Non-profit Sector News, Trends & Fundraising
Q&A3 experts answer
In times of crisis, the resilience and adaptability of nonprofits are truly tested. Hear from an Education & Community Engagement Manager and a Founder & CEO as they share their experiences. Learn how three organization pivoted to peer-to-peer fundraising and wrapped up with embracing technology for virtual operations. Discover a total of 3 expert insights that reveal what worked well in these challenging times.
When COVID-19 led to lockdowns and health restrictions, the DV shelter where I worked as a Volunteer Manager faced a significant challenge. With no ability to have volunteers on-site, we needed to quickly adapt to continue supporting the families in our care. As the only person managing the volunteer program and working with limited resources, I had to find a way to keep our volunteers engaged and make sure we could still meet the increasing needs of the shelter.
I decided to pivot to peer-to-peer fundraising. After about 10 days of planning, I launched an Ambassador Program, inviting volunteers to raise funds from home instead of volunteering on-site. I hosted a training call and set them up with an easy-to-use platform where they could create personalized campaigns, share their stories, and encourage their friends and family to get involved. To keep things motivating, I introduced a leaderboard, which helped create a sense of friendly competition. Volunteers could see how they stacked up against each other, which fueled their drive to meet our monthly fundraising goals.
The results exceeded expectations. The funds raised through these campaigns allowed us to purchase essential items like clothing, toiletries, PPE, and other necessities that were in high demand during the pandemic. It was a huge help for the shelter, and it felt like we had found a way to keep our volunteer community strong and engaged despite not knowing when we'd be able to have them on site again.
Although I no longer work at the shelter, this experience taught me the value of flexibility and how the right technology can bridge gaps during unexpected change. It also reinforced how volunteer programs can evolve to become more scalable and sustainable when faced with limitations! Today, at Donorbox, I draw on that experience to better understand how technology can help nonprofits stay agile and keep their communities involved, even in the most unexpected circumstances.
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Marpu Foundation rapidly pivoted to a digital-first strategy. We transitioned our volunteer training programs, workshops, and community outreach initiatives to virtual platforms. Utilizing video conferencing tools and social media, we were able to maintain engagement with our volunteers, beneficiaries, and partners. This shift not only ensured continuity of our programs but also expanded our reach to a wider audience. The digital transformation empowered us to connect with volunteers from diverse geographical locations, fostering a global community of changemakers.
COVID taught us as a sector that embracing technology, long ignored as an expense typically not covered by grant funding, is imperative. The easiest example of this is the prevalence of Zoom that we rely on now. It would have been unheard of to suggest that events, case management, and consensus building be done virtually, and yet we have been able to reimagine the work we do by embracing technology and finding ways to incorporate it into our budgets and programs. While the virtual space might not always be ideal, it has provided ample opportunities to think outside of the box and engage stakeholders in a new medium.
