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Crowdfunding campaigns are now an essential tool in the fundraising arsenal to get a project or company off the concept stage and into launch mode. The success of a crowdfunding campaign is largely dependent on how it is marketed; social media marketing and strategic targeting to the appropriate audiences are key factors in reaching a campaign’s funding goal. In today’s economy and with a crowded playing field, it has become increasingly difficult for fundraisers to attract potential donor. As a result, we have seen a steady increase in crowdfunding sites such as gofundme, KICKSTARTER, indiegogo and causes, which have caught on to savvy funding strategists, non-profit organizations, start-up businesses, cause/health initiatives and artistic and scientific projects, to name a few. ‘IF YOU CREATE IT, THEY REALLY WILL COME.’
Case in point #1: The importance of social media and strategic targeting in raising funds is evident in the multitude of conferences, articles and worldwide attention to social good that exists today. As I write this blog entry, I am at one of several Social Media for Non-Profits conferences being held around the country in 2014 & 2015. Today, I am being inspired at its Chicago conference featuring some of the country’s top experts in the social media and non-profit marketing arena. #SM4NP @SM4Nonprofits #socialmedia #fundraising #nonprofits #marketing #charitablegiving.
Case in point #2: Boulder Story Healers, a project of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center, a nonprofit charity under Section 501(c)3, set out to raise funds to produce and tour the production of its two person autobiographical musical play “A Day For Grace” (ADFG) — which raises suicide awareness — by utilizing the crowdfunding site indiegogo. The needs: raise funds for the tour and its promotion. In addition to traditional fundraising practices to raise awareness for its campaign, such as partnering with other like-minded organizations and hosting special event performances, the ADFG team utilized indiegogo campaign to simultaneously raise funds and maximize its promotion of the show and its message. Targets: #theatre #suicideawareness #music #recovery #nonprofits #drama.
Today, clients can seek funding for nearly everything from social good causes to documentaries to t-shirt manufacturing. There are a myriad of crowdfunding sites an organization can utilize to assist them in their fundraising efforts. According to crowdfunding.com,the top five sites are gofundme, KICKSTARTER, indiegogo, tspring and causes.
- So, maximize your client’s crowdfunding initiatives through social media marketing and strategic targeting to achieve success and their funding goal, attract new donors and retain existing. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
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BY ABBE SPARKS
Abbe Silverberg Sparks is the principal of Abbe Sparks Media Group (www.abbesparksmedia.com), a boutique communications firm specializing in media relations, cause and social media marketing, branding and special events planning.
Read more blog posts by Abbe Sparks at RFPAlooza.com-Abbes-Sparks