:
Information about the event: This can include anything from the fundraiser’s date and time to event-specific details. For example, where will your annual walk-a-thon be held this year? Will your charity auction involve mobile bidding or physical bid sheets?
Forms to take action: Registration and donation forms can easily be embedded into your event landing page. This way, supporters can immediately commit to a donation or participation in your event.
Information about your nonprofit: Include your mission or vision statement, a synopsis of your work, and other information about your nonprofit on your landing page. This draws visitors in and urges them to continue exploring your nonprofit’s website to learn more about the cause they’ll support by participating in your event.
Plus, the customizable nature of these landing pages allows you to incorporate your nonprofit’s branding, reinforcing supporters’ trust in your organization. By associating your brand with your fundraising events, you’ll attract attention to the heart of your fundraising and outreach efforts: your mission.
Social Media
Social media is not only how people stay connected to their family and friends, but also to the companies and organizations they care about. With nearly every organization maintaining a social media presence, it’s important to understand how you can make yours stand out. Here’s what we suggest:
Use different platforms. To connect with as many people as you can, your organization should create social media accounts on several different platforms. Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube are great places to start. X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Snapchat also offer unique ways to engage with your younger supporters.
Participate in trends. Perhaps the most important part of your social media presence is playing into current trends like using humor and short videos over images. That way, your content stays fresh and engaging for your supporters.
Create marketing videos. While images can be very informative, videos are better for eliciting emotion. Creating and sharing videos about your mission on social media will allow you to connect with your audience on a deeper level.
Take advantage of social media advertising. If you don’t feel that you’re reaching the correct audience organically, you can create ads on the social media platforms you’re using. For example, Facebook’s advertising platform allows you to set up campaigns that target people based on a variety of factors such as age, gender, location, and interests. This approach can help you segment your supporters into different groups and communicate with them accordingly.
Connect your online assets. To promote your online presence, make it easy for people to jump from platform to platform. For example, you can create a social media post about a new blog article and add a link to the article in your social media account’s bio. That way, you’ll drive traffic from your social media page to your website’s blog. Doing so can allow people to interact with your organization in a different way and perhaps learn more about what your nonprofit does.
Your nonprofit’s website and social media accounts are your biggest online assets. Now that we’ve covered them, it’s time to learn some general online marketing ideas for nonprofits.
General Online Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits
To get the most out of your online presence, it’s important to follow general digital marketing best practices. Check out these marketing ideas for nonprofits looking to rule the marketing game online:
Leverage multi-channel marketing. To increase your online visibility, tap into digital marketing channels like search ads, social media, and texting. Use these channels alongside traditional marketing methods such as emails, phone calls, and direct mail. This will increase your chances of reaching supporters on their preferred communication method.
Encourage your supporters to take action. Informing your supporters about your organization is great, but what exactly do you want them to do to help you out? Use calls to action across your marketing materials to work towards your goals. For example, include the link to your donation page in your Instagram bio and create a post encouraging people to contribute. To help promote your events, add your event registration link to your regular email newsletter. Note that the most effective calls-to-action start with determining what actions you want your supporters to take and making it easy for them to do so.
Host virtual events. Hosting events online, such as webinars and panels, allows more people to participate than ever before. Since no physical space is required, guests can easily participate in virtual events from wherever they are, presenting a unique opportunity to engage with all different types of supporters at once.
Learn more about supporters with data appends.Data enhancement services add information to your existing database, such as email addresses, phone numbers, and demographic details, to create a more comprehensive profile of your contacts. This enriched data helps improve the accuracy and effectiveness of your marketing campaigns by allowing you to better segment your audience. With detailed insights about your supporters, you can personalize your outreach, enhance engagement, and ultimately drive higher conversion rates.
Leveraging technology effectively allows you to reach your intended audience and rally support for your cause. We know that your nonprofit is likely working with a tight marketing budget, though. To make sure your organization has the resources it needs to create the best online content possible, we’ll teach you how to save money in other marketing areas.
Bonus Tip: Leverage content marketing to enhance your nonprofit’s online presence. Create high-quality, informative, and engaging content that addresses your audience’s interests. By consistently publishing valuable, keyword-optimized content, you can boost your organic search rankings, attract more visitors, boost sales, and increase support for your cause.
Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits On a Budget
Marketing can get expensive. However, there are ways that nonprofits can promote their organizations while still keeping costs low. Maximize your marketing potential while minimizing your spending with these marketing ideas for nonprofits on a budget:
Determine your marketing budget. It’s easiest to keep costs down when you have a clear budget in mind. That way, you’ll know exactly how much you can spend on your nonprofit’s marketing and allocate your resources accordingly. Include costs such as those for physical marketing collateral, marketing software, and staff time.
Plan your printing. Printing can get expensive very quickly. Besides, there are so many digital marketing methods your organization can leverage. Only print what needs to be printed, and try to print double-sided and in batches.
Use unbranded envelopes for direct mail. If you do need to print materials for a direct mail campaign, there are ways to keep your costs down. Sending unbranded envelopes will help you save money. Just remember to indicate that the mail is from your organization in a different way so recipients don’t mistake it for junk mail.
Add a “Donate Now” button to your Facebook page. As we mentioned before, calls to action are key to motivating your supporters to contribute to your cause. Adding a “Donate Now” button to your nonprofit’s Facebook page is an easy way to encourage donations. The best part is that it’s free as long as your nonprofit qualifies for Facebook’s fundraising tools.
Work with a local business. Many companies are happy to pair up with a nonprofit, helping you out financially. While you get extra funding or resources for your marketing efforts, they get to give back to their community and improve their reputations. Before you look for a local business willing to work with you, determine what you want to get out of the partnership. Examples of corporate philanthropy include companies donating money directly to your organization, keeping a donation bucket in their store, or contributing food or supplies for your event.
It’s important to create a marketing budget and try to conserve resources when possible to save up for more expensive marketing efforts. These budget-friendly marketing ideas for nonprofits are a great place to start to maximize every dollar your organization earns!
Bonus Tip: The Google Ad Grant provides free ad credits, making it a low-cost way to attract attention to your website. All you need to do is put in the initial effort to get your site up to Google’s quality standards and complete the application process. From there, you’ll just need to create and maintain your ads.
Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits Forming Stakeholder Relationships
There are so many different stakeholders involved in your organization. Donors, corporate partners, volunteers, board members, sponsors, and event attendees all play a huge role in your nonprofit’s success. With that, it’s important to form good relationships so you can build a strong support network.
In this section, we’ll go over some marketing ideas for nonprofits starting and stewarding relationships with their stakeholders.
Starting Stakeholder Relationships
Building a good foundation for your relationships with stakeholders is essential to making sure your connections are long-lasting. Here are some marketing ideas for nonprofits beginning new stakeholder relationships:
Look for opportunities to form new connections. Finding stakeholders to work with can be tough, especially for newer nonprofits. Leverage any connections you may already have and form new ones by reaching out on social media or attending a nonprofit conference in your industry. That way, you can start to meet people who may be potential stakeholders and have their own network of potential stakeholders they’re willing to share with you.
Create a welcome package. Once you initiate a relationship with a new stakeholder, it’s time to make them feel welcome in your community. Curate a package of information and branded merchandise to introduce new stakeholders to your nonprofit. You can include items as small as stickers of your logo to yard signs they can display to show their support for your organization. No matter what you send your new stakeholders, you’re showing them that you care.
Treat them to a meal. To form a more personal connection with a stakeholder, take them out to lunch or coffee. Teach them more about your organization, answer any questions they have, and gather feedback about their work with you so far. Not to mention, this is a great opportunity to learn more about who they are and what drives them to support your cause.
Inform new donors of matching gift opportunities. Some of your new donors may not know what matching gifts are or if they’re eligible to participate. Make it easy for donors to identify matching gift opportunities by providing matching gift software that shows if their employers are willing to match their donations. That way, you can earn more, and your new donors can feel good about making an even bigger impact on your organization.
Now that you know how to start your stakeholder relationships off strong, it’s time to learn how to keep them that way with effective stewardship.
Stewarding Stakeholder Relationships
Maintaining relationships with your stakeholders requires care and commitment. You must communicate with them well and respond to their needs. That way, you can build long-lasting connections that drive your work forward.
Practice good supporter stewardship with these marketing ideas for nonprofits:
Communicate regularly and strategically. Like with any relationship, maintaining supporter relationships requires communication. Establish effective communication habits with your stakeholders by reaching out to them individually, sending email newsletters, and reconnecting with them at conferences and other events. You may want to assign different people to manage different stakeholder relationships so you don’t overwhelm any one person on your team. Additionally, you’ll want to choose an opportune time to communicate. Factors that might influence the messages, timing, and platforms you use might include their age, career, lifestyle, or time zone.
Reach out to lapsed donors. Sometimes, donors will only contribute to your organization once. If so, you can encourage them to continue their support, or inform them of different ways they can still support your nonprofit without contributing monetarily, such as by volunteering or sharing your social media posts. For recurring donors who haven’t contributed in a while, try sending them a gift or explaining new features of your donor program to spark that relationship once again.
Collect feedback. Listen to your stakeholders and any feedback they give you, whether it’s solicited or not. Stay true to your organization’s stakeholder guidelines, but also hear your stakeholders out. You want to provide them with a positive experience with your organization, and they may have some valuable suggestions for how to improve that experience.
If you’ve learned anything from this section, it should be that stakeholder relationships require effective communication. In the next section, we’ll dive into more nonprofit marketing ideas specifically focused on improving your organization’s communication skills.
Bonus Tip: Google Ads are an opportunity to make a first impression on a large number of potential supporters. Start off on the right foot with strong ad copy, high-quality content, and a modern website.
Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits Staying in Touch with Their Supporters
It takes a lot of effort to maintain relationships with your supporters. With effective and regular communication, your nonprofit can keep supporters around and continue to grow your network. We’ll give you some marketing ideas for nonprofits working on their communication style and supporter involvement.
Communication Style
You already know that the messages you communicate to your supporters are vital, but how you communicate those messages is just as important. Here are a few pointers to make sure you send the right messages to the right people in ways that will resonate with them:
Be timely. Simply responding to your supporters’ messages quickly shows that you care. Not only does it communicate that you want to address their concerns, but also that you want to respect their time.
Stay positive. Keeping a positive attitude in your communications will help supporters form a positive association with your nonprofit. Besides, it’s always more enjoyable to interact with organizations that have an optimistic outlook and kind employees.
Store individuals’ preferences in your supporter database.Organizing your supporters’ information in a database not only helps you learn more about them but also how they like to communicate. If you ask for supporters’ communication preferences and store that information in your database, then you can interact with supporters in the ways they prefer.
Create supporter segments. Segmentation is when you divide your supporters into categories based on shared characteristics in order to communicate with each group more effectively. There are various ways to segment your supporters. You may choose to divide them by stakeholder type with categories like donors, partners, clients, and board members. Another way to group supporters is by age, location, or length of involvement with your organization. That way, you can send relevant messages to the right people without flooding their inboxes with unnecessary messages.
Communicating with your supporters effectively will create a better reputation for your organization and lead to stronger stakeholder relationships.
Supporter Involvement
Communication goes both ways. You inform your supporters about what’s going on within your organization, but they report back to you with their thoughts and feelings about your nonprofit. These marketing ideas for nonprofits will help you get supporters more involved in your organization:
Survey your supporters. Your staff can brainstorm ways to make your organization better, but you’ll never know what more your supporters need unless you ask them. Sending out a survey will allow you to collect valuable feedback and show that you care about improving your supporters’ experiences with your organization.
Engage supporters on social media. Social media is built to help people create connections with each other. Strengthen your bonds with your supporters by making your social media presence interactive. For example, take advantage of polls, live stream capabilities, and Q&A features in the platforms you use.
Host events. What better way to get people involved than by gathering together in person? Hosting an event allows you to show off your organization and get your supporters excited about it. Deck out your event in branded materials such as table runners for a cohesive look. You can also plan activities such as raffles and games to make the event fun for everyone involved.
Interview supporters. As we discussed before, storytelling is a great way to make your marketing personal. For storytelling to work, you’ll need to collect stories from real people involved in your organization. Interview interested supporters so you can learn more about their experiences with your organization and use their quotes to promote your nonprofit across different channels.
Peer-to-peer fundraising. Your supporters can help fundraise, engage supporters, and market your nonprofit in the process. With peer-to-peer fundraising, people raise money by collecting donations from their friends and family. To encourage your supporters to participate, teach them how to set up a peer-to-peer fundraising page. An even easier method is to leverage the built-in peer-to-peer fundraising options on platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. This fundraising option is especially popular around holidays and birthdays, so if you know your supporters’ birthdates, you can proactively reach out and encourage them to create a fundraiser on your nonprofit’s behalf.
Treating your supporters with the utmost care and respect begins with proper communication. You should use a give-and-take approach in which you update supporters about your organization and they give you feedback about your nonprofit in response. That way, you can work together with your supporters to constantly improve your organization.
Bonus Tip: As part of maintaining your website, continue posting high-quality content. Valuable research reports and blog posts are likely to get shared around, improving your nonprofit’s search ranking placements. And be sure to incorporate SEO best practices, to get that content in front of as many people as possible!
Conclusion & Additional Resources
Nonprofit marketing encompasses a range of considerations. In addition to the regular business concerns of how to promote your organization effectively, nonprofits must also worry about how to do so on a budget. With these marketing ideas for nonprofits, we’ve given you a head start on your marketing strategy to save you time and money.
This guide explored a ton of marketing ideas for nonprofits, but there may be some that you want to learn more about. To help you out, we’ve provided some resources that will allow you to dive deeper into some of our favorite ideas, including:
Google Ad Grants for Nonprofits: The Complete Guide. The Google Ad Grant program is a proven way to push your cause forward. Learn more about marketing your cause using paid advertising with this guide from Getting Attention.
SEO for Nonprofits: Crash Course & Get-Started Guide. SEO is one of the most effective nonprofit marketing ideas for enhancing your online presence. Discover how to optimize your website’s content and dominate search results pages with this comprehensive guide from Nexus Marketing.
12 Best Nonprofit Graphic Design Tools. A huge element of nonprofit marketing is creating a cohesive experience for your supporters. Using the right graphic design tools will allow you to create images that align with your organization’s branding and design standards.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Marketing-Ideas-for-Nonprofits_Feature.jpg3801000Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-06-12 10:00:012024-07-25 14:25:2240+ Marketing Ideas for Nonprofits to Spread Your Mission
Colleges and universities often rely on generous donors to fund their academic programming, extracurricular activities, research and development, and more. In the realm of educational fundraising, understanding your supporters—and their professional journeys—can significantly enhance engagement and boost giving across the board. One of the best ways to do so involves making the most of employment data for higher ed fundraising.
That said, we urge you to consider the following questions:
Do you have comprehensive and up-to-date employment information for your donors, alumni, and other supporters?
And do you understand the vitality of these insights for your school’s overall fundraising?
By effectively sourcing and utilizing employment data, colleges and universities can create more personalized and compelling fundraising campaigns—not to mention, target invaluable workplace giving opportunities.
In this guide, we’ll explore the importance of employment data, recommended methods for sourcing the information, and strategies for leveraging the insights in your fundraising.
If you’re looking for a way to bring your institution’s fundraising and engagement to new heights, comprehensive donor employment information is the tool you need.
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Why Does Employment Data Matter in Higher Ed Fundraising?
The more you know about your donors, the better you can engage them in your fundraising. Employment data in particular plays a crucial role in maximizing support for higher education. By providing insights into the professional networks and financial capacities of alumni and other supporters, you can significantly enhance targeted fundraising strategies, identify lucrative company giving opportunities, and more.
In essence, employment data equips higher education institutions like yours with the information needed to establish and grow stronger relationships with supporters—individual and corporate alike. However, it’s important to take a proactive approach to continuously source new data rather than relying on stale or outdated insights. To uncover the most lucrative opportunities available to your team, you’ll want to ensure employment data accuracy as you gather the information.
6 Ways for Colleges and Universities to Uncover Employment Data
Do you lack complete or updated employment data for your donors? No worries! There are a number of ways for colleges and universities to gain access to this information.
To get the most complete picture of your school’s supporters, we recommend enlisting multiple of the following methods.
1) Donation form fields
Incorporating employment-related fields into donation forms allows colleges to directly collect information about a donor’s employer at the point of donation.
While a simple, optional form field encouraging users to supply their company name will suffice, we recommend embedding an employer search tool in your giving page instead. This way, users are prompted to enter their company name in an embedded form widget connected to a comprehensive database with information on thousands of companies’ giving programs.
Fun fact:73% of donors will use a matching gift search field on a donation form when presented with the opportunity.
2) Confirmation screens
Confirmation screen search tools can also be used to collect employment data after an individual hits “submit” on their gift. This approach ensures each donor is met with multiple opportunities to provide the information, making the process a seamless and efficient one.
3) Data appends
Even after implementing the above methods to uncover employment information, a number of contacts in your database are likely to have some gaps. For this, a third-party data enhancement service might be the exact answer you’re looking for to help clean up your historical data.
All your team has to do is select an employer appends provider, supply the company with the information you do have on your donors, and they’ll fill in as much of the data as possible using a combination of public and privately held data sources.
4) Email domain screening
Donors giving online are generally prompted to supply an email address so your institution can keep in touch. When an individual provides their corporate or work email address, it can offer powerful clues about their employers.
For example, you can determine that a gift made using an email ending in “@company.com” likely comes from an employee within the company.
5) Donor outreach
If, at this point, you’re still missing employer data, we recommend going straight to the source. Engaging donors directly through automated outreach is an easy, low-lift way to uncover additional employment insights—especially using 360MatchPro’s prewritten email cadences.
Soon after a donor gives, simply follow up and encourage them to share the name of their employer and look into any available giving programs they may offer.
6) Online research
While more time-consuming, utilizing online resources such as LinkedIn, other networking platforms, or company websites is another way to gather employment information about donors.
Top tip: Due to the manual approach it requires, we recommend retaining online research for your highest-value donors and prospects.
How to Use Donor Employment Info to Boost Higher Ed Fundraising
Once you’ve built out your donor profiles with accurate and up-to-date employment information, you have what you need to initiate a data-driven fundraising plan. Check out the following tips to maximize your potential and empower your college or university with a stronger, more well-informed strategy.
Data-Driven Tip #1: Personalize communications.
Personalized engagements strengthen donor relations by facilitating a more meaningful connection. Customizing fundraising outreach with details specific to each recipient is a great way to make your communications stand out in supporters’ minds.
This can be as simple as addressing an individual by name in your greeting. However, it can also involve more advanced fields, such as referring to a donor’s employing company in relevant messaging.
Check out these examples: “More than 20 of your colleagues at Carl’s Computer Company support our school through your employer’s giving program. Will you consider joining them to give back to your alma mater?”
“Did you know your employing company offers a generous VTO program? That means you and your colleagues can receive paid time off work to volunteer with our institution!”
Data-Driven Tip #2: Estimate wealth data and capacity to give.
Donors’ employment data can also provide powerful insights into an individual’s potential wealth level—and, therefore, their approximate capacity to give. Not to mention, data append services often supply information about an individual’s job title or status, providing additional details to inform your fundraising strategy. This information allows institutions to identify major gift prospects, craft tailored appeals, and encourage larger gift amounts.
Here’s an example: Let’s say you determine that an existing donor holds an executive-level position at a lucrative and rapidly growing tech company. From that data, you glean insights into their expected salary range, and adjust your recommended donation ask accordingly.
Data-Driven Tip #3: Identify and pursue matching gift opportunities.
Matching gifts are a leading form of corporate giving. Yet despite their potential, more than $4 to $7 billion worth of matching gift funds go unclaimed each year. Your school likely qualifies for a significant amount of match revenue, and if you want to maximize these programs’ potential, knowing where your donors work is a must.
Donor employment data helps fundraising institutions identify employers that offer matching gift programs. This allows them to promote these opportunities effectively, encouraging donors to double or even triple their contributions.
Here’s an example: “Your employer, Pat’s Pet Supply Co., offers a generous matching gift program—and your most recent donation likely qualifies for a match. By completing a brief online form, you can double the impact of your gift for our school to help us achieve [goal or project]!”
Data-Driven Tip #4: Encourage corporate volunteerism.
Tons of companies offer generous volunteer incentives—such as Dollars for Doers or paid volunteer time off—as a way to encourage their staff to give back of their time. Understanding donors’ corporate affiliations can enable schools like yours to uncover such opportunities and ensure supporters are well-informed.
By offering specialized volunteer opportunities that align with a company’s culture and values, your college or university can encourage volunteers to contribute their time and expertise through their company-sponsored program.
Here’s an example: “Businesses like Really Great Company offer generous grant funding to the organizations their employees volunteer with. Make your volunteer efforts count twice for our school and get involved with [upcoming event or program]!”
Data-Driven Tip #5: Facilitate prospective sponsor conversations.
Beyond existing employee-led giving programs, donor employment data can also help identify opportunities for new, broader corporate partnerships. How? The best partnerships are built around shared audiences—so knowing where supporters work can be instrumental.
You can even encourage donors or alumni to facilitate a warm introduction between your team and their employer to break the ice!
Here’s an example: “In the past year, your company has matched more than 30 employee donations to our school. We are so grateful for the support, and we see an opportunity to expand our mutually beneficial partnership. Will you consider sponsoring our upcoming fundraising event?”
Top Employers with Workplace Giving Programs for Higher Education
Once you know which companies your donors work for, you can use the information to uncover the most valuable workplace giving opportunities in your network. But, in order to do so, you’ll need to be familiar with the companies that offer these programs.
We recommend investing in a corporate giving database (like Double the Donation) to gain access to thousands of companies’ program materials. In the meantime, we’ve compiled a list of ten employers with standout matching gift, volunteer grant, and VTO programs your team should know.
Wrapping Up & Additional Data-Driven Fundraising Resources
Employment data is a strategic tool for powering higher education fundraising—from personalized engagement efforts to tailored workplace giving initiatives. When sourced and leveraged effectively, this information can shed light on groundbreaking opportunities, guiding your efforts as you enlist support from existing donors and their employers alike.
Interested in learning more about workplace giving opportunities for your college or university? Check out our recommended further reading below:
Matching Gifts & Higher Education: Companies That Match [+Tips]. Enhance your fundraising by exploring matching gifts for colleges and universities. This resource overviews top companies with higher ed-specific matching programs, allowing you to identify the best opportunities for your school.
Employer Append Services: Grow Individual and Corporate Giving. Your donors’ employment data is essential. An employer append service can help fill in gaps in donor records to identify matching gifts and tailor your engagement strategies. Find out how your team can get started here!
Free Download: The Ultimate Guide to Corporate Volunteer Grants. Unlock the full potential of corporate volunteer programs with our comprehensive guide. Find out everything you need to know about volunteer grants, top companies offering these programs, and strategies to encourage participation.
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/DTD_Sourcing-Utilizing-Employment-Data-for-Higher-Ed-Fundraising_Feature.png6001600Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-06-06 21:49:262024-07-08 20:36:51Sourcing & Utilizing Employment Data for Higher Ed Fundraising
For nonprofits of all sizes, technology plays a vital role in achieving their missions. As your organization grows, you’ll need advanced software solutions to manage donor information, enhance your marketing strategies, and track fundraising data. But that’s just the beginning!
To fully harness the power of your nonprofit technology, you need guidance from experts who know how to navigate technical complexities and develop customized solutions. The answer? A nonprofit technology consultant!
A skilled consultant can help you implement your software, streamline your overall operations, and even brainstorm technology-driven marketing solutions. In this post, we’ll introduce you to top nonprofit technology consultants who excel in various areas of expertise:
After exploring our favorite firms, you’ll be well-equipped to decide on a trusted technology partner who can elevate your nonprofit’s impact through innovative technical solutions.
Nexus Marketing — Top Consultant for Organic Marketing Strategies
Consulting Firm Overview
Nexus Marketing is renowned for its expertise in organic marketing strategies, helping nonprofits grow their audiences through intensive SEO strategies focused on earning conversions.
Ideal for nonprofits that sell products, programming, or services, Nexus Marketing can transform your web presence into an inbound lead generation engine. When you partner with Nexus, they’ll help you grow your SEO and digital marketing efforts and reach your target audience via search engine traffic, dynamic video content, and promotional opportunities with leaders in the mission-driven space.
SEO content creation to help your website rank for relevant keywords
Technical SEO to address your site’s crawlability, mobile-friendliness, and other technical aspects
Authority and link-building opportunities with their extensive partnership network
Email marketing campaigns to guide visitors through their journey with your nonprofit
Video production services to create compelling product, demo, and educational videos
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
With more than 10 years of experience in ROI-driven SEO for mission-driven organizations, Nexus Marketing has a deep understanding of how to lay the groundwork for long-term growth while also earning their clients immediate wins. They can accelerate your digital presence and SEO growth through their incredible partnership network of 500+ leaders in the mission-driven space.
For instance, they helped the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA) grow awareness of its Certified Nonprofit Professional (CNP) credential and Leaderosity programs. Through the partnership, NLA now has keyword-optimized blog posts and product pages, has published partner posts across authoritative websites, and is featured on referral pages. Thanks to these various opportunities, they’ve achieved incredible organic growth and driven more sales for their training programs.
Getting Attention — Best Nonprofit Technology Consultant for Google Ad Grants
Consulting Firm Overview
Getting Attention is your ultimate nonprofit consultant for all things related to the Google Ad Grants program. They excel in helping nonprofits apply for and manage the grant, ensuring their nonprofit clients maximize their online presence through search engine advertising.
Getting Attenion acts as an extension of your team, ensuring they fully understand your brand and its goals. Then, they’ll create compelling Google Ads that make the most of your allotted $10,000 each month to drive traffic to your most important web pages. Plus, you can relax knowing they’re certified by Google and know what they’re doing.
Google Ad Grant eligibility checks and applications
Ad creation backed by extensive keyword research
Account hygiene to keep your Ad Grants account organized
Ongoing Google Ad Grant compliance
Google Grant reactivation if your account ever gets deactivated
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
Getting Attention has worked with nonprofit organizations to achieve a variety of goals. For instance, they helped Erika’s Lighthouse increase awareness of its mission, achieving an impressive 300 clicks in just one month. The ads also have an incredible 15.8% click-through rate, which is higher than the average Google Ad CTR of 3.17%.
Getting Attention has also worked with Glacier National Park Conservancy to drive purchases from its online store to support Glacier National Park. By targeting keywords like “Glacier National Park Tours” and “Glacier National Park Campgrounds,” their Google Ads drove an impressive 2,570 clicks in just one month. You can read more about some of Getting Attention’s other clients in their nonprofit advertising examples guide.
DNL OmniMedia — Top Consultant for Nonprofit Technology Implementation
Consulting Firm Overview
A trusted Blackbaud partner and Salesforce solution provider, DNL OmniMedia understands nonprofit software—but more importantly, they understand nonprofits.
Their full-service consulting firm will assess your technology infrastructure and provide personalized recommendations that align with your mission. Through custom web development, software configurations, and data analysis, Team DNL will ensure that your nonprofit thrives in an increasingly digital age.
In addition to these services, DNL offers products that help nonprofits expand their Blackbaud Luminate system, including peer-to-peer fundraising and advocacy add-ons.
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
Team DNL has worked with organizations across the mission-driven sector and has solved a variety of technology-related challenges.
From designing a one-of-a-kind nonprofit website for the Interlochen Center for the Arts to creating custom Blackbaud TeamRaiser donation forms for the North Shore Animal League, the DNL team has extended their expertise to a number of clients.
Donorly — Top Choice for Fundraising Strategy Development
Consulting Firm Overview
Ever look at your fundraising goals and wonder if you can achieve them? The nonprofit technology consultants at Donorly know that you can if you just have the right information and assets by your side!
Under the direction of president Sandra Davis, the Donorly team channels their creativity and passion into creating elegant donor research solutions specifically for your nonprofit. With their comprehensive donor information, your nonprofit can reach higher than you thought possible.
Nonprofit Technology Services
When it comes to donor research, the Donorly team provides your nonprofit with the foundations for:
Capital campaign management
Board expansions and recruiting
Grant proposal writing
Interim staffing
Donorly promises a customized approach, based on their unique engagement model.
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
Many of Donorly’s clients come from the arts and culture or humanities space, though the team has worked with nonprofits across the sector. Their client lists includes the Seattle Children’s Museum, Playwrights Horizons, Martha & Mary Lutheran Services, and the Studio Theatre.
Morweb — Best Technology Consultant For Nonprofit Web Design
Consulting Firm Overview
For nonprofits looking to get started building a beautiful website, Morweb will be the perfect partner. Pairing their unmatched CMS with expert support services, your web design strategy will be more effective than ever.
When you leverage Morweb’s consulting services, they’ll walk you step-by-step through the website creation and implementation process.
After your website is live, you can still call on them for additional consulting if you ever want to update your style, change your strategy, or otherwise improve the functionality of your site.
Nonprofit Technology Services
Morweb offers the following nonprofit web design services:
Customizable themes and layouts
Search engine optimization
Form builders
Donation processing
Technology and design consulting
Even better, Morweb has scalable products to meet the needs of all kinds of nonprofits. This way, you can pay for what you need now and have the option of upgrading down the line.
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
Morweb has experience enhancing the web design strategy of a diverse range of nonprofits, from small, regional organizations to international ones.
Their portfolio of clients includes nonprofits like 4th Street BRZ in Canada, Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County, Society of University Surgeons, and the Driving School Association of the Americas.
Whole Whale — Top Consultant for Web Data and Technology
Consulting Firm Overview
Whole Whale is a digital agency dedicated to helping nonprofits enhance their strategic use of technology. They’ll help your organization learn valuable skills and implement best practices so that you don’t need to rely on a consultant or third-party administrator.
To achieve that goal, Whole Whale provides one-on-one consulting services for clients with like-minded missions. On top of their long-term projects, this firm also offers online training courses through Whole Whale University in areas such as social media, Google AdWords, and more.
Nonprofit Technology Services
Whole Whale takes a holistic approach to digital strategy, with key services that include:
Google AdWords grants management
Google Analytics
Web design and development
Content marketing
Each Whole Whale project is customized based on nonprofit needs, so you won’t have to worry about getting a canned approach.
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
Notably, Whole Whale worked with the Malala Fund to improve the nonprofit’s use of Google Analytics for tracking user actions on their site. Following their engagement, the Malala Fund was able to successfully implement Google Analytics on their own, without any ongoing support from a consultant.
Heller Consulting — Best Nonprofit Technology Consultant for CRM Management
Consulting Firm Overview
Since 1996, Heller Consulting has worked exclusively with nonprofits to develop effective strategies in data management, communications, fundraising, and other vital areas.
In particular, the Heller consultants are passionate about working with nonprofits to get more from their CRM systems. With their services, your organization can outline a clear vision for your constituent relationship management, implement and customize your technology, and learn best practices for your software.
Nonprofit Technology Services
Heller Consulting works primarily with nonprofits and higher education institutes, offering a variety of technology services such as:
CRM strategy and design
CRM implementation
Online fundraising strategy
Google Analytics
In addition, Heller Consulting maintains an active blog on their website to help organizations continue gaining and sharing knowledge about nonprofit technology.
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
Heller Consulting has worked with nonprofit clients in multiple sectors, including advocacy, healthcare, higher education, and social services. Some of their past engagements include the ASPCA, Make a Wish National Foundation, and the Lincoln Park Zoo.
You can check out their website for more information on recent projects and case studies detailing their work with specific software solutions, such as the Salesforce Community Cloud.
Idealist Consulting — Top Consultant for Salesforce Implementation
Consulting Firm Overview
With about 60% of their clients being nonprofits, Idealist Consulting specializes in Salesforce and marketing automation consulting. They can help you build out a custom Salesforce experience that works for your organization, with strategic app integrations and personalized configurations.
Idealist Consulting works with organizations to get more from the Salesforce system and raise funds and awareness for their cause. Their four-step consulting process always concludes with increased impact made possible through strategic technology implementation.
Nonprofit Technology Services
Idealist Consulting offers services that build on your existing technology and online presence through:
Salesforce CRM development
Email marketing automation
Online form optimization
Salesforce application integration
On top of all of that, Idealist can also work with you to build out a custom Salesforce app of your own!
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
Among their other nonprofit and for-profit clients, Idealist Consulting worked with The Banfield Foundation, an animal welfare organization, to move their data to the Salesforce Nonprofit Success Pack for improved fundraising and donor data management.
By learning how to track small donations more effectively in Salesforce, The Banfield Foundation increased their online donations by over 300%! Idealist Consulting also developed custom fields within their CRM and helped them generate unique reports showing donor trends and demographics.
Apparo — Best Nonprofit Technology Consultant For Corporate Partnerships
Consulting Firm Overview
Apparo seeks to “empower nonprofits through technology that enhances their missions.” They provide volunteer nonprofit technology consulting to organizations of all sizes and skill levels in the Charlotte, North Carolina, community.
All of Apparo’s consulting services are individualized and unique to the organization. They’ll get to know your organization so they can most aptly pinpoint challenges and areas for improvement before working to push your mission forward.
Nonprofit Technology Services
Apparo’s consulting team offers a wide variety of free nonprofit services, including:
Basic Microsoft coaching
Nonprofit technology panels and forums
One-on-one technology assessments
Training groups
As a nonprofit themselves, Apparo is dedicated to helping philanthropic organizations within their community. Their volunteer consultants can help organizations with almost anything, from selecting the right software to learning the most up-to-date best practices in the nonprofit tech community.
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
Apparo’s many success stories include the Carolina Raptor Center, a nonprofit working to rehabilitate and release injured birds. Prior to working with Apparo, the Center relied on paper tracking and Excel spreadsheets for all of their volunteer information, costing them time and data.
With Apparo, the Center was able implement more strategic software that reduced paperwork and increased their supporter engagement possibilities across the board.
ScienceSoft — Top Choice for Custom Software Development
Consulting Firm Overview
ScienceSoft is an international provider of IT consulting and software development services with 30 years of experience in heterogeneous IT environments. ScienceSoft is headquatered in Texas, US, and has offices in the EU and Eastern Europe. Today, the company houses a team of 550 experts, including more than 20 business analysts with an understanding of nonprofits’ specific needs and expertise in multiple technology stacks and platform-based solutions.
Other platform-specific consulting – SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Magento.
Nonprofit Technology Portfolio
ScienceSoft has worked with multiple types of NPOs, including educational institutions, government entities and public service providers, supporting the nonprofits’ mission to expand their outreach with available tech capabilities. The examples of such cooperation range from solutions that make an NPO visible on the internet, improve member retention and engagement to multifaceted applications for an NPO’s external interactions with the focus on integrity and confidentiality.
Selecting the right nonprofit technology consultant can be a game-changer for your organization. A motivated and knowledgeable partner can streamline software implementation, customization, and usage, allowing you to harness the full potential of your nonprofit’s technology.
To further enhance your nonprofit software experience, explore these valuable resources:
SEO for Nonprofits: Crash Course & Get-Started Guide: Discover actionable strategies to improve your nonprofit’s search engine rankings and determine whether outsourcing the work to an agency is the right move for your nonprofit.
2024 Nonprofit Trends: What’s Changing and What’s Staying: Explore the latest trends shaping the nonprofit sector, including everything from AI to influencer marketing. Understanding these trends will help you identify the best consulting firm for shaping your technical strategy
Around 63 million Americans volunteer, making up one-third of the nonprofit workforce. Chances are, your nonprofit relies on volunteers who work hard to fulfill your mission. The value they provide is already incalculable, but what if there was a way for them to take their impact even further at no additional cost? Dollars for Doers grant programs can help your volunteers amplify their impact even more!
Dollars for Doers grants can substantially boost your fundraising revenue and grow volunteer engagement. To tap into these corporate volunteer programs, your organization needs to understand the basics, and we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ll break down the definition of Dollars for Doers grants and guide you through effective strategies for raising more. Specifically, we’ll cover:
From educating volunteers to discovering necessary tools to invest in, you’ll know exactly how to find and take advantage of these programs. Let’s first start with a basic definition.
What are Dollars for Doers Grants?
A Dollars for Doers program is a corporate giving program in which companies provide monetary donations to nonprofit organizations based on the volunteer hours contributed by their employees. When employees volunteer their time to eligible nonprofits, the company matches this volunteer effort with a financial grant to the organization, thereby enhancing the impact of the employee’s volunteer work.
Dollars for Doers grants are also frequently referred to by other names, such as:
These programs encourage corporate philanthropy, increase employee engagement, and provide valuable financial resources to nonprofits.
However, Dollars for Doers programs are often overlooked due to a lack of awareness by both nonprofits and volunteers. Nonprofits don’t always know whether their volunteers work for companies that offer these grants, and volunteers are often unaware their companies even offer such a program.
How Dollars for Doers Programs Work
While every company has its own participation requirements, all volunteer grant programs generally follow the same blueprint. So that your nonprofit can fold these grants into its volunteer management approach, here’s how they work:
An individual volunteers with a nonprofit. Dollars for Doers programs require employees to initiate by volunteering like normal. At this stage, eligible supporters volunteer like any other member of your team.
The individual submits a request for a Dollars for Doers grant to their employer. To earn funding from a Dollars for Does program, employees need to alert their employer to their volunteer hours, usually by submitting an application through their employers’ CSR software.
The employer verifies the hours volunteered with the nonprofit. During this stage, some employers may accept employees’ reported volunteer hours without further question, while others might contact you for confirmation. In either case, be prepared by having accurate hour reports.
The employer sends a check to the nonprofit. If the volunteer’s request is approved, your nonprofit should receive a payment from their employer. This payout may come from the business or a CSR software vendor depending on what technology they use to manage their Dollars for Doers program.
It’s that simple! Share this process with your volunteers, let them know you’re there to help, and meticulously track volunteer hours with your volunteer management tools. In no time, you’ll see the volunteer grants start rolling in.
Common Dollars for Doers Criteria
While most Dollar for Doers programs follow similar processes, each company that offers a Dollars for Doers program has unique requirements and guidelines.
These guidelines typically outline:
Nonprofit eligibility requirements. Typically, most types of nonprofits, such as arts organizations, health and human services groups, and environmental organizations, will be accepted. The most common types of ineligible nonprofits are political organizations, churches and religious groups, and nonprofits owned by the participating employee or a member of the employee’s family.
The minimum number of volunteer hours required to be eligible. There are usually two types of minimum-hour requirements. Some volunteer grant companies provide contributions based on a per-hour basis. Others require employees to volunteer for a certain number of hours in exchange for a flat donation.
Grant amounts per volunteer hour or per threshold passed. Most companies put a cap on the number of volunteer hours or the total amount they will donate per employee per year to keep their budgets in check.
Employee eligibility requirements. Not every employee who works for a company with a volunteer grant program will be eligible. For instance, some companies may only offer the program to full-time employees who have worked for the business for a certain number of years. In contrast, other organizations may make their program available to part-time employees and retirees.
Here’s an example of a company profile with these criteria:
Dollars for Doers grants depend on a few factors, and it might not be apparent how much of an impact they can make on your nonprofit. In the next section, we’ll outline some eye-opening statistics that demonstrate why your organization should tap into this powerful form of corporate philanthropy.
Types of Dollars for Doers Frameworks
As you start researching different Dollars for Doers companies, you’ll notice a few common frameworks. So that you’re prepared to leverage these opportunities, here are the three approaches you might encounter:
Grant Based on Service Hours: Companies match volunteer hours with donations to the same nonprofit based on an hourly rate. For example, 20 hours at $10/hour equals a $200 donation. Requirements may include minimum hours, budget caps, and organization eligibility.
Credit Grant Per Service Hour (to Any Nonprofit): This is similar to the first framework, but employees can direct the grant to any nonprofit. For example, 20 hours at $10/hour equals a $200 credit grant for any eligible nonprofit. This framework supports company-sponsored volunteer events while also recognizing and supporting causes that employees are passionate about.
Milestone Grant for Volunteer Goal (Can Be Restricted or Open): Employees become eligible for grants after reaching a set number of volunteer hours. For example, an employee becomes eligible for a $250 grant after volunteering a minimum of 20 hours.
Understanding these frameworks will allow your team to better engage with corporate partners and encourage employee participation in volunteer programs. Make sure your team members fully understand these frameworks, so they can help volunteers when the time comes to request a grant!
The Impact of Volunteer Grant Programs
Not convinced that Dollars for Doers programs should be part of your fundraising strategy? Check out these stats that our team at Double the Donation has uncovered:
40% of Fortune 500 companies offer Dollars for Doers programs, indicating that a significant portion of influential companies support employee volunteerism.
The average corporate volunteer rate participation rate is 33%, meaning your nonprofit has a substantial opportunity to engage with active corporate volunteers.
About 63 million Americans volunteer each year, totaling 7.7 billion hours, which equates to approximately $175 billion annually.
80% of companies with Dollars for Doers programs provide between $8-15 per volunteer hour, showing that the majority of Dollars for Doers companies offer generous financial contributions.
Dollars for Doers programs are incredibly impactful because they energize volunteer engagement, drive recruitment, and improve retention by rewarding volunteers for their time. Moreover, they can significantly boost nonprofit revenue and forge stronger, mutually beneficial connections with companies, amplifying your organization’s impact and support network.
These statistics show how common Dollars for Doers programs actually are and how many individuals volunteer annually. Chances are good that at least a few of your volunteers are eligible for a volunteer grant and just need your help in learning about them.
Top Dollars for Doers Companies
Many companies offer generous volunteer grants. For examples of what Dollar for Doers programs look like in action, check out these examples from three top companies:
Google
Overview of This Dollars for Doers Company
Google needs little introduction, but for reference, it’s a multinational technology company specializing in Internet services and products, including a search engine, online advertising, software, hardware, and more.
To cultivate a positive reputation, create a positive work environment, and do good in the world, Google has multiple CSR programs, such as volunteer grants, Google for Nonprofits, and the Google Ad Grant.
Dollars for Doers Grant Information
For every hour of volunteer work a Google employee performs, the company will provide a $10 grant to the nonprofit. The minimum hours requirement is just 1 hour, meaning volunteers start earning for your cause immediately.
Microsoft is also a major international player in the technology space. It’s a multinational company that develops computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and more.
Similar to Google, Microsoft offers a range of CSR initiatives to engage employees, including a Dollars for Doers program.
Dollars for Doers Grant Information
With no minimum amount of hours required for a grant, Microsoft awards $25 per hour to nonprofits where their employees volunteer.
Verizon is the second-largest wireless carrier in the United States, serving more than 144 million customers.
Dollars for Doers Grant Information
Verizon offers a Dollars for Doers program with unique requirements. Employees are required to volunteer for 50 hours to earn a $750 grant for a nonprofit. However, each employee can then volunteer another 50 hours at a different nonprofit to earn $750 for that organization each year. This encourages employees to work with multiple causes.
Now that you understand the fundamentals, the next step is to determine whether any of your volunteers work for a Dollars for Doers company.
To ensure as many eligible volunteers as possible earn volunteer grants, nonprofits should invest in software. A volunteer management platform is a great start for storing accurate volunteer information!
Then, go one step further and research matching gift and volunteer grant databases. This type of software provides your volunteers with access to an extensive database of corporate giving programs, including matching gifts and Dollars for Doers programs. The database can help volunteers discover guidelines, grant amounts, hour requirements, and more, so they have exactly the information they need.
When it comes to comprehensive, up-to-date, and user-friendly software, we have to recommend our matching gift solution 360MatchPro.
360MatchPro by Double the Donation
360MatchPro by Double the Donation is an extensive database that contains up-to-date information on corporate giving programs for 99% of United States businesses and 95% of Canadian companies. It’s the ideal solution for all sorts of nonprofits and universities looking to double their matching gift revenue and tap into Dollars for Doers programs.
When supporters donate on your website, 360MatchPro automatically scans the information they provide, such as their email domain or employer details, to determine their eligibility for corporate giving programs. Depending on their eligibility, the platform triggers customizable emails to the supporter detailing the appropriate next steps to submit either a matching gift or Dollars for Doers grant request.
Our software will alert supporters about their eligibility, follow up to drive requests to completion, and thank supporters for submitting an application to their employer, so you don’t have to. Thanks to 100+ integrations with leading nonprofit software, you can rest assured that you’re finding as many volunteer grant and matching gift opportunities as possible!
Matching gift software ensures these revenue opportunities don’t slip through the cracks, but it’s still important to promote Dollars for Doers grants to your volunteers. After all, many supporters are likely unfamiliar with volunteer grants and will need your nonprofit to give them that initial push to check their eligibility.
Here are some helpful ways to market Dollars for Doers grants:
On your website. Create informational content on your website about Dollars for Doers grants. You might include details about these programs on your volunteer information page, add a section to your Ways to Give page about volunteer grants, or create a new page dedicated to corporate giving programs like Dollars for Doers.
In your email outreach. In your newsletters, spotlight volunteer grants to encourage your subscribers to research their eligibility. Link them to educational content on your website and let them know they can reach out to you if they have any questions.
On social media. Regularly post information about Dollars for Doers grants, and just like with your email outreach, link to your informational content on your website.
In direct mail outreach. Include an insert in your direct mail outreach that explains volunteer grants and how volunteers can search for their company’s program guidelines.
In volunteer thank-you letters. When thanking volunteers for their hard work, let them know they might be able to take their impact further through their employers’ volunteer grants program.
The easiest way to market available opportunities is by using software like 360MatchPro to embed an employer search tool into your website. By directing your supporters to it across your outreach, they’ll be able to find their employers’ Dollars for Doers program information and successfully submit grant requests. Essentially, the easier it is to submit an application, the more supporters will do it, and 360MatchPro can make the process as streamlined as possible.
Additional Dollars for Doers Resources
Dollars for Doers programs are underutilized funding resources. Set your nonprofit up to secure the grants your volunteers have earned with proper hours recording policies, a volunteer grant education campaign, and the right corporate giving database.
To learn more about volunteer grants and how they impact the social good sector, explore these resources:
https://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/dollars-for-doers-grants_feature.jpg300800Adam Weingerhttps://doublethedonation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/logo-dtd.svgAdam Weinger2024-05-23 08:10:022024-05-23 13:30:29Dollars for Doers 101: How to Boost Your Volunteers’ Impact
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