Father’s Day is a great day to plan a fun fundraising campaign to honor the Dads in our community. Also, Dads can be notoriously difficult to find a gift for as there are only so many coffee mugs, golf balls, and ties one person can need. Giving your supporters a way to celebrate their Dad and give back can be a wonderful tradition to start in a community.
Also, Father’s day actually owes its history to nonprofits for its creation, so supporting charity is in the day’s DNA. More on that after the tips to get people to donate.
Here are nine ideas that will get people donating on Father’s Day:
1. Have a specific Father’s Day fundraiser
Make sure your fundraiser is focused on Father’s Day happening on Jun 19th, 2022 this year. This will let potential donors know that their money is going towards a good cause and that their donation will make a difference. Start this campaign at least a few weeks before the day and make sure the messaging and graphics are in place, especially if you are promoting a P2P (peer-to-peer) type of fundraising event.
2. Make it personal
Get creative with your fundraising campaign and make it personal. Find a way to connect your donors to the cause they’re supporting. For example, if you’re raising money for cancer research, tell stories about how cancer has affected fathers in your community.
3. Use social media
Social media is a great way to reach potential donors and spread the word about your fundraiser. Use hashtags, post photos, and hold contests to get people engaged with your campaign. And don’t forget to share your fundraiser’s link!
If you are fundraising on Facebook or Instagram, try to use the native donation tools of that platform. Otherwise focus on bringing people directly to your donation page on the website.
4. Have a goal in mind
Set a fundraising goal and make sure potential donors know what it is. This will show them that you’re serious about raising money and that every donation counts. Try using crowdfunding platforms to reach your goal. If you need help creating goals that inspire action check out Classy’s guide on SMART fundraising goals for social impact organizations.
5. Use creative donation tiers
Donation tiers are an easy way to give donors options for how much they’d like to contribute ($25, $50, $100), but why not get creative with your donation tiers and give donors some added incentive to give? For example, you could offer donor rewards like personalized thank-you cards or social media shoutouts.
You can also donate an amount based on the Father’s age to personalize the gift more, and even have a little fun as a joke.
6. Make it easy to donate
Make sure potential donors know how they can donate to your fundraiser. The easier it is to donate, the more likely people will be to do it. You can accept donations online, through mail, in cryptocurrency or in person. Just make sure you list all the options on your fundraising page.
7. Offer incentives
In addition to creative donation tiers, you could also offer other incentives to donors who give a certain amount of money. For example, you could offer a free t-shirt for donations of $50 or more. Or you could enter donors into a raffle for a chance to win a prize if they donate $100 or more. Get creative with what kinds of prizes or items you offer and be sure that the value of the prize justifies the donation amount—people love feeling like they got a good deal!
The donation can also generate a free online image that is customized to their Father’s name like an online certificate. Canva can be a great tool for creating templates like these that can be added to the donation confirmation page.
8. Have multiple giving options
It’s important to have multiple giving options available so that donors can choose what works best for them. For example, some donors might prefer to give via credit card while others might prefer to mail in a check—make sure you list all the options on your fundraising page! You could also offer a recurring giving option for those who want to support your cause on an ongoing basis—this is a great way to build long-term support.
9. Promote matching gifts
Does your company have a matching gifts program? If so, make sure you promote it! Matching gifts are a great way to get employees involved in your fundraiser and double the impact of their donation. Check out Double the Donation to search for matching gift programs at companies across the US—they have an extensive database that’s easy to use!
The most important thing is to remember to give thanks! Be sure to send thank-you notes or emails to all of your donors—no matter how big or small.
Wait, where did Father’s Day come from?
It is believed that the origin of Father’s Day can be traced back to a Sunday School teacher in Fairmont, West Virginia. In 1908, Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd was listening to a Mother’s Day sermon when she thought about all her father had done for her and her brothers and sisters. Dodd wanted to show her appreciation for her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran who had raised his six children alone after their mother died.
Dodd created the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910. For the celebration, she asked churches to honor fathers and hold special sermons about them. In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge declared Father’s Day a national holiday Father’s Day | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica.
Nonprofits are a part of the DNA of Father’s day, it is only appropriate that your organization uses this annual celebration for meaningful campaigns.