With social distancing in full swing across much of the world, many churches and other nonprofits are feeling especially vulnerable. Many organizations are being encouraged or required to close their doors in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. While it’s certainly good to contribute to social distancing efforts and public safety, the ability to stay connected with your members and community is essential to the survival of your organization.
Things are difficult for most everyone right now, and while the recent stimulus bill provides some relief for nonprofits, for many it simply isn’t enough. More than any big business, nonprofits and churches rely on relationships both to carry out their missions and keep the doors open. With so many confined to their homes—or in worse cases, hospitals or shelters—maintaining these critical relationships can seem impossible.
Fortunately, technology and digital resources can provide significant relief to organizations trapped in situations like these. While there’s no easy fix, creatively leveraging digital solutions is one way to help your organization stay active in this time of crisis. But what specific tools and strategies are available? Moreover, how can your organization utilize them to their full potential?
Serve Your Community Through Online Events
There are several methods nonprofits can use to stay connected with the communities they serve. Of course, some of these options are less obvious than others. Many churches, for example, are now offering online services. This is a wonderful solution that fulfils the essential missions of these organizations, but there are still many ways to improve.
While online service may fulfil the personal needs of each participant, addressing the social needs of attendees is another matter. Additionally, many of your regular members may require reminders to attend digital events. By encouraging members to sign up for text groups and email lists, however, you can help them keep in touch—with each other and with your organization.
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One software that offers these solutions specifically for nonprofits is Continue to Give. By utilizing features like mass text and mass email in conjunction, you can keep in touch with all your members on their preferred digital platform.
Of course, many nonprofits also provide physical resources to those in need. Delivering these becomes significantly more difficult with social distancing guidance in effect, but not impossible. Using these same tools, you can keep your community updated on the needs of your most vulnerable members. Using solutions like Continue to Give’s online giving tools, you can even work together to ensure your community’s needs are met. Unfortunately, your members may not be the only ones with financial needs they’re struggling to meet.
Keep Your Doors Open with Digital Donations
The sad truth is that none of the important work your organization does is possible without contributions from donors. In this turbulent time, maintaining those donations can be difficult. Even among those donors who are still financially able to support you, with so much going on, it’s hard to blame them if they forget to make their regular contribution.
To ensure you’re able to continue operating at a time when many of your members will need you most, having a smooth online donation process is essential. Convenient, secure, and flexible donation software can be hard to come by, but Continue to Give offers online giving options web giving, text and app giving, even giving through Facebook. It’s also one of the most reputable solutions tailored specifically to churches and nonprofits, boasting an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, so you and your donors can be sure your information is secure.
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Additionally, you’ll want a method of reminding your donors that you’re still accepting their contributions. Leveraging those text and email lists can be a great way to remind donors to give directly after an online church service or event, for example. For something more personalized, Continue to Give also provides tools that allow your donors to schedule regular payments and set their own reminder notification preferences.
Integrate Digital Tools Quickly and Easily
In all likelihood, you and your organization have a lot on your plate at the moment. With a community whose needs are vaster and more varied than any one article can cover, how could you not. In addition to versatility and security, an intuitive system with full integration is essential both in the current crisis and in the future.
Whether you’re completely new to establishing a digital presence or just looking to streamline and improve your current system, Continue to Give is one of the most efficient software solutions available for any church or nonprofit. Its designed with smooth integration in mind, so you can quickly develop or enhance your church or donor management systems.
Of course, your nonprofit’s budget may be tight right now, which is why it’s an added bonus that signing up with Continue to Give is totally free. Plus, they’ve recently teamed with Visa to provide users with better credit card transaction rates.
Finally, thanks to Continue to Give’s wide array of customizable giving methods, integrations are equally simple for your donors. From the least to most tech-savvy of your members, the ability to contribute and stay connected with your organization is just a text, click, or button press away.
Start Reconnecting Today
During difficult times like these, there are far too many stories of loss, pain, and despair. Nonprofits, churches, and other similar organizations are often able to provide critical relief to those suffering from physical and financial ailments alike. However, the unfortunate necessity of social distancing has made this more difficult to achieve than ever before. If there’s one thing that anyone in the nonprofit sector knows, though, it’s that even the worst adversity can present opportunities for communal growth.
With digital solutions at your disposal, you can continue to support your struggling members and gain support from those able to give. No matter how bleak circumstances become, your community can stay strong together and find new ways to provide for one another.
There’s no time like the present to start strengthening your organization through digital solutions, and nothing like expert consultation to answer your questions and get you started. Set up a live demo with Continue to Give today, and prepare to enhance your community engagement now and into the future.
