7 Tips for Quick Fundraising Response During a Time of Need

1. Hijack your homepage to make the emergency the focus. Use clear calls to action to donate and share through social media or tell-a-friend capabilities.

2. Include a clear description in news articles and relevant forms of your organization's role in the relief effort.

3. Make it clear what people are donating to. Avoid sending people to a general donation form. With general forms, savvy donors question where the money is going and other donors assume it is going to relief efforts for the emergency. Remember, though, that your systems must be set up to clearly designate where the money is going, or your organization will not be able to fulfill the donor intent, which can also lead to problems. Make it clear if donations will go to the specific relief effort. Monitor how much you are raising, and make sure the funds are designated to that effort — they cannot be repurposed elsewhere unless you make it clear that once the need is met, additional funds will go to preparedness for another need.