Top 6 Ways to Get Funding and Start Fundraising for Nonprofit Organizations

Fundraising for nonprofit organizations is important for reaching your goals and making a difference. But for a nonprofit to successfully execute a fundraising strategy, they need funding to support their organization. Much like the typical American household, nonprofits are responsible for rent, bills, utilities, internet, and other related expenses – that’s a given. However, fundraising then has its expenses ranging from event costs to mailings and staff wages. Without this support, it would be impossible to raise money for any cause. And because of the 501(C)-tax exemption held by nonprofit organizations, these contributions come tax-free when they support your organization.

Whether you’re in the beginning stages of creating a nonprofit or you’ve just begun work on your latest fundraising campaign – there are many ways to ensure your staff and fundraising costs are covered. And while during the holiday season, collecting donations from individuals and organizations alike is somewhat easy – this isn’t always the case year-round. If you need help getting funding this off-season so to speak, stay tuned for some of the more creative solutions out there. In the end, you’ll walk away with a wealth of knowledge and potentially your next best fundraising idea.

Grant Funding

As it turns out, many organizations are eligible for grant funding. Additionally, there are plenty of resources out there to help you discover the right opportunities for your organization. Bestowed by a government or other similar organization, grants entail bounties, gifts, contributions, or subsidies given for a specific intended purpose. Grants are typically conditional based on qualifying circumstances, and there are different types of grants for different kinds of support. So, whether you need operating support or program development grants – the best way to get started is by doing your research. `

If grant funding sounds like something your organization would be interested in, there are many ways to go after one. For starters, many platforms can match you with the most appropriate opportunities according to your eligibility. Sites like Instrumentl and Donor Box are the perfect way to start the application process to gain funding for your nonprofit efforts.

Publicity

If you’re at all familiar with the nonprofit sector, then you understand the importance of the role media plays in building a successful brand. From social media to radio, your organization is much more likely to raise the funds it needs when people are aware of your cause. To increase your organization’s reach, you’ll want to invest the time and money to build a concrete foundation. For instance, a regularly updated social media page assists in growing both your volunteer and donor base while keeping past and present donors engaged.

While increasing the visibility of your organization via social media, you can also drop a link for direct donation access, making it highly convenient for donors to give. In terms of other popular channels such as radio, many community stations are willing to run fundraising campaigns, raising donations directly from their listeners. Finally, even if your nonprofit isn’t receiving enough through your social media or radio campaign, all is not necessarily lost. You’re still gaining exposure and possibly earning related revenue and increasing event attendance.

Gala-Type Events

Many nonprofit organizations hold annual or even biannual galas to drive fundraising efforts and give to their cause. Of course, these events have a boatload of requirements spanning from food and drinks to tables and seating, lighting, entertainment, and more. While organizing such a night seems intimidating at first, when you throw a successful gala, you could potentially find yourself earning more in one night than you have all year. In turn, at least an annual gala is well worth the effort if you require funding.

When organizing your gala be sure to dedicate plenty of time to pre-event promotion and telling your story. Taking the time to promote your event with most details finalized gives your audience plenty of time to save the date. For the best results, it’s recommended that nonprofits begin promoting about 3-5 months out, with increased advertising in those last few months. It is during this promotion period that you must also tell your story so potential guests understand your vision and how the funds raised would be appropriated accordingly.

Volunteering

Volunteering doesn’t raise money for nonprofits directly, however, unpaid volunteers use their skills and time to maximize the reach of those funds. Ultimately, without the help of volunteers, nonprofits would actually lose money. Luckily, there are many ways a volunteer can make a real difference in how both your time and money are spent.

Federated Funds

Federated funds are cooperatively owned and managed by a group of members that have a specific criterion in place for giving grants and donations to nonprofits that meet said criteria. United Way and United Arts are prime examples of such groups. Much like the grants we discussed earlier, if you choose to try and receive some sort of federated funds, you’ll want to search for groups that give to organizations like yours. Again, there are many different tools out there to help pair you with the most relevant sources for the best chance at gaining funding.

Federal, State, and Local Gov’t Funding

Luckily, we live in a country in which charity is admired and practiced often. People of all income levels give regularly whether it be a dollar here or there or more significant scheduled donations, even the government is a great source of potential funding for many nonprofits. Nonprofits can benefit from federal, state, and local branches of government through various channels. For example, public media, public education, and higher education are all government-funded. And when it comes to human service, all three branches of government provide grants for programs provided by various nonprofits.

Step Up Your Fundraising Efforts Today

As you can see, getting the funding necessary to increase fundraising for nonprofit organizations is more than possible. So, if you have your 501© status and you’re looking to grow your nonprofit, there’s a solution put there for nonprofits of all kinds. Starting, we’d recommend going the grant route because there are so many easily accessible opportunities out there to which you can apply from the comfort of your office. With the right group of volunteers in place, you’ll find yourself making enough money to get your organization on its feet.