11 Ideas & 36 Examples to Rise Above the Noise During Fundraising Season

End-of-year fundraising seasons are often noisy, with every nonprofit vying for attention. To truly stand out, it's essential to be strategic in your approach. Here are 11 actionable ideas with 36 examples to help you break through the noise and inspire your donors to engage.
*It's important to state the obvious: you shouldn't try all these ideas simultaneously. However, with the right resources, combining a few of these strategies could help you maximize their effect.

1. Be the First

Starting your campaign earlier than others means you're ahead of the peak clutter, which allows your message to get noticed. By being the first, you also build anticipation before your audience feels fatigued from multiple appeals.

Examples:

• Launch your campaign at the end of October or early November. This puts you ahead of most organizations. A bonus is that you can follow up with those who didn't give initially in a mini-campaign at the end of December.
• Be the first campaign of the new year. Consider mid-to-late January, after the peak fundraising season has ended. This approach takes advantage of the fact that people haven’t yet allocated their charitable funds for the new year.
• Be the first solicitation of the week by focusing on Sunday, when fundraising efforts are typically lighter.

2. Be Personal

Connecting directly with donors is one of the most powerful ways to stand out. Personal touches make them feel valued and deepen their relationship with your organization.

Examples:

• Pick up the phone and call them to thank them for being a crucial supporter and ask if they would be willing to partner again. PhoneRaise is an excellent tool for this.
• Send a video message through ThankView, WhatsApp, or another platform to convey gratitude and request support.
• Send a personal, meaningful text message uniquely intended for the donor without any generic language.

3. Be Interesting

Your appeal needs to grab attention. Make your messaging engaging with stories, humor, or even an unusual ask.

Examples:

• Share a heartfelt story about a beneficiary that surprises and captivates your audience.
• Add humor to your messaging to make your campaign stand out in a fun way.
• Frame your ask with a unique challenge, like "We have been challenged to give away 500 bikes to children in need. Can we count on you to sponsor a bike?"

4. Be Impactful

People want to see that their money is making a difference. Highlight clear, measurable outcomes that connect directly to their gift.

Examples:

• Show photos before and after their donations were used to complete a project.
• Present accurate data on the number of meals delivered or children helped with the money donated.
• Share testimonials from beneficiaries directly impacted by past contributions.

5. Peer-to-Peer Solicitations from Friends and Family

Harnessing the power of social networks makes your campaign more authentic. Donors are more likely to give when asked by someone they know.

Examples:

• Encourage current donors to create personal fundraising pages they can share with friends.
• Ask students, alumni, program participants, or anyone who is a beneficiary of your programs to create fundraising teams for their grade, program participants, or demographic.
• Organize a fundraising event where friends and family teams compete to raise the most for your cause.

6. Segment Messaging to Be Super Relevant to the Right Person

Segmentation ensures each message is relevant and personalized, increasing the likelihood of engagement.

Examples:

• Segment by donation history, sending different asks to loyal donors versus new donors.
• Personalize messages to program participants versus general supporters.
• Send specific appeals to lapsed donors about re-engaging with your cause.

7. Find Some Influencers

Leverage influencers who are aligned with your mission to help amplify your message. Influencers can lend credibility and reach new audiences.

Examples:

• Partner with a local celebrity or news outlet to share your cause with their audience.
• Ask a popular local podcaster to interview you or a beneficiary of your activities and share information about your campaign.
• Engage with a micro-influencer who is active on Instagram or TikTok. Ask them to create mini-fundraising campaigns in support of your organization.

8. Create a Multi-Channel Effect

Use multiple platforms to reach your audience at different times and places, which helps reinforce your message and increase engagement.

Examples:

• Social Media: Use Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or any network that your supporters may use.
• Direct Communication: Call, text, or video call on WhatsApp, or use other direct communication methods.
• Email Marketing: Develop a series of interesting emails that share the organization's impact and challenge people to donate.
• In-Person: Schedule meetings with larger donors, host pop-up events at your programs, or hold a fundraising party.
• Advertising: Run ads in local newspapers, magazines, and use targeted Facebook ads to engage your local community.
• Guerilla Marketing: Create eye-catching posters, chalk messages on sidewalks, or hold flash mobs in public areas to spread awareness about your cause in a creative way.

9. Provide Donor Incentives

Adding a perk or incentive can motivate more donors to act quickly and make the experience more rewarding.

Examples:

• Offer exclusive branded swag for donations above a certain amount.
• Give a "matching gift hour" where donations are doubled thanks to a major donor.
• Provide a "thank you" dinner invitation to donors who give during a specific period.

10. Create a 24-Hour Drive for a Specific Project

A 24-hour, time-limited campaign for a well-defined project creates urgency and excitement.

Examples:

• Launch a one-day drive to fund a community meal program.
• Run a midnight-to-midnight campaign to sponsor an educational event.
• Make the drive a challenge with a clear goal, like raising $10,000 in 24 hours.

11. Encourage User-Generated Content (UGC)

Invite your donors to share their own stories and experiences. This can create more authentic content and foster a community feeling.

Examples:

• Ask donors to share a video about why they support your cause and tag your organization.
• Run a video contest for the best post about supporting your campaign. Have winners for the most inspiring and funniest videos.
• Create a hashtag for donors to share photos and stories during a specific campaign.

These strategies can help your message rise above the noise and connect with your audience more meaningfully, even during the busiest fundraising periods. Combine some of these together and expand your impact!