With in-person events firmly back, nonprofits are finally starting to host large fundraisers and other gatherings. It’s a shift from before, when these organizations exclusively spent their grant and donation money on supporting their mission. No matter what, focusing on the people already working with the organization is a must. “Funds are tight for many households right now,” says Chris Rosburg, the Kansas City-based director of business development at Grapevine Designs (asi/212829), “so the nonprofits are constantly looking for ways to engage their donor base, to keep their donors and volunteers happy.”
-5%
Percentage decrease in 2021 nonprofit market promo sales compared to 2020
(ASI Market Research)
Logan Altman, director of customer experience at Doing Good Works (asi/222095), agrees. “There’s always going to be an opportunity to fundraise or engage with donors,” he says. “Don’t wait to see what could potentially be happening. Think outside the box.”
But if there’s one thing you really need to remember about nonprofits right now, says Emily Waters, key account executive at PromoSpark (asi/349939) in Fairfield, OH, it’s that they “aren’t as loyal when it comes to purchasing. … They’re a nonprofit so they’re trying to save where they can.” As long as you keep their mission and budget top of mind, you’ll do just fine.
Product Picks
Tried & True: T-Shirts
Consistent brand visibility advances a nonprofit’s mission, and blended shirts are the best for events. “People want a shirt for the event and for the grocery store next week,” Waters says. “It’s something they wear throughout the year, getting your brand more impressions.”
Product Picks
Shiny & New: Antimicrobial Pens
Pens are one of the most popular nonprofit giveaways – and right now, people are loving antimicrobial pens. They maximize the marketing budget because it’s an item someone will continually use. And everyone likes “how the pens prevent the colonization of germs, because pens are such a high-touch item,” Altman says.
Three Hot Sales Opportunities
Event Managers
Specifically, fundraising event managers. Virtual fundraisers of years past are back to being in person, and those events need merchandise, as do the ones remaining virtual. “Don’t back down from creating an engaging event,” Altman says. “People see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
Donor Relations
Donors have been a much-needed lifeline for nonprofits for the past few years, and now is the time to encourage your clients to reward them with something special. “People want to give back to the people who supported them throughout the pandemic,” says Altman. “They provided consistency among volatility.”
Community Engagement
Finding new people to support a group’s mission is a priority. “Donors and volunteers are very important people in the nonprofit ecosystem,” Rosburg says; high-visibility items are in demand. Rosburg’s clients like T-shirts. “They give away 3,000 and you see them everywhere: the gym, grocery stores, casual Fridays at work.”