Three Ways to Motivate Your Fundraisers to Get More Sponsorship [FLIP BOOK]
Volunteers for your charity or school may need a little boost to find sponsors; here are our tips for motivating them.
Three ways to motivate your fundraisers to get more sponsorship
For schools and charities, sponsorship has become a goldmine in recent years. Encouraging people to push their limits and achieve something they never thought possible - while supporting an important cause - has proved an irresistible combination for ordinary people determined to back a cause they are passionate about.
However, this popularity means there is now a lot of competition for sponsorship money - a straw poll of the office reveals that we are each asked to sponsor friends and family three or four times a year. Here’s badge manufacturer Badges Plus’ cut-out-and-keep guide to supporting and motivating those raising sponsorship for you.
1. Embrace social media
Social media websites, like Facebook and Twitter, are a godsend to those who are serious about raising sponsorship. Creating a sponsorship page then inviting all your volunteers to join takes moments, even for the tech-challenged.
It’s then much easier for each of your fundraisers to invite friends to join than emailing or phoning each person individually. That said, individual messages go a long way - encourage those raising sponsorship to send personalised messages, too. Thanks to organisations like justgiving.com and bmycharity.com, collecting donations online is easy, too.
Encourage your students/those taking part in your campaign to brainstorm with a piece of paper the names of people they could ask for sponsorship - friends of friends, neighbours, colleagues... Sometimes really taking time to think about who you could ask reaps dividends.
2. Teach your fundraisers some marketing techniques
Your school or charity probably has years of experience in showing people the value of their donations. But those participating in your fundraiser are new to marketing your cause.
Taking the time to explain to your fundraisers what different amounts of money can buy for your organisation not only motivates them, but educates them in how to encourage sponsorship from others.
Don’t forget to arm your supporters with custom badges and silcone wristbands too - authentic branding does a lot to engender trust when asking people for money.
3. Encourage a little competitive spirit
Learn from businesses which encourage sales staff with rewards. By which we don’t mean expensive prizes for those raising the most sponsorship. In fact, small tokens of appreciation can go much further to motivating your team.
First, second and third enamel badges for your top fundraisers are easy to get custom designed. The motivation they inspire is palpable - everyone is motivated by recognition for their efforts, even though custom badges are relatively inexpensive to produce.
Those participating in your fundraiser deserve recognition for the part they’ve played. Enamel badges are also a great way to create a sense of membership with your organisation, to promote pride. These volunteers are your ambassadors - the best advertising tool you have available to you.
