Can Fundraising Services Help Small Nonprofits Grow?
Growth and sustainability for small nonprofits are fraught with challenges in today’s competitive landscape. Fortunately, one key activity, which is highly burdensome yet necessary, is fundraising. Fundraising services have been built upon serving these small nonprofits, promising to make their efforts more effective and to expand their reach. But can they help small nonprofits grow?
This blog post examines that question by discussing the benefits and considerations involved in using fundraising services.
Understanding Fundraising Services
Fundraising services are a multidisciplinary set of activities that enable nonprofits to find and solicit additional sources of funds. They range from financial planning and donor management to event planning and coordination to digital campaigns. Smaller nonprofits can remain concertedly focused on their missions by leveraging fundraising professionals who maximize organizations’ fundraising potential. In many cases, this also provides new insights into approaches and strategies that can help re-energize a nonprofit’s fundraising activities.
Enhancing Efficiency and Reach
Perhaps the biggest benefit of fundraising services is the efficiency factor involved. Smaller NGOs cannot hire fundraising specialists. Outsourcing helps NGOs free up staff time for mission-related activities. Fundraising services can expand an organization’s reach to networks and otherwise inaccessible audiences.
Access to Expertise and Tools
Fundraising services would brace the small nonprofit with expertise and tools that may otherwise be inaccessible. Professionals, supported by both experience and knowledge, would better position nonprofits to adopt best practices while steering them clear of common mistakes. Many fundraising services are also accredited to leading-edge tools and technologies, a situation that automates processes, refines information analysis, and improves donor communication. Access to all of these capabilities could, hence, drastically increase the effectiveness of nonprofits in securing and maintaining supporters.
Leveraging Nonprofit Fundraising Training
An often-overlooked benefit of fundraising services is the opportunity for nonprofit fundraising training. These services can improve nonprofit staff skills and expertise, allowing them to better manage fundraising operations. This mainly consists of workshops, webinars, or one-on-one coaching to develop a more capable and confident team.
Considerations and Challenges
Benefits abound for fundraising services, but there are considerations and challenges for the small nonprofit. Cost is a huge concern, as so many of these services are substantial investments. The nonprofit should weigh potential return on investment as it ensures the services meet its strategic goals. It’s just as important that the organizations maintain oversight of and involvement in the fundraising process to ensure that their unique voice and mission are protected.
Success Stories and Real-World Impact
Many small nonprofits have used fundraising services to grow. A community-based environmental organization recently contracted a fundraising service that ran an email campaign that raised its donations by 50%. These success stories put into perspective the effectiveness of professional fundraising support in real life and how a small nonprofit can scale its operations, thereby widening its circle of influence.
Indeed, fundraising services are a way for small nonprofits to achieve their growth goals by leveraging expert knowledge, expanding reach, and enhancing efficiency. Added to this are the costs and challenges in the process; the possible benefits, however, make it worth investing in by many organizations. By reaping the benefits of such services, the small nonprofit will be better able to concentrate on the mission of continued success and impact.
