As anyone with business experience will tell you, getting a startup up off the ground isn’t necessarily easy. It’s even more difficult when your business concept is a nonprofit organization. Angel investors will avoid you due to the fact the company is not designed to make a profit. However, you can still get a loan from a bank or donations to help you get up off the ground. With that in mind, below are five things that will help your idea for your nonprofit to stick out so you do get that initial investment.
1. Be Meaningfully Active in Social Media
While most nonprofits have social media accounts, they tend to be boring and lifelessly corporate at most. Instead, make your social media presence livelier. Interact directly with people with your accounts and try to make promoting your nonprofit fun for your followers.
2. Have the Right Degree
While it is true that nearly anyone can try to start a nonprofit organization, that doesn’t mean they will be able to convince a bank or other lender to give them money. You need to be able to insure interested parties that you have the qualifications to make your nonprofit a success. Obtaining a master’s of public administration online is one great way to do that.
3. Utilize Viral Marketing
These days, many nonprofits are funded via crowd sourced donations. If that is the case, you should focus on viral marketing techniques. To obtain donations, you need to have good word of mouth on the net. Once the buzz builds, the donations will start rolling in.
4. Take Advantage of Video
If you want to advertise your nonprofit or make a pitch to investors, there is nothing quite like a video to give people a better idea of what you are trying to achieve. Make sure you explain to the audience in the simplest terms the good you want to achieve with your nonprofit as well as a few of the technical details of how you will accomplish those goals.
5. Collect and Integrate Feedback
Don’t be afraid to take feedback on your startup proposal. If others have good suggestions, integrate them into your business model. While you don’t want to be too reactionary to unconstructive criticism, good ideas can only make your nonprofit stronger.
Nonprofits exist to fill in the gap when the market does not address the needy, charitable causes and other problems that need solutions. However, you still need investment to get your nonprofit organization started. Use the tips above to make your company more attractive to donators, banks and others.
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball.