Every charity’s goal is a noble and altruistic one. They set out to help those who need it most, and ask nothing in return. When you look at it like this, it paints an inspiring picture of what humanity will do. But, unfortunately, charities are still businesses. At the end of the day, to be able to help those people, you have to be willing to play the game.

So you have to stay abreast of what’s going on in the third sector and the best ways of raising funds. These last couple of years have been the biggest shake-up for the sector ever, leading to the rise of new trends. And if you want to bring in the most donations, you have to know what they are.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest and newest charity and fundraising trends that you can’t afford to miss out on.

Hybrid events

We say “hybrid events”, but this category is quite all-encompassing. It’s about anything that isn’t solely an in-person event. Hybrids are a good middle ground between these and their digital alternatives.

They’re the best of both worlds. With digital events, you don’t have to worry about geographical limitations, you can reach a wider audience, and it could cost you less to run. But in-person events have an undeniable way of building lasting relationships. It’s much more personal and effective at driving home your cause. Hybrids allow you to have that personal touch with people who can make it without alienating those that can’t.

But if you don’t want the in-person aspect, many charities have had success with livestreams. This could be a larger event you stream across your socials, or simply a small insight into your world. A behind-the-scenes look at your operations or a Q&A could be great ways at engaging your donor base.

TikTok is king

Saying “up your social media presence” isn’t specific enough of a trend. No, it’s all about reaching out in the right areas. If you want to increase engagement with certain demographics – such as Gen Z – you need to be where they are. And many of them are on TikTok.

It’s shot up in the last year. In 2021, it wasn’t even in the top six influencer platforms, but has since rocketed up to second. And it’s incredibly effective for emotional content. Nearly 50% of the best-performing ads on TikTok had an emotional nature. So if your social media strategy doesn’t have a place for TikTok content, maybe it should.

Digital skills/tools

Similar to our first point, digital has been on the rise because of the pandemic. It’s something we’ve talked about in some other recent blogs. But it’s worth repeating. Charities are on the lookout for more than just volunteers for their shops and donation drives. They’re looking for people with digital skills that can help them in other ways.

Graphic designers to help out with marketing campaigns. Copywriters to write engaging content. Even legal advice for new initiatives. Charities are accepting more and more skill sets to help them adjust to the modern landscape. It’s not just new volunteers either; AI chatbots can help potential donors answer any questions, without taking up the time of your volunteers. Having one on your website might be a good idea.

This is where the third sector is heading, so you don’t want to fall behind. If you haven’t already, now is the time to start thinking about these new charity and fundraising trends, and how they can help you. The future is here – are you ready for it?

Every charity needs the software to keep them at their best. For an EPoS solution designed specifically for charities, look no further than CHARiotWeb. Find out more by calling us on 01204 706000.