Summer usually does not always equal rain in the forecast for non-profit organizations but blood centers and others are going to make it rain! Summer season is usually the time that families every where take off for vacation and barbecues keeping the coffers of a non-profit dry. Marketing Managers have to work harder at least 3 months before summer begins picking up momentum in September to their keep organizations in the black. These managers use their creativity and marketing budgets to reach as many as possible to get the word out that charitable donations are not just Christmas thing.
Summer is the time to reach out to others and join forces stretching your marketing dollars through collaborative projects. Organizations like the Boy or Girl Scouts are wonderful for a Community Project Day and blood donation drives. Donors can immediately see the benefits of a cleaned up park or beach while being reminded by t-shirts worn by blood donor recipients who participated in the day’s events that blood donations are crucial to saving someone’s life. An organization can really find many non-competive partners that compliment each other while getting the word out. These partnerships also provided an added interest for advertisers donating their time or space attracting donors who hold mulitiple charities close to their heart.
Seek out Incentive Brokers who understand your donors and know how to answer their “What’s in it for me” question. An incentive is not an incentive if it is the wrong one, at the wrong price. The newest incentives combine benefits and rewards for the entire family at a deep discount that only Incentive Brokers can provide. An organization should also incentivize their marketing staff, telemarketers and blood donor appointment setters with a program that provides prescription discounts, fitness, doctors online, theme parks, nationwide golf and travel to enhance their medical benefits at a fraction of the cost. Each program offers a selection of 70 different benefits and incentives to choose from to create your own customized donor incentive program.
Make it as fun for your employees as it is for your donors with energetic Fun Fridays, BBQ’s, Bring Your Dog to Work Day, staff meetings in the sun and contests. Don’t forget to share your amped up energy on your website with beach scenes and summer themed games for the entire family. Games that are fun for the entire family will help you develop an interest in your organization for the next generation and many summers of giving ahead. Dedicate a section or entire page to helpful summer time menus, tips, community events and lots of pictures of donor fun.
Reach donors at the beach, park or in the parking lot with SMS text messages containing coupon codes for movies, restaurants and more! Thrill your young donors by delivering incentives in modern unique ways using technology and create delivery. Send popcorn by mail and ask them to make an appointment receiving a movie ticket for their donation.
This summer get those creative juices going so you too can have a more carefree vacation.
