February is packed full of ways to make your heart feel full and an ecommerce solution may just end up helping you follow your heart’s desire.
With all the work we have been doing lately with the Wild Bill Guarnere Memorial Fund, it has come to our attention that the internet and ecommerce are powerful tools for non-profit organizations. It really should not come as a surprise, with non-profits representing a big chunk of the U.S. economy. Like the Wild Bill Guarnere Memorial Fund, more and more non-profits are finding the internet, and ecommerce in particular, a great way to raise awareness and raise needed funds.
As a matter of fact, some ecommerce sites simplify the process of giving, such as GoFundMe and YouCaring. Furthermore, businesses can link their online stores to "charity malls," such as the GreaterGood Network, where a percentage of every purchase goes to charity. Firms can also sponsor click-to-donate sites like The Hunger Site, which receives over two million visitors a month.
So, how can an ecommerce solution help you follow your heart?
As the Board of Directors at the Wild Bill Guarnere Memorial Fund quickly learned, having an online store has become important because it not only assists in raising money for a cause, but also helps gain the support of patrons. It allows customers to know about the activities of the organization and thereby, brings credibility to its work. This kind of commerce also directs patrons to the information they require.
As an organization with a mission, they have found that having an ecommerce site for a little over two months has transformed their ability to raise funds, generate interest, and engage an audience. After two events, online donations, ticket sales, and t-shirt sales, the Wild Bill Memorial Fund has brought in over $30,000, far exceeding expectations. By now, you must be wondering how ecommerce can work its magic for non-profits.
It’s a lot less complicated than it seems at first. Establishing an ecommerce site for a nonprofit has the potential to:
- Raise your visibility and increase interest by expanding an online presence, while opening the door to new marketing channels, potential corporate sponsorships, and a broader audience and fan base
- Lower your running cost by using your site for announcements, advertisements, and an entire marketing campaign
- Your nonprofit needs donations and an ecommerce solution can give you more control and more options
Adding your own ecommerce donation to your site has huge benefits, such as a better branding opportunity. If you are in control of the experience, your donors will remember you and your name shows up on credit card statements. In addition, by you being in charge, you can keep more of the funds brought in and since it is your store, you can do what you want, like encourage recurring giving, offer membership, or add a newsletter signup. For example, many non-profit organizations use sites such as Eventbrite to organize, register, and ticket for events; however, much like donations, it’s better to own your solution. The goal is to generate interest and attract people to come to your event, so don’t send them to another site.
On top of that, by owning your solution, you can do so much more in terms of branding and marketing. If you maintain a blog or other written content, you could create an ebook. If you do events or have speakers, you could sell DVDs or access to a video library. You could also offer membership for access to a host of resources.
In the research for this blog, we learned some valuable information that could help you follow your heart, even if you are not quite ready for an ecommerce solution.
Did you know that, in addition to American Heart Month, February is also National Canned Food Month? And, February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day! In celebration, we encourage you to consider making a donation of canned food to your local food pantry or making an online donation to the HungerSite to help feed the hungry!