Fundraising Tips for Food Banks and HungerRelief Nonprofits
Today, more than 820 million people do not have enough to eat. The total number of undernourished has been increasing for several years in a row
HUNGER IS OFTEN NOT A FOOD PROBLEM
BUT A LOGISTICS PROBLEM
FOOD BANKS AMIDST THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Many employees have been put on unpaid leave, causing additional financial hardship for food-insecure families
Measures intending to reduce virus transmission are leaving seniors and immunocompromised people relying on expensive and limited grocery delivery services
Disrupted supply chains and panic-buying and hoarding make it even more difficult to get food to those who need it most
IN A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE GLOBAL FOODBANKING NETWORK ACROSS 39 COUNTRIES FOUND THAT THERE IS 50-100%+ increase in demand for emergency food assistance
90% reported an urgent need for food
21% reported an urgent need for more employees or volunteers
Best Practices and Tips for Food Bank Fundraising
1
SET FUNDRAISING GOALS Goals help you keep track of where you’re at, which can then give you the information you need to adjust your fundraising strategy or improve your outreach. Your goals should be clear and specific. Ideally, they should pass the S.M.A.R.T test: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.
2
PROMOTE RECURRING GIVING
An online donation system that offers recurring giving can have an enormous positive impact on the long-term financial sustainability of your food bank. It provides a steady stream of income, making it easier for you to plan your activities. Recurring donors are also more engaged, give more, and keep giving for longer
3
CREATE A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN AND TELL STORIES Campaigns are by definition specific – they help the donors visualize what they’re giving the money to. They are important because they mobilize donors to give. There’s a lot to planning and executing a successful fundraising campaign, but one of the key elements of success is storytelling.
4
CAPITALIZE ON PEER-TO-PEER FUNDRAISING
Peer-to-peer fundraisers lend themselves really well to food bank fundraising. There are multiple ways to go about Peer-to-peer fundraising and it helps scale fundraising to a new level by tapping into your current supporters’ networks —their friends, family, and colleagues. It lets your community feel more connected to your mission and helps you reach more people. Peer-to-peer fundraisers are powerful because they help expand your reach.
5
PARTNER FOR DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL DEALS
Successful food banks are excellent networkers. Through partnerships with organizations of all types and sizes, food banks can effectively reach their fundraising goals and serve more beneficiaries. Donorbox is offering a lowered price of only 0.5% of a month’s donations, specifically for Food Banks during the months of June and July.
6
WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT
If you have not yet made contact with your local/regional/national government, we recommend that you consider doing so soon so you can liaise on relief efforts. And working with the government is great at all times, not just during the coronavirus pandemic.
7
ENGAGE WITH SUPPORTERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
With so many social media networks available now, it’s important to clarify that you don’t need to be active on every single platform to have a successful social media strategy that boosts donations. Spread the word on your targeted social media networks (e.g. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). Whether you choose to use paid ads or not, give your audience a reason to share your post and your organic reach will soar.
8
HIGHLIGHT THE ‘MOST NEEDED ITEMS’
When fundraising, specificity almost always beats generality. People respond better to appeals that make it clear what is needed and/or what will the money be used for. Consider highlighting the ‘Most Needed Items’ on your food bank fundraising page.
9
DESIGNATE A DROP-OFF PLACE
Depending on your specific circumstances, you might not be able to pick up as many donations as you used to. Designate a drop-off place for the donations – whether it’s your own warehouse or another location.
10
FUNDRAISE ONLINE
Digital givers give more money in general, and they give it more often too. On average, digital givers donate 44 percent more often than non-digital givers (2.3 times a month vs. 1.6 times a month). (Dunham + Company) Online donors give more and more often because they have better tools. They can give when they’re inspired, no matter where they are.
11
UTILIZE WORKPLACE GIVING
Private employers, federal, state, and local governments all offer payroll deduction opportunities. Encourage your donors to check with their employers if it’s possible to have a payroll deduction with a tax-deductible donation (given directly from the paycheck). Payroll deduction is one of the easiest ways for donors to support your food bank.
12
TIE DONATION AMOUNTS TO OUTCOMES
When fundraising, it’s essential to show potential donors that your food bank is a good and efficient steward of funds. When donors are able to clearly see what their donations will enable, it’s easier for them to visualize the impact. This, in turn, makes them more likely to give.
Mandate that all staff washes their hands with soap; otherwise with hydroalcoholic gel; cleaning surfaces with bleach (door handles, stainless steel table) every day. Disinfect the truck cabin at the end of each journey.
If possible, have a psychiatrist specializing in crisis situations speak to your team. Especially focussed to take care of their mental health, considering their line of work.
In case of shortage of staff, concentrate the available staff on the preparation and distribution of dry and stable products because fresh products require more resources.
Food banks, as a community-based organizations, are at the forefront of local civil society response to global needs and crises In essence, your contribution to the world is invaluable. And to do what you do, you need funding
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https://donorbox.org/nonprofit-b log/food-banks-fundraising/