Online giving has revolutionized how we react to current events, like humanitarian crises, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and political decisions. Mobilizing your fundraising efforts in response to the news can be a highly effective way to raise money to help those affected, whether your appeal is in response to a recent event or inspired by a giving day<\/a> like Giving Tuesday.<\/p>\n When donors face upsetting news related to your mission, they may be so caught up in their grief that they can\u2019t see a clear path to action. Oftentimes, it\u2019s up to you and your organization to provide outlets for change.<\/p>\n For several years, nonprofit organizations have been harnessing the power of \u201crage donations,\u201d where donors respond to recent events with acts of generosity. It gives them an outlet when they feel like no one is listening and a sense of power when they feel helpless.<\/p>\n Rage donation<\/strong> \u2013 noun \u2013 A donation driven by an emotional response to a recent event.<\/p>\n As a fundraiser, it might be scary to solicit angry donors, but psychology<\/a> tells us that providing an outlet for their feelings actually helps them feel better.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n In order to feel empowered by anger, people need a safe way to acknowledge their feelings. ExperiencingFeeling the full intensity of their anger, without holding on to hatred, can provide a sense of relief. This allows a sense feelings of inner strength and personal power.<\/p>\n There are plenty of fundraising methods you can implement quickly and cost-effectively in an emergent situation, but it\u2019s important to determine your messaging first. To harness rage donations, your appeal should provide quick ways to act on intense feelings. And time-sensitive appeals may require specialized tools.<\/p>\n Imagine if everyone who reacted to an issue on social media also mentioned a nonprofit that could make a difference. That\u2019s exactly how many organizations are gaining new donors<\/a> who are passionate about their mission. When you put the problem and solution in a single post, people immediately have an outlet for their anger, in the heat of the moment.<\/p>\n Slacktivist<\/strong> \u2013 noun \u2013 A pairing of the words \u201cslacker\u201d and \u201cactivist,\u201d referring to a person who takes a stance on a cause without any action or effort.<\/p>\n But how can you draw attention to your social media activism in the first place? Some of the best ways to increase awareness are joining groups, using hashtags, and creating lead magnets<\/a>. In your posts, be sure to explain how your mission contributes to the change donors want to see, and include a link to your donation page.<\/p>\n Anger loves company. It helps identify collaborative solutions. Two of the most effective ways to pool community support are fundraising events<\/a> and crowdfunding pages. Both methods allow donors to bring their friends, family members, and colleagues together in support of a better tomorrow. \u201cSocial proof\u201d – the tendency for people to act similarly to those who influence them – makes their impact feel like a shared achievement.<\/p>\n When people post about current events on social media, they want their followers to engage in the topic with them. Empower your supporters to go beyond a conversation by inviting them to create individual crowdfunding pages<\/a> to raise money for your organization.<\/p>\n Nonprofit <\/strong>giving days are 24-hour fundraising events<\/a>, often virtual, which focus on a specific cause. Even if you have limited time or resources, you can easily plan a virtual event with just a social media account and donation form<\/a>, creating excitement through giving challenges<\/a> and storytelling<\/a>.<\/p>\n Online fundraising tools<\/a> allow you to create a dedicated campaign page with photos, videos, and stories that appeal to your donors\u2019 emotions. You can even add your logo to establish trust and write impact descriptions to help them choose a gift amount. <\/p>\n Drive more traffic to your donation page<\/a> with fliers, bulletins, or window displays that include a QR code. Supporters can simply scan the code on their smartphone to access your page.<\/p>\n Some may not be able to donate, though, so be sure to provide alternatives!<\/p>\n Outline specific actions supporters can take beyond donating, like:<\/p>\n Prospect research helps you find common ground to fuel actionable conversations. It reinforces your data with demographic information and predictive analytics to reveal donors who are angry about recent events and looking to take action.<\/p>\n Try using a prospect research tool<\/a> that integrates with your constituent relationship management system<\/a> (CRM) to find donors who might share your concerns. You can also segment your database by demographic to create a list of donors<\/a> who might be affected by recent events.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not impossible to prepare your nonprofit for the unexpected. You can put data procedures and email templates in place now to save time when concerning situations arise. We created Crisis Fundraising Templates: A Nonprofit Guide to Emergency Communications <\/strong>to make donor engagement easy when times are hard. Download your free copy below and get started today.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\nWhat are rage donations?<\/h2>\n
Turning anger into action<\/h2>\n
The psychology of restorative anger<\/h3>\n
Time-sensitive tasks to address first<\/h3>\n
A few things to consider while creating your appeal:<\/h4>\n
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4 ways to mobilize your fundraising efforts in response to recent events<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Turn \u201cslacktivists\u201d into supporters through social media.<\/h3>\n
2. Inspire collaboration through crowdfunding and events.<\/h3>\n
Crowdfunding pages<\/h4>\n
Giving days<\/h4>\n
3. Create a dedicated web page with quick ways to help.<\/h3>\n
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4. Identify potential supporters with prospect research.<\/h3>\n
Get Your Crisis
Fundraising Templates<\/h2>\n