Social fundraising done right

So you’ve decided to experiment with social fundraising this holiday giving season. You’ve done your homework, picked a tool, and you’re chomping at the bit to get your supporters raising money on your behalf. But how do you get started?

Here are three essential tips for success:

1. Get specific! This tip will help you no matter what kind of fundraising you’re taking on, but it’s especially important for social fundraising. The campaign can raise money for a discrete project or program at your organization, or for an event like a charity run, or it can be a goal that you set to reach by a certain date. But campaigns without specifics and deadlines will fizzle and burn out, and you’ll have a harder time getting your supporters revved up for round two.

2.  Be a force multiplier. Sure, your supporters have their own networks they’ll be reaching out to, but what about your organization’s social media properties? During the campaign, give shoutouts to your fundraisers on Twitter, feature successful pages on Facebook, or even profile a fundraiser or two on your blog. Show your supporters that you’re paying attention, and that their work is meaningful.

3. Incentive, incentivize, incentivize. You know what people like more than warm and fuzzies? Free t-shirts and beer koozies. Now, I’m not saying your fundraisers are in it for the swag, but it can’t hurt. Make it a friendly competition, and offer a prize to the top-performers in the campaign. You want to give people that extra boost so they decide to fundraise instead of just donating and calling it a day, and that extra work should be rewarded.

Bonus tip: Don’t forget to say thank you to your fundraisers, whether they haul in $5 or $5,000.