It is the ideal scenario for your nonprofit organization. The enviable challenge in front of you has generated a considerable amount of interest and enthusiasm. With the federal government expanding tax deductions for 2021, your nonprofit should see even more enthusiasm for your next popular challenge.
However, all the support you have received and expect to receive might become overwhelming, especially if you run a small nonprofit or the organization has little experience managing popular charitable drives.
Before you unveil your next enviable challenge, spend the time required to prepare for the overwhelmingly enthusiastic response.
Do Not Allow Your Website to Crash
Well, maybe crash is too harsh of a word, but you must ensure your website can handle a significantly larger amount of traffic. From initial queries to donations made online, your website must be able to handle the large uptick in traffic.
A good example of building a website to handle a sudden outpouring of financial support happened in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The American Red Cross experienced an incredibly large number of visitors within just a couple of days. Although your nonprofit is probably not as large as the American Red Cross, your website needs to perform just as well.
Create a Volunteer Mobilization Plan
You have to be ready for the unexpected.
You have heard of contingency planning, which is a central strategic element of running a nonprofit organization. Before you unveil the next enviable challenge for your nonprofit organization, develop a mobilization plan for the volunteers that help you successfully complete each charitable mission. Ensure the contact information for every volunteer is current, as well as delegate contact duties to several other members of your nonprofit.
The more help you get, the smoother the volunteer mobilization process should be for the next big fundraising drive.
Interact with Members of the Media
A rapid increase in donor interest and contributions can mean a rapid increase in media interest as well. Although you are strapped for time, pushing aside media inquiries might lead to the demise of your next popular charitable drive. Instead of brushing aside media interest, designate a member of your team to interact with members of the media in person, over the phone, and of course, via social media outlets such as Twitter and Facebook.
Soft Launch the Next Popular Charitable Event
Successful restaurants typically have a soft opening that invites a certain number of diners to try out a new eatery. This practice limits the number of customers to help the staff ease into the first day of official business. Use the same principle for your nonprofit organization. About one week before the debut of your charitable drive, invite a select group of donors to attend a fundraising event.
Controlling the number of donors before the official launch of your next fundraising drive helps both the staff and volunteers understand what to expect when the time comes to open the fundraising doors to every donor.
