It's easy to forget who has donated to you and how much, especially if you get a lot of Venmo donations. Make sure you keep track of who has donated to you. This can be done with a simple list or spreadsheet. If you want a spreadsheet sample, click on the link below and make a copy! This will help you keep track of your donors, your total fundraising amount, and help you keep track of how you thank your donors for their donations. To make a copy, click "File" then "Make a Copy".
In order to get donations, sometimes you will have to meet people where they are at. They may not have the time or the resources to go to your giving page to make a donation. This is why Venmo donations are a lifesaver! If you don't have a Venmo, MAKE ONE! It will make getting donations so much easier and will make it easier for the people in your life to donate to you. One thing that is helpful is to sign up for the Venmo debit card. This way, you don't have to transfer your donations to your bank or debit card. Instead, you can put in the Venmo debit card info when you donate to yourself and it will take your donation money directly from your Venmo account! You can sign up for the Venmo debit card on the app.
Dance Marathon is a great organization to be a part of, but you only get out of it what you put into it. Meaning, you'll see a lot more fundraising success if you put your best effort in! Not only fundraising, but being an active member of the organization will help you get to know other members of DM as well as the DM families we support, which will help you find your "why." Fundraising and getting involved are your Captains' specialties! Your Morale and Lime Captains are your best resource in DM, so if you're struggling, reach out to them! Also, keep an eye on the emails they send — Money Monday emails have some really helpful fundraising tips, and Family Friday emails are a great resource for getting to know some of the families DM represents. Don't be afraid to reach out and talk to your Captains — their job is to help you, and they want you to be successful!
When representing DM, it's important that we put our best foot forward. When working with sponsors and donors especially, being professional is critical to get donations. The better we look as DM representatives, the more likely we are to get donations. 🙂
ALWAYS THANK YOUR DONORS!!! Regardless of how much they give, making them feel appreciated is the #1 rule. If they know that you appreciate their donation, they may give again in the future. Donors may also tell people they know about DM if they had a good experience when donating. This can be in the form of a formal letter, e-mail, or even a personal text message to show your appreciation. Check out the Thank You's page for some templates to thank your donors.
Use a professional email signature when corresponding with donors — especially when speaking with businesses, professors, coworkers/bosses, etc. Here are some resources for making a professional email signature:
More resources: https://newoldstamp.com/blog/email-signatures-for-university-college-and-school-students/
Rejection is normal!! Not everybody is going to donate and that is okay! If they don’t respond, continue asking until they give you an answer.
Coping with Rejection: https://pitchconsulting.com/coping-with-rejection-in-fundraising/#:~:text=Coping with Rejection in Fundraising 1 Introduction Whether,of Resilience ... 5 My Reset Strategies