As COVID-19 forces us to engage in self isolation and social distancing, how should your nonprofit adjust its fundraising and program strategies? This week on the Nonprofit Jenni Show, we’ll learn how two nonprofit organizations are adapting to this weird new world: Childspring International and Good Tidings Foundation
Hosting your first online fundraising event
Our first guests on the podcast this week were from Childspring International, which had to cancel its signature fundraising event due to shelter-in-place policies, and decided to host an online silent auction event for the first time to offset this loss. They ended up raising over $22,000 in their first ever online auction!
Childspring was fortunate enough to have a gala chairperson who convinced the team to use mobile bidding at their gala, which was supposed to take place earlier this month. This made the transition to an online auction easier.
They decided to launch their online auction at the exact same time they had planned their gala event to begin. The auction was open for one week, and they noticed an upsurge in bids as the week continued to pass.
Alison Fussell, Childspring’s Executive Director, said they notified donors about the shift in plans from an in-person event to an online auction through multiple communication channels:
Facebook
Their website homepage
Their email list
They also offered to help their donors who were less comfortable with technology if they needed extra support placing bids.
More THoughts on FUndraising in the Midst of COVID-19
Good Tidings Foundation is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and had to adjust their plans for promoting a donation matching campaign so they could remain sensitive to more urgent community needs. Though this campaign was supposed to take place in the spring, they’re pushing it off to the fall with a “$25 for 25” campaign celebrating their anniversary. Larry believes the campaign will help the organization attract younger donors who may have less disposable income to donate to nonprofits. I asked Larry whether the conversation was awkward with their matching donor, but he said the donor was extremely understanding and his board of directors also supported the change.
The biggest advice I can give to nonprofit leaders who feel discouraged in their fundraising efforts is not to give up, and not to assume that donors do not want to continue to support your organization. Alison Fussell shared a story on the podcast about one of Childspring International’s major donors, who just reached out asking what the organization needed during this crisis. She said she talked with Drew to decide their priorities, and this helped her prepare for the conversation with this donor. Be prepared to speak with your donors about your needs, because they want to support you in the midst of this crisis--even if you aren’t directly working on COVID-19 relief.
What to Do when COVID-19 Affects Your PRograms
Thoughts from Drew Reynolds, Program Director of Childspring International
Childspring International also had to pause the components of their program which require international travel due to the risks associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Usually, the organization performs surgeries in developing countries and flies children over to the USA for surgery. Drew Reynolds, the Program Director at Childspring International, has been concerned that the disease will hit developing countries where their organization is working. He also has had to keep encouraging children and families who haven’t been able to travel to the USA for their scheduled surgeries due to virus-related travel restrictions.
Drew Reynolds is also the Lead Consultant for Common Good Data, a consulting firm which helps nonprofits collect and use data to improve their impact, including their programs and fundraising. He recently published Nonprofit Program (Re)Design Primer, a free guide to help your program staff shift their work in response to the COVID-19 pandemic--especially if their work doesn’t directly relate to COVID-19 relief.
Thoughts from Larry Harper, Founder of Good Tidings Foundation
Good Tidings Foundation has built over 200 activity facilities for kids, including sports facilities and art studios. Most of these facilities provide after-school programming for underserved kids in California, but those programs had to end when schools began to close recently. Good Tidings decided to contact the arts studios they built to find out what supplies they could donate to the kids who aren’t able to visit those facilities any longer due to COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. They were able to distribute art kits to these children who have lost after-school art classes so they have something to do when they’re bored at home.
Additionally, Good Tidings hosts an annual Winter Wonderland event to distribute toys to underserved children in the area before the Christmas holiday. This year, they decided to host an impromptu “Christmas in July” event to give kids something to look forward to receiving some athletic equipment, art supplies, and other toys this summer as social distancing guidelines ease up.
Get Professional Help Deciding Your Next Steps
I created this podcast episode because I’ve been hearing from so many nonprofit professionals who are freaked out by the COVID-19 crisis and how it will impact their funding opportunities. I can’t wait to hear from you too! Schedule a free initial consultation call to chat with me about your idea for a new nonprofit, social enterprise, or other social sector organization. I would love to help you figure out the best next steps to take to protect your organization and mission. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the Nonprofit Jenni Show for free so you won’t miss any new episodes about resilience through COVID-19!
Also, I want to thank Adams Keegan for sponsoring this episode! Adams Keegan offers affordable employer solutions, and they have a special division which is solely dedicated to serving nonprofit organizations. Schedule a consultation call with them to get customized, free advice for your nonprofit’s HR policies and management.