| It's definitely admirable that you're able to contribute a | | | | Make Yourself Available for Communication |
| significant portion of your income to charity. But one | | | | Your website must provide visitors with your complete |
| person's donation alone won't make a huge difference. | | | | contact information. Give them your organization's |
| You can add more meaning to your donation if you're | | | | address, phone and fax number, and your email |
| able to use your own actions as an example to others | | | | address. Let them know the hours that there's a |
| and encourage them to do the same. You can start | | | | representative available to assist them with their |
| doing this through online fundraising. | | | | inquiries and concerns. |
| Create a Website | | | | Have a FAQ Section |
| Having your own website - preferably with a paid and | | | | A lot of people are willing to make a donation but end |
| well-chosen domain name - is essential to online | | | | up not doing so simply because of lack of information. |
| fundraising. It gives people a specific address to go to | | | | As not all of them may have the time or inclination to |
| if and when they wish to know more about your | | | | contact you and ask your questions, a FAQ section |
| organization or foundation. | | | | will go a long way in answering the questions they |
| Your website must be designed for search engine | | | | aren't able to ask. |
| optimization. An SEO-friendly website is able to enjoy | | | | Make sure to update your FAQ section regularly. |
| greater exposure to their target market more quickly. | | | | Create question categories so that users will have an |
| You must also provide valuable content for your | | | | easier time ferreting out information. |
| website and update it regularly. Don't let your website | | | | Keep Track of and Acknowledge Donations |
| become an empty shell in which the Donate Now | | | | Every donation you receive through your website |
| button is the only functional link. | | | | should be properly accounted for to the IRS. It must |
| To start with, you can share the background of your | | | | also be acknowledged with a valid written receipt so |
| organization and introduce your members. You can | | | | that donors may use it to apply for charitable |
| state your goals and provide online registration forms | | | | deduction if you so wish. By taking steps to make |
| for prospective participants, volunteers, affiliates, and | | | | every donation you receive legally recognized, you're |
| sponsors. Provide a press kit for those in the media | | | | sure to encourage more people and businesses to |
| industry. Share inspiring stories about how making | | | | spend on charitable activities. |
| donations were able to accomplish huge changes in | | | | Stay in Contact |
| the lives of the people you've helped and those who | | | | Invite your visitors to stay in touch by offering |
| were generous and selfless enough to provide such | | | | subscription to your newsletter or RSS feeds. It's |
| help. | | | | important to use of every strategy available for building |
| Make Donating Convenient | | | | your list. And once you do have names in your list, be |
| If you're lucky enough to have visitors willing to make a | | | | sure to contact them periodically and update them with |
| donation, don't make it hard for them to do so. Online | | | | your current projects. People are more inclined to |
| donations are made more convenient if you're able to | | | | donate if they see for themselves that an organization |
| accept various modes of payment. Instead of simply | | | | is active and consistent. |
| accepting cash and check payments, how about | | | | Learn How to Advertise Online |
| applying for and acquiring the necessary software and | | | | Last but not the least, it's important to work on |
| licenses in order to accept credit card transactions and | | | | spreading the word around. It's impossible to obtain |
| other online forms of payment as well? | | | | online donations if no one knows you exist in the first |
| Make Donating Safe | | | | place. |
| Be sure to publish your privacy policy and | | | | For free online marketing strategies, consider social |
| confidentiality guarantee. With identity theft and online | | | | bookmarking and networking, blogging, and podcasting. |
| fraud still rampant, people are naturally wary about | | | | It's also good to participate in forums and talk about |
| making any online transaction. You can assuage their | | | | your organization. If you can afford it later on, make |
| concerns by taking proper precautions to ensure that | | | | use of paid online marketing strategies as well like |
| their online donations won't post any risk to them. | | | | having text ads and holding online contests. |