Recent financial downturns have taken a toll on many charitable and nonprofit organizations. Many administrators are left wondering how to raise money in this difficult economic environment. The secret to raising money is really no secret at all; in general, persistence and commitment are essential elements of success in the fundraising world. Here are 10 tips on how to raise money even when the economy is at its worst:

1. Make your presence felt. Websites are one of the most effective ways of communicating with potential donors. By keeping your information up-to-date and accurate, charities can ensure that they don’t miss out on possible contributions.
2. Get a little (online) help from your friends. Social networking sites are also helpful when raising awareness about organizations and causes. By maintaining an active and helpful presence on these sites, administrators can build new relationships with the public.
3. Develop your potential. Assigning a development officer or a committee specifically to look into new fundraising initiatives can often produce great results in terms of new donations and acquiring new donors.
4. Give something back. Reward donors with inexpensive promotional materials like t-shirts and mugs. These items cost little when purchased in bulk but can serve to enhance the overall public image of your organization both with the donor and with others who see the materials in use.
5. Divide and conquer. By diversifying fundraising efforts rather than focusing on only one method, you can often achieve better results. If one revenue stream fails to perform to expectations, another may be able to make up the shortfall.
6. Plan ahead. By scheduling fundraising campaigns and events in advance, charitable organizations can more effectively raise public awareness and generate interest in advance of these initiatives.
7. Personalize the issue. Where appropriate, charities and nonprofit organizations should make their cause personal for donors. Consider the difference between “every night many children go to bed hungry” and ”tonight, Jimmy will go to bed hungry.” One is a simple assertion of fact, while the other carries an emotional message as well. By personalizing the message, charities can often achieve greater donor investment both financially and emotionally.
8. Maintain transparency. By opening financial records to public scrutiny, nonprofit organizations can earn a higher degree of trust from potential donors. This can lead to increased donations and an improved public reputation as well.
9. Try something new. Along with the tried-and-true fundraising tactics, adding a few new techniques can often produce new avenues for raising funds. This could include engaging in online advertising campaigns and using other new technologies that can produce results.
10. Consider the source. Many organizations focus their attention solely on how to raise money to support their charitable activities and fail to consider how to raise money when performing these activities. By giving due consideration to potential sources of revenue for the charity, fundraising administrators can provide valuable services to the public while ensuring sufficient capital for continued operations.