Affinity Connection

05/25/2023

Hey Happy Valley! We've got some questions for you. What do you think about the new highrises downtown? We want to know your opinions and thoughts! Click the link and fill out the form to be featured at https://bit.ly/3b7GMXQ! 😊

Fill out the form here: https://bit.ly/3q2kEFk

📸: Chuck Fong

05/01/2023

We've had a blast supporting the marketing and media relations efforts for Bedford County's 1st Annual What's So Cool About Manufacturing video contest. Congratulations to the winners, their manufacturing partners, and the sponsors who brought this fantastic program to Bedford County!

There was no lack of enthusiasm among the county schools during Thursday’s What’s So Cool About Manufacturing video contest awards program.

04/17/2023

This myth or fact may be a tricky one, but this is definitely a MYTH.

An annual fund is meant to support the day-to-day operations of your fraternity. It is the general fund you use to meet your operational goals. This could include things like paying utilities on the chapter house, funding an annual scholarship, or supporting alumni events.

The purpose of a capital campaign, in contrast, is to enable your organization to expand its capacity beyond what your annual fund is capable of. If your fraternity is looking to make big purchases outside of what is normally spent in a year, like for a new house, it might be time to start thinking about setting up a capital campaign.

Still unsure on the difference? Read more on our blog.

https://bit.ly/40uZMUz

04/14/2023

What exactly is the ROI (return on investment) on relationship building in a fundraising campaign?

While fundraising is fundamental to the health and longevity of your organization's legacy, fundraising is ALSO a way to build relationships around a good cause and create a community of donors.

By cultivating relationships with donors, organizations will see the ROI on those relationships through...

1. increased the amount of funds raised
2. improved donor retention rates
3. a sense of community that lasts beyond the fundraising campaign
4. stronger alumni network
5. increased volunteerism

And last but not least... 6. improved overall fraternity success!

Read more about how building relationships can contribute to your fundraising success!

https://bit.ly/3FUYDxx

Building relationships with donors to inspire giving and create a sense of community that lasts beyond the fundraising campaign.

04/12/2023

We have seen the obstacles that many fraternity and nonprofit organizations must overcome in order to reach fundraising success.

Despite those obstacles, we have helped many of those organizations reach their goals... even multi-million dollar goals!

Now we are sharing the strategy that has helped us achieve fundraising success, and you can have access to that strategy for free!

Check it out here:

https://bit.ly/3YA96pI

Join Our Free WebinarWE’RE SHARING OUR PROVEN FORMULA TO HELP YOUFIND FUNDRAISING SUCCESS Raise $2M in 24 MonthsWhat if you could protect your legacy and easily raise the money you need, when you need it?It’s no secret, starting a major fundraising campaign is easier said than done. Your time an...

04/10/2023

It is no secret that an organization with poor leadership will have much more trouble achieving success than one with a strong board of leadership.

What exactly qualifies as a strong board?

A strong board is NOT defined by wealthy or influential individuals, but more by how the board operates as a whole. They operate with a clearly defined, measurable goal and a strategy to accomplish it.

Even with this explanation, many organizations would not be able to determine at a glance whether or not their board is considered "strong." That is why we have developed a few steps to identify the health of your own board of leadership through a board self-assessment.

Interested in trying it for yourself? You can find more details here.

https://bit.ly/3zhhaAn

04/05/2023

Whether it be offering input on a decision to be made or helping manage a fundraising event, it is important to ALWAYS involve your donors in your fundraising campaign.

(Which means that the pictured statement is indeed a MYTH!)

We understand that not all donors will desire to or have the time to be a part of the fundraising process, but many of them will! If any person is donating a large amount of money to your organization, chances are they greatly care about your cause and want to help wherever else they can!

How exactly do you involve your donors? You could ask for their advice on a decision, invite them to attend a fundraising event, or even serve on the board.

No matter what it is, donors want to feel like they are making a difference and involving them in every step of the fundraising process is a good way to do just that!

04/03/2023

While total dollars raised is an important metric, it’s not the only one that matters!

Metrics that focus on donor engagement and relationship-building are equally important. Understanding and tracking these metrics will help you develop a solid fundraising strategy that will continue to be successful for years to come! These metrics include:

- Donor retention rate
- Donor acquisition rate
- Average gift size
- Donor engagement

Tracking these metrics can help you understand how donors are engaging with your organization and where there is room for improvement.

Interested in learning more about these metrics and how tracking them can help improve upon your fundraising goals year after year? Read more on our blog!

https://bit.ly/3TU6JMu

Learn about what fundraising analytics are most important, why you need them and how to plan for your future fundraising success.

03/31/2023

Fundraising is an art form, and like any work of art, it requires attention to detail, a deep understanding of the subject, and a willingness to connect on a personal level.

And what is one of the most underestimated details of any fundraising campaign? Meaningful relationships.

By building relationships with donors, organizations can inspire giving, drive fundraising success, and create a sense of community that lasts beyond the fundraising campaign.

03/29/2023

Does the idea of launching a capital campaign intimidate you? Is your organization putting in a lot of effort towards fundraising with little results?

We want to take the mystery out of what it takes to launch a successful and sustainable fundraising program!

We have had amazing success working with fraternities to launch capital campaigns. In fact Chi Psi University of Michigan has doubled their annual fund and raised $2M in a capital campaign in less than 12 months.

Download the eBook now!

https://www.affinityconnection.com/fundraising-ebook

03/27/2023

Without a doubt, relationships inspire giving. Whether that be donating time or money, people are more willing to give when they have a connection to the organization. Without a strong foundation of relationships, even the most well-planned fundraising campaigns can fall short.

And we have some great news: any organization can build relationships with their potential donors! Here are a few ways to make that possible:

1. Cultivate a sense of community
2. Show appreciation to previous donors
3. Understand the motivations and stories behind why your donors give
4. Involve donors in the fundraising process
5. Build trust by following through on commitments

Interested in learning more about how you can build relationships that inspire generous giving? Read the full blog on our website.

https://www.affinityconnection.com/blog/the-art-of-fundraising

03/24/2023

So you posted your mission statement on Facebook. Now what? Why did you share it? What do you want your audience to do with that information?

When it comes to informing your audience, it is important to first identify the reason behind sharing that information.

Let’s say the goal of sharing your mission statement was to attract new potential donors that have views aligned with your mission. What are those potential donors supposed to do with your mission statement? Should they donate or subscribe to your newsletter? Include that desired action as part of your content!

Quality content not only informs on the facts, but it informs readers on what to do with those facts. Just sharing information for the sake of sharing it will not be enough to fulfill your goals.

Before you craft your next piece of content facts surrounding your organization, think about how those facts can be utilized to work towards your organization’s objectives. This clear declaration of your intent will result in action on your members’ part.