Friday, January 18, 2008

Start A Web Site for Your Fundraiser

I know all the medium to large non-profit organizations have active web sites, but I'm surprised at how many small non-profits still have not taken advantage of this means to reach people. So, for those of you who are stymied about where to begin let me walk you through the process.

First you need to register a name for the web site. Since no two sites can share the same name you will need to check on availability. I think one of the most popular, services is http://www.godaddy.com/ and go to the 'register domain' site. Your domain name is one that you will have to live with so make certain that your Board has approved it. At this site you can check for availability of the name you prefer. It will indicate whether it's available with .org or another ending. If you've found a name that you like and it is available then you may want to buy the other domains as well. This will assure that people don't get the wrong organization when they are looking for you.

If your chosen name is not available, scroll down that page it will give you options close to what you've selected that are available. This makes the selection easier.

GoDaddy will also offer you a selection of templates which makes building your web page a simple process. A smaller, more personal company, that I have loved working with is http://www.0grief.com/ They will help you with your selection and help you build your site. And, they truly live up to their name, Zero Grief. The owner is an SEO expert will also help you become SEO--Search Engine Optimized. This makes it easy for web browsers to find you. There are many other hosting companies available and you will pay them a small monthly hosting fee.

You want to start your web page with your MISSION STATEMENT. You probably already have your mission statement but do make certain it's one that people can remember readily. Don't make it so long and verbose that it's like reading a legal document. On the left hand side it is good to list your Board of Directors. List their name and the organization where they are employed. Under your Mission Statement you should have a description of your organization--who you are as an organization, what you do, what you have accomplished and what your goals are now. I always suggest following that up with a story or two--think of 'testimonials', i.e.:

"I have no idea what my family would have done without the help of XYZ organization! Our home had burned down a month before Christmas and we had 3 small children. XYZ found us a temporary place to live and through donations purchased us some of the essentials that we needed. We received clothing, furniture, pans, towels, and then, they brought our children Christmas presents! We thought we were going to have our most difficult Christmas ever, but in many ways we had our best--we were able to witness first hand the true meaning of this holiday. We'll never be able to repay you for your loving generosity!"


Or something that shows your potential donors the difference you have made in people's lives. You must make certain that your testimonials are true however! But there's nothing wrong about asking past recipients if they would like to contribute. You'll find that most will be very eager to do so.

Next you want to restate your goal--exactly why you need their help. Make it as specific as possible. "We need to raise $600,000 to purchase an additional house for a women's shelter, staff, furnishings, and food." Make certain you give enough information about WHY you need whatever it is you need.

"This year, in x county, 487 women were battered. Statistics have shown us that the battering behavior is likely to continue and that these women, and their children, are in imminent danger. This home will provide a safe respite for them and provide them with job & financial training so that they will be able to support themselves and their family."

2 comments:

AudreyO said...

What an excellent post. I have found numerous businesses due to their web presence. I was intriqued by the title of your blog since I've been offering fundraisers for over 20 years now. I'm enjoying your blog.

Audrey :)

KMA said...

Thanks Audrey! I've been the director of numerous non-profits and just learned so much about the process that I enjoy helping other non-profits find their mission, their voice, and their funding!

I also teach small non-profits how to write their own fundraising letters if they can't afford to have me write it for them! :-)

Non-profits have done so much to make this world a better place to live in and a much better world that we leave behind!

Again, thanks for stopping by!

Kristin