Nonprofit Outreach ExamplesSuccessful Idaho Gives Tactics

IntroductionIdaho nonprofits did a fabulous job in 2014. Your combined efforts prompted Idahoans to give over $780,000 in 24 hours. Now, it’s time to do it again. Whether you’re looking for fresh ideas, or you’re new to Idaho Gives and not quite sure where to start, these examples of some of the best nonprofit outreach from 2014 should help get your wheels turning.

We weren’t able to recognize all of the great outreach work done by nonprofits last year, but we have chosen a few examples of both tried-and-true best practices and innovative new ways to get the word out about Idaho Gives, show donors why they should support your cause, connect with new audiences, and reengage with existing supporters.

Let’s get started!

Idaho Gives Website ProfileThis is where it all leads — on Idaho Gives day, every single donor will have to visit your Idaho Gives Profile to donate to you. Whether they already know and love your work, or they’re browsing for new causes to support, donors will be more likely to give to your cause if you can wow them on your Profile page.

A few best practices and some clever tactics:

• Take advantage of the Idaho Gives website functionality to show donors what $10, $20, $100 and so on can do for the people your nonprofit serves.

• Use plenty of photos that demonstrate visually the important work you do.

• Tell compelling stories about real accomplishments.

• If you have a specific use in mind for the money raised during Idaho Gives, let your donors know.

• If you’re planning an Idaho Gives celebration event, invite donors to come.

Humane Society of the Palouse

Good visuals

Took advantage of

website functionality to

clearly articulate need

Semilla Nueva

Good visuals

Told a compelling story

about a real person

helped by their work

Teton Regional Land Trust

Made the case for

giving on

Idaho Gives Day

Articulated plans for

use of donations

Invited donors to an

Idaho Gives event

North Idaho Violence Prevention Center

Demonstrated impact

Started with a

compelling story

Demonstrated i

Started

compelling

Idaho Falls School District 91 Education Foundation

Took advantage of

website functionality to

clearly articulate need

Led with

attainable goal

Donor EmailsYour email lists are an invaluable tool for raising money on Idaho Gives day, so use them to their fullest potential! Whether you have the resources to design a beautiful email template, or you just send plain-text emails, there is a myriad of creative ways to engage donors leading up to and on the day of Idaho Gives. Finally, please remember: use email to thank your donors!

A few best practices and some clever tactics:

• Engage your email contacts before Idaho Gives day. Make sure they know where to go to donate to your cause. Use your unique URL to get them directly to your profile page.

• Let donors know they can schedule donations before May 7.

• Create fun Idaho Gives-related content and ask donors to share it. (See Girl Scouts of Silver Sage example).

• Consider sending a quick, immediate thank-you to donors on the day of. You can send out another email later if you like, but even a plain text thank-you email on Idaho Gives day is a great way to recognize donors.

• If you’re hosting a celebration event, invite donors to come.

• Make another ask when Idaho Gives day is nearing a close. Remind donors how they can help you win extra money with their donations.

• Let your donors know your final results and thank them for thinking of you during Idaho Gives.

• Consider new and fun ways to thank donors, such as through short videos (see Planned Parenthood example).

Girl Scouts of Silver SageContacted donors ahead

of Idaho Gives Day.

Created fun content and

an ask for donors prior

to Idaho Gives Day

Girl Scouts of Silver Sage

Fun and attractive

email layout

Invited donors to an

Idaho Gives event

The Children’s School

Made another ask

before end of day

ACLU of Idaho

Thanked donors immediately

with a simple note and invited

to celebrate

Semilla Nueva

Let donors know the overall

results of Idaho Gives day and

thanked them again.

Planned Parenthood

This link led to a

personalized thank-

you video that many

recipients then

shared

This link led

person

yo

Social Media CampaignsConsider social media your Idaho Gives bullhorn. It’s the perfect tool to get the attention of people who already know your work, and to help yourself get discovered by new supporters. Even if you don’t have a big following on social media, the general buzz around Idaho Gives can help drive more traffic to your social media pages, especially if you’re engaging with the Idaho Gives profiles, other nonprofits, and your existing followers leading up to and on Idaho Gives day.

A few best practices and some clever tactics:

• Use lots of photos. If possible, get out into the community on Idaho Gives day, and post photos of your activities. Use photos to tell a visual story about the work you do. (See Boise Bicycle Project and Idaho Humane Society examples).

• Create a specific reason for donors to give on Idaho Gives day (see Boise Bicycle Project and Planned Parenthood) examples.

• Let donors know how the award pool works, and issue a call to action if you’re close to winning a prize.

• Consider setting goals for Idaho Gives day and update your donors on your progress. • Use humor. Post funny photos or create a mascot that can get in on the Idaho Gives

fun.

• Encourage donors to give throughout the day, and consider a big push in the last hours of the day.

• If your supporters are posting about you, share their posts.

• Remember to thank your donors!

Boise Bicycle Project

Created a specific

reason to give on

Idaho Gives day

and found a way

to get out into the

community

Created a

Facebook event

to remind donors

to give on Idaho

Gives day

Posted photos and videos throughout the dayPosted photos and videed photos and vide

Idaho Humane Society

Good visual

storytelling

Used Twitter to remind

donors of their work, plus

used creative and

engaging language

WI&M Railway History Preservation Group

Let donors know how the

award pool works

Set a specific goal for

Idaho Gives day and let

donors know about it

Encouraged donors to

keep giving throughout

the day and kept updating

donors on status of goal

Celebrated reaching

their goal

Used social media to thank donors and

reminded donors of the goal that they

helped the nonprofit achieve

Idaho Falls School District 91 Education Foundation

Good use of humor

Created visual assets, which

perform better on Facebook,

to remind donors about

Idaho Gives

Issued a call for support as

they neared the top of the

leaderboard

Planned Parenthood

Made thank you

videos for donors

and re-Tweeted

them when donors

posted the videos

on their own social

media

Created a mascot

Gave a compelling

reason to donate on

Idaho Gives day

Created visual assets,

which perform better

on Facebook, to thank

donors