What is Nonprofit Marketing?
Nonprofit marketing is the use of strategic methods by organizations to promote their missions and secure donations and funding. This article covers the nuances of nonprofit marketing, exploring the different types, channels, and challenges.
Table of Contents
- The Impact of Nonprofit Marketing
- Types of Nonprofit Marketing
- Nonprofit Digital Marketing Breakdown
- What Challenges Do Nonprofit Marketers Face?
- How Blackbaud Can Help
The Impact of Nonprofit Marketing
Nonprofit marketing aims to increase the awareness, engagement, and contributions from donors (especially first-time advocates). Funding is the lifeblood of organizations so it is essential to have a strategy to consistently attract and retain supporters.
According to our Annual Luminate Online® 2021 Benchmark Report, more than 770 social good organizations collectively raised over $1.8 billion online, handled over 23 million transactions, and sent more than 3.3 billion emails in that year alone.
Put simply, the more exposure a nonprofit receives, the larger impact they can make.
Types of Nonprofit Marketing
There are seven types of marketing strategies most often used by nonprofits.
Cause Marketing
Cause marketing involves partnerships between nonprofits and for-profit businesses for mutual benefit. Large corporations can provide visibility for the nonprofit, while the nonprofit can help boost the company’s public image and be seen as a value-add for employees who are aligned with the cause.
Direct Marketing
Direct marketing involves direct communication with potential supporters either offline or online. Tactics such as email campaigns, mailers, and telemarketing are used to establish a personal connection with the donor.
Event Marketing
Event marketing is an impactful way to communicate your mission directly to your community and potential donors. The promotion of these events provides a great way to utilize peer-to-peer fundraising within your donors’ networks and provides an opportunity for them to connect and build personal relationships.
Digital Marketing
Nonprofits use digital marketing to reach a wider audience online to communicate to specific demographics with targeted messaging. Digital marketing is comprised of various channels that involve their own strategies.
Email Marketing
Email is an effective communication tool for nonprofits. It allows for direct, personalized messaging to donors and supporters, and is excellent for sending updates, fundraising appeals, or event invitations. It also has a high return on investment, making it cost-effective for nonprofits on a tight budget.
Social Media Marketing
Social media provides a platform for nonprofits to reach a wider, often younger audience. It’s excellent for storytelling, engaging supporters, and encouraging shares to boost visibility. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok, and LinkedIn can all be valuable channels depending on your target demographic.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO involves optimizing your nonprofit’s website to enhance its visibility on popular search engines. By building content like landing pages or articles that rank well for high-demand keywords, you can effectively draw in a new audience.
Increased traffic from search engines such as Google, can then be converted into engaged supporters or donors through compelling calls-to-action.
Paid Advertising
Paid advertising is a more expensive form of marketing, but allows nonprofits to directly get in front of their target audience by bidding for placements on platforms such as Google, Facebook, Instagram, etc. You can customize your ads to ensure your message resonates with the right group. Paid advertising has the quickest impact since you don’t need to organically build an audience through content like you do with organic social or SEO.
What Challenges Do Nonprofit Marketers Face?
Budget Constraints: Nonprofits often operate with limited resources, which can make it difficult to allocate sufficient funds to marketing efforts. This lack of budget can limit the reach and effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
Increasing Competition: There are millions of nonprofit organizations worldwide, each vying for the attention of potential donors and supporters. Standing out in this crowded space can be a large challenge if you don’t implement a sound strategy.
Adapting to Digital Trends: Especially with the rise of AI, nonprofits need to keep up with the latest trends and technologies. However, this can be challenging for smaller organizations with limited resources and expertise.
How Blackbaud Can Help
Blackbaud offers robust fundraising and marketing automation software to help engage new supporters and retain existing advocates. Whether you need to build professional microsites or set up dynamic email campaigns, our leading nonprofit tools will ensure the efficiency and effectiveness necessary for busy organizations.
