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With the economic climate in the doldrums over the past few years, LGBT nonprofits have boosted the use of phone fundraising. In fact, many nonprofit organizations have had to adapt their fundraising campaigns to address budget constraints. By pulling back on pricey special events, for example, LGBT nonprofits have expanded use of more economical fundraising campaigns, including online, mail and telemarketing. Even though the recession is technically over, LGBT nonprofits are still feeling the pinch. These organizations face a new reality of tight budgets and high service demand. Rather than respond to boom and bust economic conditions, nonprofits are learning to live within the scaled back operations of the “Great Recession.” How LGBT Nonprofits Have Adapted Fundraising Campaigns According to a Movement Advancement Project (MAP) Survey Report titled “LGBT Nonprofits and their Funders in a Troubled Economy,” approximately half of the organizations surveyed cut budgets and delayed launching new programs. New return-on-investment models require organizations to carefully scrutinize each program. Personnel cuts further hinder fundraising efforts. In some organizations, vacant positions are not being filled, moratoriums exist on pay increases and even staff layoffs have taken place. These actions cause existing staff to do extra work and make it harder to motivate everyone to feel good about fundraising. Complicating the dilemma even further is the reduction in some corporate sponsorships. Just as LGBT nonprofits have had to rein-in budgets, so have corporations. A down economy translates into less corporate money available to sponsor things like nonprofit special events, shifting a focus to other campaign methods like phone fundraising. This perfect storm has caused LGBT organizations to seek new donors and new fundraising strategies. Not surprisingly, the MAP Survey Report indicates almost 60% of LGBT respondents have cut special event costs. Many organizations are postponing these events until economic conditions improve. Over 80% of respondents said they plan to solicit new donors. Approximately half of LGBT survey respondents indicated they would focus on maintaining existing donors. The jury is still out on whether concentrating on large donors will yield the best results, or engaging a larger number of donors contributing smaller amounts will be more worthwhile. Therefore, some LGBT fundraising organizations have adapted their campaigns to use more economical, far-reaching methods like phone fundraising instead of expensive special events…for now. The Benefits of Using Phone Fundraising in LGBT Campaigns Whether the LGBT nonprofit is large or small, phone fundraising provides an efficient means of potential donor outreach. It requires little upfront investment and can be executed quickly and easily, with the proper preparation. Plus, if adjustments are needed to the phone fundraising campaign, they can be done almost instantaneously. The same can’t be said of a direct mail, radio commercial or print advertising campaigns, for example. Unlike some other methods, phone fundraising provides an opportunity for live donor interaction. Even if the contact doesn’t make a donation, the fundraiser can collect valuable information for follow-up purposes and to expand the nonprofit’s database. In addition, live phone fundraising allows the nonprofit to personalize its mission. It has a chance to really connect with the contact and explain the importance of the cause. The fundraiser can raise awareness of the cause and educate the contact before requesting support. Again, even if the contact doesn’t contribute, he or she has become better informed about the LGBT issue.
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