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8 things every 501(c)(3) non-profit should do

Working for non-profits is a joy. Whether it's paid or pro bono work, it fills my days and nights with purpose and a great sense of having contributed in my own way to some of the causes I care about.

While there are quite a few large non-profits who have managed to build a huge following and hence receive more attention and funds to use toward achieving their goals, the majority of the smaller ones are on a constant struggle to raise funds to cover their expenses, get the word out and support their activities.

The good news is that are many more ways non-profits can connect with their audiences,  get their work known and ask for help.

From my experience so far, I made a list of 8 simple things that are worth of your time investment and are guaranteed to benefit every non profit organization in the long run.

  1. Sign up for Google Grants. You may get up to $10,000/month on Google Ads credit to advertise your cause and drive more traffic to your website or app. Google One Today now comes as a part of the Google grants account.

  2. Sign up for Give Lively a free platform that give you all the tools you need to better fund-raise online

  3. Sign up for Facebook Fundraising Tools. Once you get approved your friends and followers will be able to setup fun fundraisers to benefit your organization. It's awesome and fun.

  4. Apply for Stripe’s for non-profits reduced processing fees for donations (2.2% + 30 for non American Express transactions and 3.5% for American Express transactions)...because every little help counts.

  5. Sign up for Amazon Smile. It doesn't cost anything to your supporters and you still get a (small) percent when they shop through smile and choose to support your organization.

  6. Apply for the BBB accreditation and enhance trust to your organization while standing out from the crowds. Anyone who is ready to contribute will recognize the BBB logo and will be sure the money will end up where it's supposed to.

  7. Populate your Guidestar.org profile, it's another very popular place that your funders might visit before they take out their checkbooks. Currently transitioning to a collaboration with Candid

  8. Check the details in your idealist.org profile and post jobs or volunteer opportunities. A place where every idea which aims to make the word a better place should be listed. I'm pretty sure your organization has one if you are a 501c3 and reading these lines right now.

I will update this post every time I come across more ideas and ways to help non-profits raise funds, get more volunteers, followers and supporters online.