The number of nonprofit organizations is on the rise in the United States, with many hard-working, charitable people doing what they can to support a wide range of causes in their communities and the world at large.
It’s always inspiring to see the wonderful work done by nonprofits, but setting up a successful nonprofit can be quite a challenge, and many organizations encounter initial struggles in terms of gaining visibility to attract donors, volunteers, and other supporters.
Fortunately, there are options out there to help make your nonprofit more visible and receive the funding and support you need, with some examples listed below. Remember that the right method for your organization may be different from the right method for another, as nonprofits can be so varied in their aims, expectations, and situations.
Selling Products and Services
Nonprofits may not exist to make profits, but that doesn’t mean they are unable to sell the products and services they offer. If you provide some kind of service to the local community, for example, you may be able to offer a subscription fee or one-time charge for users of that service, putting all the money collected back into the organization in order to improve your offerings and continue your work.
You might also choose to create some form of merchandise or other products that can be sold on the side to support the rest of the work you do for free. This gives people another way to support your cause aside from a simple donation, and branded merchandise can also effectively act as marketing for your nonprofit too.
An Online Presence
Having your own website is more or less essential for any nonprofit that wants to be taken seriously in the modern era. With connected devices in countless homes and so many people relying on the internet for everything, from keeping up with the news to learning about local nonprofits in their area, an online presence can really be the ‘make or break’ difference for your organization.
It really helps if you can set up a well-designed site that’s responsive, easy to navigate, and provides a clear message about who you are and what you do. These sites can also be tied into social media accounts and use to help people register their interest in volunteering or make donations. It’s really easy to set up online donation forms for nonprofits, letting people pay safely, securely, and conveniently.
Social Media
These days, a lot happens on social media, and many people spend several hours per day browsing and updating their favorite social media platforms, from Facebook to Instagram. Brands and businesses make use of social media too to show off their products and attract new customers, and there’s nothing stopping nonprofits from following a similar path.
Many nonprofits, from small local organizations to globally recognizable names, have set up their own social media accounts to draw attention to the causes they support, and social media is often a great way to interact with your intended audience, bringing in volunteers, donors, and more.
Special Events
Another great way to increase visibility for your nonprofit is to organize or get involved with special events. From farmer’s markets to Christmas festivals, there are surely countless community events being set up in your area all through the year, and it can be quite easy for nonprofits to get involved with these fun occasions and reach whole new audiences in the process.
Online, you can find schedules for local events in towns and cities near you, with contact details for the organizers. It’s easy enough to get in touch with them and see if they can find a space for your organization, and once you get to the event, you can prepare flyers, posters, and more in order to get people interested in what you do and encourage them to talk about it with their friends, family, and colleagues too.
Local Media
Many nonprofit organizers tend to aim too low, thinking that because they don’t have big budgets or lots of resources to work with, that they don’t have too many options in regard to raising visibility, but you might be surprised to see how interested local media will be in learning more about your organization and sharing it with their own audiences.
Local newspapers and radio stations will often be willing to talk about charitable work in the area, and this can be another smart way to let the world know all about your organization.
Conclusion
Setting up a nonprofit can feel quite intimidating at first, and it may take some time for you to really establish yourself and get the support you need, but there are plenty of options out there. The key is to be proactive, look online, set up social media, and get in touch with people you think could help.