Hardships hitting Charity Donations

Find out how icause can help boost your charity's donations while helping supporters save money in the face of the rising cost of living.

Hardships hitting Charity Donations

Charity fundraising is a tough gig! There are over 60,000 charities registered in Australia alone, each one with a worthy cause to support. Add to this competitive landscape the fact that households are on a tighter budget than ever before, and you’ve got the perfect storm for plummeting donations.

Read on to find out more about the hardships facing raising money for charity and how to face them head-on.

The impact of the pandemic on charity donations

COVID-19 caused disruptions to almost every aspect of life, including charitable donations, not just here in Australia but across the world. Thousands of people lost their jobs during the pandemic, and everyone was dealing with the stress of having to cope and live with COVID, so naturally, for many people, their focus turned inwards, away from charities and fundraising.

On top of this, social distancing and lockdowns put a halt to many traditional fundraising methods such as door knocking, shopping centre kiosks, and school fundraising, which normally bring in a huge amount of donations.

How will charities move on from the pandemic?

Charities will look different in a post-pandemic world as they will need to evolve and adapt with the times. The focus will shift to digital awareness campaigns and fundraising platforms in Australia, making use of social media, live online events, and crowdfunding Australia sites to replace the traditional face-to-face fundraising methods.

The rising cost of living

If you have turned on the news recently, you probably know that the cost of living is skyrocketing. Everything from food to utilities and petrol is hitting record high prices.

In times of sudden inflation, households tighten their budgets and cut down on non-essential spending. Unfortunately, this often includes charitable donations.

Many charities rely on their subscribed supporters, who donate every month, as their main source of income. When these subscribers are forced to withdraw their support, the impact on the charity can be devastating.

How will charities face the rising cost of living?

Charities need to be creative when trying to garner donations from households already facing financial stress. Luckily, there is a new way to donate to charity - Switch and Donate.

Available exclusively through icause, Switch and Donate gives donors the option to make a charitable donation in Australia without spending a cent. When you switch one, or multiple, utility bills to a new provider through icause, a donation is made to a nominated charity on your behalf. So not only is it a great way for donors to save money on the rising cost of bills but also to continue to support their favourite charity through the best crowdfunding in Australia.

A volunteer shortage

During the pandemic, in the countries most affected by COVID, thousands of people volunteered their time for COVID-related charity work and causes.

However, as the world emerges out of lockdowns many charities are now faced with volunteer shortages. Charities are competing for people’s time, as after months of lockdown people are yearning to go out, socialise and travel again as international borders reopen.

With a volunteer shortage comes decreased promotion and marketing activities, which results in fewer donations. Organisations that traditionally rely on volunteers, like school fundraising, are feeling the hit hardest.

How will charities overcome a volunteer shortage?

Thankfully, living in a digital era, charities can go 100% digital and set up campaigns online through crowdfunding platforms in Australia that can reach people across the world without needing any additional “boots on the ground”.

A crowd funding campaign with icause is entirely digital, requires minimal steps to set up, and includes a free marketing tool to send SMS and emails to supporters, and a social media function to spread the word. Get started today!

Crisis fatigue

You have probably noticed that the world has been a tougher place than usual in the last few years. Climate change, war, the pandemic, floods, and fires have left people feeling overwhelmed and at a loss.

Charities supporting these issues don’t just need your money, they need your action! And while most people want to help, it can feel like being pulled in too many directions at once, leading to burnout and a total withdrawal from charitable support.

What can charities do about crisis fatigue?

The antidote to fatigue is motivation! Charities should go the extra mile to show their supporters that they are making a real difference. Through icause, you can send email and SMS updates, upload videos, and share progress on social media to show supporters that what they are doing, no matter how big or small, is contributing to a bigger picture.

So, what’s next?

Unfortunately, these universal hardships are not the only issues charities face. Many other factors come into play, such as lack of public awareness, poor marketing, trouble reaching the right audience, and a lack of trust and credibility among supporters.

But one thing all fundraisers have in common is their passion and dedication to their cause. And it is this passion that will drive them through the hardships that are mounting up.

The charity landscape is constantly changing, so while traditional fundraising techniques have taken a back seat, for now, online fundraising and new donation methods such as Switch and Donate, mean that there is still a way forward.

To find out more about using Switch and Donate to your charity, talk to one of our experts or read more here.

Hardships hitting Charity Donations