Nonprofit Donations Simplified: Turning Pledges Into Money In the Bank

Soliciting pledges is a common tactic used to draw in nonprofit donations. In theory, pledge cards are great. Organizations can pass them out at fundraising events, which allows donors to list how much they plan to give.

Putting it in writing makes it real. Nonprofits know exactly how much to expect.

But can pledges be trusted? Should nonprofits rely on potentially empty promises to raise money?

False Sense of Security

A donor’s intentions may be good, but that does not necessarily translate to end results. Once the initial interest in giving has passed, a donor can easily forget to make good on their pledge.

You understand on a personal level, of course. Everyone forgets something from time to time. But this forgetfulness directly impacts your nonprofit. Pledge cards feel like a pay day, but the money is not guaranteed. This is a huge obstacle to overcome.

Pledges are enforceable contracts depending on your local jurisdiction. That means that depending on where your organization operates legal action can be taken against givers who fail to follow through on a pledge. But legal battles make a bad impression on other potential donors, so it is not the most practical way to increase nonprofit donations.

What other steps can nonprofits take to ensure that givers do not shirk on their promises?

Effortless Nonprofit Donations

Make nonprofit donations as fast and painless as possible. The more user-friendly the giving process becomes, and the less time it takes to donate, the more likely donors are to give to your organization.

For more information on successfully simplifying the giving process, download our free whitepaper: “Nonprofit Fundraising: Removing Roadblocks and Meeting Goals with Mobile Technology.”