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WHAT WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH
THE RIGHT VOLUNTEER
SHARE YOUR EXPERT ADVICE
Diagnose why our first micro-donation drive underperformed
Our first micro-donation drive to our large diabetes community was not hugely successful. We want to understand what to change before making this an annual fundraising drive.
ADVICE
CALL
WHAT WE NEED YOUR HELP WITH
- Critique our first micro-donation fundraising drive and identify what held it back.
- Review our current donate page and recommend practical improvements.
- Advise on whether an annual fundraising drive is the right approach for our community.
- Help us think through better timing, including February tax-year-end, World Diabetes Day in November, or a Christmas angle.
- Suggest how we can ask our community for support without feeling too grabby.
OUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS
- What should we improve on our current donate page: https://sweetlife.org.za/donate
- What should we change in our fundraising drive strategy so it performs better next time?
- What is not working in our current approach?
WHERE WE ARE TODAY
We attempted our first micro-donation drive this year with our large diabetes community, asking for R100 donations and encouraging people to share the campaign even if they could not donate.
We had done preparation before launching, including interviews with smart people, using a personal story and child’s photo, writing clear language, setting a clear call to action, and explaining the result of a donation.
We created a WhatsApp graphic for parents of children with diabetes to share in school WhatsApp groups, shared it in our own WhatsApp groups, and placed it in some school email newsletters.
The donate page is live at https://sweetlife.org.za/donate/
Worth noting:- Our team capacity is 2 people.
- We are open to suggestions, but need advice that fits a small-team reality.
- Many of the people we serve do not have a lot of money.
- We can issue tax-deductible certificates, but February may be a difficult time because people are stretched and other NPOs are also fundraising.
HOW YOUR HELP WILL IMPACT US
We are trying to find more ways to become financially sustainable. A stronger annual fundraising drive gives us another route to unrestricted support without asking our community for money all year.
Wins we're targeting:- Clear knowledge of what we can do better next year.
- A stronger view on the best time of year to run the drive.
- More confidence in how to ask our community for support in a way that feels appropriate.
- Critique our first micro-donation fundraising drive and identify what held it back.
- Review our current donate page and recommend practical improvements.
- Advise on whether an annual fundraising drive is the right approach for our community.
- Help us think through better timing, including February tax-year-end, World Diabetes Day in November, or a Christmas angle.
- Suggest how we can ask our community for support without feeling too grabby.
- What should we improve on our current donate page: https://sweetlife.org.za/donate
- What should we change in our fundraising drive strategy so it performs better next time?
- What is not working in our current approach?
WHERE WE ARE TODAY
We attempted our first micro-donation drive this year with our large diabetes community, asking for R100 donations and encouraging people to share the campaign even if they could not donate.
We had done preparation before launching, including interviews with smart people, using a personal story and child’s photo, writing clear language, setting a clear call to action, and explaining the result of a donation.
We created a WhatsApp graphic for parents of children with diabetes to share in school WhatsApp groups, shared it in our own WhatsApp groups, and placed it in some school email newsletters.
The donate page is live at https://sweetlife.org.za/donate/
Worth noting:- Our team capacity is 2 people.
- We are open to suggestions, but need advice that fits a small-team reality.
- Many of the people we serve do not have a lot of money.
- We can issue tax-deductible certificates, but February may be a difficult time because people are stretched and other NPOs are also fundraising.
HOW YOUR HELP WILL IMPACT US
We are trying to find more ways to become financially sustainable. A stronger annual fundraising drive gives us another route to unrestricted support without asking our community for money all year.
Wins we're targeting:- Clear knowledge of what we can do better next year.
- A stronger view on the best time of year to run the drive.
- More confidence in how to ask our community for support in a way that feels appropriate.
We attempted our first micro-donation drive this year with our large diabetes community, asking for R100 donations and encouraging people to share the campaign even if they could not donate.
We had done preparation before launching, including interviews with smart people, using a personal story and child’s photo, writing clear language, setting a clear call to action, and explaining the result of a donation.
We created a WhatsApp graphic for parents of children with diabetes to share in school WhatsApp groups, shared it in our own WhatsApp groups, and placed it in some school email newsletters.
The donate page is live at https://sweetlife.org.za/donate/
Worth noting:
We had done preparation before launching, including interviews with smart people, using a personal story and child’s photo, writing clear language, setting a clear call to action, and explaining the result of a donation.
We created a WhatsApp graphic for parents of children with diabetes to share in school WhatsApp groups, shared it in our own WhatsApp groups, and placed it in some school email newsletters.
The donate page is live at https://sweetlife.org.za/donate/
Worth noting:
- Our team capacity is 2 people.
- We are open to suggestions, but need advice that fits a small-team reality.
- Many of the people we serve do not have a lot of money.
- We can issue tax-deductible certificates, but February may be a difficult time because people are stretched and other NPOs are also fundraising.
We are trying to find more ways to become financially sustainable. A stronger annual fundraising drive gives us another route to unrestricted support without asking our community for money all year.
Wins we're targeting:
Wins we're targeting:
- Clear knowledge of what we can do better next year.
- A stronger view on the best time of year to run the drive.
- More confidence in how to ask our community for support in a way that feels appropriate.
THE RIGHT VOLUNTEER
- A fundraising strategist who has critiqued or advised on donor campaigns, especially micro-donation or community-based fundraising.
- Someone who understands resource-constrained environments where people may be supportive but not easily willing or able to donate.
- Comfortable advising on both campaign strategy and the practical details of a donate page.
HOW WE WILL CONNECT AND WORK TOGETHER
Engagement at a Glance
Format: 60-minute video call
Booking: Lock in a time that suits you via the scheduler: {insert unique link}
Prep: Review this brief and any background docs ahead of the call. Most volunteers spend 15-20 minutes reviewing the brief and any supporting docs before the call.
Call Agenda
- Warm introductions (0-5 min)
- Context download (5-10 min)
- Deep-dive and advice (10-45 min)
- Action-plan recap (45-55 min)
- Wrap-up and thanks (55-60 min)
This is a once off session. There's no expectation of ongoing involvement beyond the call unless you choose to stay connected.
- A fundraising strategist who has critiqued or advised on donor campaigns, especially micro-donation or community-based fundraising.
- Someone who understands resource-constrained environments where people may be supportive but not easily willing or able to donate.
- Comfortable advising on both campaign strategy and the practical details of a donate page.
Engagement at a Glance
Format: 60-minute video call
Booking: Lock in a time that suits you via the scheduler: {insert unique link}
Prep: Review this brief and any background docs ahead of the call. Most volunteers spend 15-20 minutes reviewing the brief and any supporting docs before the call.
Call Agenda
- Warm introductions (0-5 min)
- Context download (5-10 min)
- Deep-dive and advice (10-45 min)
- Action-plan recap (45-55 min)
- Wrap-up and thanks (55-60 min)
This is a once off session. There's no expectation of ongoing involvement beyond the call unless you choose to stay connected.
Format: 60-minute video call
Booking: Lock in a time that suits you via the scheduler: {insert unique link}
Prep: Review this brief and any background docs ahead of the call. Most volunteers spend 15-20 minutes reviewing the brief and any supporting docs before the call.
Call Agenda
- Warm introductions (0-5 min)
- Context download (5-10 min)
- Deep-dive and advice (10-45 min)
- Action-plan recap (45-55 min)
- Wrap-up and thanks (55-60 min)
This is a once off session. There's no expectation of ongoing involvement beyond the call unless you choose to stay connected.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
SHARE YOUR EXPERT ADVICE