Philanthropic organizations aren’t exactly notorious for having impactful digital marketing strategies, but nothing could be further from the truth. Even though nonprofits are dedicated to noble social causes, they still need cash to offset operating costs, pay their staff, and organize events.
Some nonprofits excel at the top of mind awareness marketing game: think of iconic organizations like the WWF or the YMCA. They’re popular, successful, and instantly recognizable—all thanks to effective marketing! To sharpen your organization’s advertising skills, we’re here to share the top marketing tools for nonprofits that will help you raise funds and awareness while making your mark on the world.
Effective Marketing Begins at the Beginning
Before you reach for the most advanced marketing tools for nonprofits and get to work revamping your entire advertising strategy, take the time to get clear about who you are as an organization and whether you’re conveying that message effectively.
The stronger your brand and messaging, the better prepared you’ll be to dive into an effective marketing toolkit.
First, Define Your Brand
Developing a recognizable brand that embodies your goals and values is the best place to start. A strong brand identity increases visibility and drives engagement and support among your donors.
It’s important to ensure that all branding is consistent: the same fonts, colors, and language should pervade your visual presence. Some elements to consider when building your brand:
- Logo – Your logo is the foundation of your nonprofit’s identity. It should encapsulate your brand’s personality into one image, make you stand out from the rest, and convey your integrity.
- Color Schemes – The color palette you choose will also affect your brand persona, whether it be relaxing tones of blue or energetic colors like yellow and red.
- Typography – What looks more like your cause? Select specific fonts that resonate with your nonprofit, and use them consistently throughout your marketing efforts.
- Messaging Style – Your vocabulary and tone will shape how others perceive your brand and will determine the type of audience you’ll attract.
- Imagery – The types of images (stock photos, cartoons, icons) shapes the aesthetic on your website, social media, and in emails.
Second, Tell a Story
Everyone loves a good story. So much so that people are 55% more likely to purchase a product or donate in the future, 44% will share the story, and about 15% will purchase or donate on the spot if they take a liking to a brand story. When you use this narrative marketing tool for nonprofits, we suggest telling stories about real people.
Even if your organization focuses on causes like public policy, try to find a real person or group of people to build a story around. A compelling brand narrative will subtly and authentically play to emotions and will link back to the brand mission.
Finally, Leverage Technology
Times are changing, and fast, thanks to new tech. More than ever, nonprofits rely on the latest technology and software programs to get their message out, stay organized, and collect donations.
- Online Donation Pages – Donation pages are easy to set up, are customizable, and are one of the easiest ways to grow your network of donors.
- QR Codes – You can place this black and white image onto flyers, business cards, or even on your website for donors to scan with their cell phones, and it will take them straight to your donation page.
- Social Media – Every nonprofit will benefit from running at least one social media page. Popular platforms like Instagram and Facebook can maximize your reach and provide another avenue of engagement and conversions.
- Mobile Giving – Similar to online giving, mobile giving makes it even more convenient for donors to donate to your cause by using mobile devices.
- Crowdfunding Campaigns – Raising funds by inviting a large number of people to donate small amounts of money is basically a word-of-mouth ad in itself. Platforms like Kickstarter and GoFundMe let you create a page to explain, promote, and post updates about specific campaigns.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software – CRMs are an excellent tool for nonprofits to manage their relationships with constituents, learn about their supporters, and tailor their messages.
Use the Right Marketing Tools
We bet that your nonprofit is doing amazing work. But how many people know about it?
Increasing your brand awareness will open the door to more support, allowing you to do even more for your cause. Let’s explore some of the most valuable marketing tools for nonprofits.
Google Analytics and Google Ad Grants
Free for all to use, Google Analytics is a remarkable tool to stay in the know on your website’s activity.
Marketers can see the demographic of site visitors and learn how they’re getting to a particular site in the first place. From there, put that info to work as you brainstorm ways to drive traffic better and boost donations, whether that be to spend more time posting to social or revamping email campaigns.
Google finds ways to encourage nonprofits in other ways, too. To help qualifying philanthropic organizations get the most out of marketing, Google offers $10,000 a month in free Google Ads. Getting your nonprofit to the top of Google’s search results means boosting visibility and awareness for your cause as you attract more revenue, donors, and volunteers.
Best of all, the PPC experts behind Marketify are standing by to help your organization navigate the application process—for free. We believe that the work nonprofit do every day is both important and noble, and we want to help you make your mark.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a user-friendly platform for creating, scheduling, and analyzing the results of email campaigns. It’s a great way for nonprofit organizations to nurture their relationship with supporters and keep them informed on any updates.
Since it’s one of the best marketing tools for nonprofits, Mailchimp goes out of its way to deliver beautiful, customizable templates that invite supporters to donate.
Eventbrite
Keep track of all your charity events with this event management tool. You’ll be able to promote events through social and email, send tickets, and keep an eye on RSVPs all in one spot.
A huge plus with Eventbrite is that if an event doesn’t have an entrance fee, nonprofits can still use the platform free of charge. Even if there is an entrance fee, take advantage of the Eventbrite for Causes program, which offers nonprofits a discount based on the price and number of tickets sold.
Crello
Looking for a quick and easy way to create eye-catching flyers, social posts, infographics, and other visual marketing assets? With one-click tools and thousands of templates, Crello can turn anyone into a graphic designer. Plus, nonprofits now have free access to the advanced Pro version with up to 10 users on one account.
Youtube Nonprofit Program
Video is one of the most effective and appealing storytelling formats. And with more than one billion viewers on Youtube each month, nonprofits stand to benefit significantly from the opportunity to reach so many potential supporters.
The Youtube Nonprofit Program lets marketers use special features to help amplify philanthropic causes. With Youtube tools dedicated to nonprofit organizations, you’ll be able to link to your site from the videos you post, optimize your content to grow your audience, and access content creator lessons specifically tailored to nonprofits.
Nothing Beats Collaborating with Marketing Experts
Simply put, digital marketing is a must-have for successful nonprofits. If you’re ready to get serious about advertising, Marketify has your back.
We deliver real, measurable results with targeted marketing campaigns that help your organization grow quickly. We’ll work closely with you to determine your goals, research and deploy the best marketing tools for nonprofits, and develop a customized plan to produce the results you expect—and deserve!
