Engagement and involvement are critical to succesful fundraising. As fundraisers, we must go beyond simply telling people how strong our work is, how effective the methodology is, etc.; we must show them. Messages that are delivered by active engagement are far more credible and memorable than messages that are delivered orally or written. People believe and remember their own experiences. They tend not to believe or remember what they have simply been told.
Here are 50 ideas for engaging your donors and potential donors and inspiring true belief and buy-in to your mission, vision, leadership, plan and projects.
- Invite to have a private conversation with your CEO on a matter related to your mission or organization
- Do the above but with your head of program or a person in the field
- Invite to listen in on a conference call where your CEO discusses a matter related to your mission or organization
- Invite to speak at a conference or meeting
- Invite to attend a conference or meeting
- Invite to speak to the people your mission serves
- Ask to host a parlor or vision meeting within their home or office
- Ask to provide space for a vision or parlor meeting and then report back to them on the results
- Ask to speak at a vision or parlor meeting
- Ask to introduce the organization to others within their corporation
- Ask to provide feedback on your case for support
- Ask to provide feedback on your vision statement
- Ask to provide feed back on your website
- Ask to provide feedback on your Facebook page, blog, etc.
- Ask to provide commentary on your strategic plan
- Ask them to serve on your strategic planning committee
- Ask to serve on your stewardship committee
- Ask to serve on your campaign committee
- Ask to serve on your board or advisory board
- Ask to provide advice on a matter facing your organization
- Ask to provide expertise on a matter helpful to your organization
- Invite to a briefing in your office on a issue related to your mission
- Ask them to interview a staff, donor or board member for your newsletter
- Interview them for your newsletter
- Ask them to be a guest blogger on your blog
- Ask them to review your marketing materials
- Invite them into the field to see a demonstration of your work
- Invite them to take pictures of the people you serve when they are in the field- use the pictures for your marketing, send them a nice montage of the pictures too
- Ask them to mentor a client
- Ask them to meet a parent, student, or someone else you serve
- Ask them to volunteer at your event
- Ask them to review your finances
- Ask them to take part in a panel discussion
- Invite to a panel discussion that takes place of Google+ Hangout
- Ask to shoot video for you
- Ask to edit video for you
- Ask if they will look at a screening list and make introductions to foundation officers on the list (or individuals or corporate officers)
- Ask them to interview other effective organizations within your community for insight
- Ask to help make a PowerPoint presentation to be delivered to another potential donor
- Invite to attend a fundraising training with your staff
- Invite to attend activism training with your mission staff
- Invite to listen in on a staff meeting
- Invite to be part of your campaign video or other video
- Ask to provide an endorsement quote for your organization
- Ask to start a Facebook campaign
- Ask to participate in a crowdfunding campaign
- Ask to call a list of donors to thank them for their gift
- Ask to organize a “thank you-a-thon” where the whole organization calls donors to thank them
- Ask to call a list of new donors to thank them for donating
- Ask to help your clients find jobs, internships or other relevant experiences
- Ask them to host a party for your clients to congratulate them on an achievement
- Ask them to visit other potential donors that live in the area on a business trip