How to leverage digital technologies for fundraising success

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah

Who am I?

• The Communications

Specialist at the African

Women’s Development

Fund, and a lover of new

tech/social media.

Does the thought of fundraising with these tools confuse you?

If yes…

Then you are in the right session ☺

You’re new to digital fundraising and wish to develop online fundraising skills

Why bother?

1. Low in (financial) cost

2. All about the masses

3. Digital is fun!

4. Another income stream

So where should you start from?

The Basics are Essential

• Put together a core team

• Create a fundraising plan

- How much?

When?

Which methods?

Drivers

• Why should anyone fund your fundraising campaign?

Stories

• Have a bank of compelling stories that you can share during your campaign period

Content (images, videos)

Incentives

Conversion (non-donor to donor)

• Make the Ask!

Offline work

Database of prospects

• Who is in your little black book?

• Who can help you build on to your database?

• Who can introduce you to others?

Identify your Fav Online Campaigns

Before you launch your own campaign, some key things to consider:

Check out other campaigns

• Which online campaigns have you supported?

• Which ones were the most inspiring?

• What tools were used for those campaigns?

• What lessons can you take away from these?

A Few of My Favs

The Art of Ama Ata AidooDigital tools used:- Indiegogo = a crowd-sourced platform that

allows you to keep all the money you raise even when you do not reach your goal

Facebook

The Art of AAA website

Result

Raised US$45,350

Exceeded goal of $45k

What they did well…

• Offline work – reached out to women’s funds, feminists, activists, film lovers, book lovers

• Encouraged supporters to hold small events to support the campaign

E.g. of what they did well

Game On

• After campaign launch, communicate

regularly!

• Too much = spam

Too little = no one remembers the appeal

• Tip: Have a communications plan

Diversify your Communications

• Determine your fundraising targets

• How you will reach them

• Key social media influencers to tag on

Twitter?

Consider the following:

• Which influential friends should you

make a specific ask to share

• Who should you meet face-to-face?

Spectra Speaks

What she did well:

• Used a variety of digital tools used inc.

IndieGogo, Twitter, Facebook

• Run a very personalised campaign

Spectra Speaks – the website

What else she did well…

• Gave updates and shout outs on

Twitter/FB

• Branded campaign, ‘Africa for Africans’

• Reached out to people offline for online

support

Result

• Exceeded target significantly.

• Raised US$10,340. Original goal was US$7500

Updated people after campaign

Lessons from Spectra

1. People are willing to fund individuals they

trust!

1. Diversify the resources you seek – some of

the funding she received was in kind. People

supported her by picking her up at the

airport, providing accommodation etc.

Learn more about Spectra’s fundraising

• She shared tips, ideas and strategies via

http://www.africanfeministforum.com/resource-materials-from-webinar-on-feminist-cyborgs-activism-fundraising-and-security-online/

KBFF’s Campaign

What Worked

• Disclaimer : Board member of KBFF ☺

• Tools used: IndieGogo, Facebook and Twitter

• 90% of Board Members gave online

What Worked

• Have a super star fundraiser on your

board

• Tagging people on FB and making direct

asks

• Giving options to pay – cash accepted

Some observations

• To the best of my knowledge none of these campaigns paid for ads of any type

• Most of these campaigns were small, led by 1 key person with a support team

• Websites were not key to campaign

So this is all gobbledygook to you…

Where do you start from?

1. Get familiar with a social media tool of your choice. If your long term goal is fundraising pick one with that potential

1. Research online fundraising tools. What are the pros and cons of each one?

Ready, Set…

3. Decide what you are going to fundraise for. How are you going to make your campaign exciting?

4. Build your campaign team

5. Ready? Go for it!

Contact me

@nas009

nana@awdf.org

Check out more free resources I have shared online via ‘slideshare’. Account name is ‘nas009’