It was tiny and well-loved. Being small and immensely popular, it was usually overcrowded.

The brilliant team at the museum set out to find a bigger space and ran a successful capital campaign to expand to a much larger location.

The new space was phenomenal—from outdoor climbing and obstacle courses, interactive exhibits that spanned life-size light-up games, to aeronautics with flying balls, to roller coaster physics, to water play with sound bowls.

Adults had as much fun as the children. The development director recruited members to become donors at invitation-only ‘after-hours’ events, where the adults roamed the museum, slid down slides, and tinkered and played at every exhibit to their hearts’ content. Like the set of the movie Night at the Museum, these guests had the whole museum to themselves.

There was just one problem. Despite the museum’s much-expanded footprint, it still had massive overcrowding.

Aside from giving to the capital campaign or a traveling exhibit, most of the museum’s fundraising asks were to give to their open-door policy that provided free entry for families without the financial resources to pay for admission.

Admirable goal. But hard to sell when the space was packed to the gills with hordes of families and a madhouse of children trying to play at each exhibit.

A lot of members—especially those lucky enough to go to the after-hours events—wanted a museum experience that didn’t involve fighting crowds.

Members asked staff whether they might add a fee or an exclusive member benefit at a higher member level for the special perk of ‘free range playtime’ before the museum opened to the public, after-hours or overnight events, but the staff wasn’t interested.

If you’re a museum, arts, or culture organization, you may be in this same dilemma. On the surface, it may look like space is the issue. It isn’t. It’s understanding donor motivations.

Most fundraising is helping ‘other people.’ But when you’re fundraising for arts or cultural organizations, donations don’t *just* help other people. They also benefit the donor. Yes, other people do indeed get something out of it, but donors generally give to enrich their lives.

A big reason why members choose to become donors is to enhance their own experience. It’s critical for the fundraising staff who handle membership to understand what motivates these donors.

Here are four different donor motivations and how you can use them in your fundraising to raise more gifts from members for your museum, cultural, or arts organization:

1. Donor benefits

Benefits are anything donors receive that enhances their experience. They can be practical, like premium parking, early access to sell-out tickets, access to lounges or the museum before or after regular operating hours, access to private events or exclusive events, or discounts for the gift shop or merchandise. Consider offering more aesthetic benefits like meet-the-artist events, backstage passes, tickets to dress rehearsals, and more.

2. Sustaining the museum (or art form)

Donors realize that it costs more to run a museum than their membership fees and that donations fill the gap. Their passion for your museum—or art form, preservation, or conservation efforts—drives them to give, ensuring these cherished spaces remain open and thriving. Engage these donors by reminding them of the emotions and experiences your museum evokes, using compelling storytelling to deepen their connection and inspire continued support.

Here’s an example of that in a monthly giving appeal targeting donors to a preservation organization:

Dear %Firstname%,

Your generosity and kindness protect the trails and forests of the beautiful Blue Hills.

I imagine that each time you come to the Blue Hills, you feel like I do.

Calmer. Happier. Rejuvenated.

When I visit the Blue Hills, I leave happier. If I’m with my family, we feel closer. After I bike or hike alone, I feel more connected to myself. Peaceful and grateful.

The walks I take each week remind me that the Blue Hills is a sacred space, first cared for by indigenous peoples. And now, it’s my turn to do my part.

That’s why I joined a dedicated group of supporters by becoming a Best Friend of the Blue Hills with a $50 monthly donation.

Because of your love for our beautiful Blue Hills, I’m sending you this special invitation today to join our monthly giving club, Best Friends of the Blue Hills.

When you become a Best Friend of the Blue Hills, you provide a steady and reliable source of income to ensure the preservation of the forest and trails you love.

%Firstname%, it’s only with your monthly gift that we can preserve these trails and native plant species.

Your generous monthly gift of:

$10 = Buys supplies to cut branches that block the trails.

$15 = Sends an ecologist to train volunteers to remove invasives at Fowl Meadow

$20 = Sends a trail maintenance expert to train volunteers to reduce soil erosion

If you sign up before March 3rd, you can raise an extra $5,000 through a generous donor match!

%Firstname%, when you become a Best Friend today, you’ll make sure the Blue Hills will be there for all of us to enjoy tomorrow.

Please, will you be our best friend?

Thank you for your love and support of the Blue Hills!

For the Blue Hills,

John Doe

P.S. Donate before March 3 to ensure an additional $5,000 is given to the Blue Hills!

3. Recognition

Donors who give to the arts like the recognition that comes with their gift. Hence, lots of naming opportunities—from the seats to the bricks outside, to programs, to endowed chairs. Here’s a great example of how the National WWII Museum does that:

“Take a moment to reflect on your personal connection to World War II. Maybe your father or grandfather served in the Pacific or fought across the plains of Europe. Or perhaps your mother or grandmother supported the war effort by powering the “arsenal of democracy” here at home. Whatever their involvement, it deserves permanent recognition on the Honor Roll at America’s National WWII Museum. Become a member today and ensure that your family’s legacy is never forgotten.”

4. Community pride

Many philanthropists and corporate sponsors support museums and arts organizations to boost the quality of life in the cities they hold dear. To magnify these feelings in your donors, speak with them directly about the role your museum (or art form) plays in the community.

Take the Brooklyn Museum, for example:

“The Brooklyn Museum is one of the world’s most welcoming and contemporary encyclopedic museums and is every bit Brooklyn: creative, relevant, diverse, and trailblazing. When you join as a Member, you celebrate the great art, big ideas, and courageous conversations that can only be found here.”

So, what’s the secret to turning members into passionate donors? It’s all about understanding what drives them. When you tap into their motivations—whether it’s enhancing their experience, sustaining the museum, receiving recognition, or boosting community pride—you create a deeper connection. These aren’t just one-time gifts; they’re investments in a shared love for the arts and culture. Keep your finger on the pulse of what matters most to your members, and you’ll find your fundraising efforts meet and exceed expectations.

Was your museum or arts organization able to raise more gifts from members? Drop your strategy it in the chat!  

The post Raise More Gifts From Members By Understanding Their Motivations appeared first on Bloomerang.

Small nonprofits face even more challenges when it comes to securing funding in comparison to larger organizations—from low donor retention rates to limited resources to an overall lack of unrestricted funding. As donor behavior continues to change, nonprofits of all sizes must increasingly rely on the generosity of many instead of the consistent support from a few.

When you look at more niche nonprofits—like those focused on arts and culture—fundraising plays a critical role in enabling your organization to make a positive impact on their communities. The arts are important to modern culture and society, yet competition from other causes can encroach on the ability of your nonprofit to raise funds. In the race for funding, your nonprofit may face a number of factors, including public perception, the economic climate, and varying government funding.

It takes a strategic approach, strong advocacy, and collaboration to secure the funding that ensures your organization can continue its valuable work.

Why small nonprofits are community pillars

Small arts and culture nonprofits are an important part of society, weaving the fabric of a community together. And that community impact is big: Small nonprofits educate and inspire, bridge generational gaps, celebrate cultural identities, and more.

The transformative impact of arts and culture in communities

Supporting arts and culture builds vibrant, resilient, and interconnected communities. This is evident in the work nonprofits like yours create as well as in the impacts they have on those in the community who see these works, engage with them, and learn from them.

For example, Ballet Lubbock seeks to enhance the cultural vibrancy of West Texas, using educational and outreach programming to not only teach dance but also impart the value of creativity, discipline, and commitment. Its performances engage the community, inspiring imagination and creating lasting memories. The team at EdVenture Children’s Museum is spreading the value of play. Especially its ability to promote the development of social skills, imagination, communication, cooperation, creativity, reasoning, memory, and more among children.

Visionary leadership: The role of Executive Directors in nonprofit success

The Executive Director (ED) of an arts and culture nonprofit is a visionary role tasked with being the architect of creating a vibrant culture for the community that nonprofit serves. The ED sets the course, defining the mission, vision, and long-term goals for the nonprofit.

An ED must also advocate for the significance and transformative power of arts and culture in community life. In addition to spearheading programming, nonprofit Executive Directors are the stewards of fundraising, community engagement, strategic planning, DEI, and addressing crises like economic downturns.

This leadership is critical to driving both community impact and fundraising success. From representing the nonprofit publicly at events, meetings, and other public gatherings to balancing budgets and seeking funds via grants, donations, sponsorships, and more, an ED keeps the community at large engaged with the mission of the nonprofit. In the case of small nonprofits, this leadership is even more paramount in keeping the nonprofit moving forward and focused on its cause.

How effective fundraising drives nonprofit success

The intersection where fundraising and nonprofit success meet is a dynamic convergence where strategic efforts create a positive impact. This is an important distinction for small arts and culture nonprofits like yours, and how you positively influence local communities since your outcomes may be more difficult to quantify when compared to causes like feeding the hungry.

Fundraising: Fueling stability and growth in nonprofits

Not only does fundraising bring financial stability through donations, but it also supports the development and implementation of programs, events, and other initiatives aligned with the mission. More funds mean your nonprofit can bring on skilled staff and provide better training and experiences to volunteers. And, it means you can have the financial backing you need to invest in technology infrastructure, like online fundraising platforms, equipment, and even office or headquarters space.

A lack of adequate funding often puts nonprofits into survival mode, which places more focus on keeping the lights on versus delivering on the mission. Fundraising is a strategic tool you can leverage to expand impact, and using an all-in-one giving platform can streamline your efforts, enhance donor engagement, and ultimately help you secure the resources needed to achieve your mission. For example, Ballet Lubbock used technology to support more focus on real relationship building. This led to better retention rates among supporters, doubling annual fund revenue and increasing monthly recurring givers tenfold. EdVenture Children’s Museum increased donor retention from 29% to 46% after it was able to implement technology to support its staff in stewarding existing donor relationships.

Essential tools and tips for aspiring Executive Directors

As an Executive Director, you’ll need several resources for effective fundraising. Using an all-in-one giving platform can streamline your efforts by providing integrated resources for donor, volunteer, membership, and fundraising management. That, along with financial management resources, grant databases, HR and legal resources, compliance support, and networking programs all contribute to your ability to successfully fundraise year after year.

Your relationship with the board is critical. Building effective relationships with board members can help you increase funding efforts, and make it possible to acquire the other tools and resources needed to operate your nonprofit successfully.

Leadership development is also crucial to effective fundraising strategies. It starts with defining, communicating, and distributing a strong and compelling vision. This brings attention to your nonprofit’s purpose and opens the door to building a strong team with the skills and attitude to work together to increase impact. Clear communication to ensure everyone is on the same page, as well as active listening to understand donor goals, help tailor fundraising strategies and approaches quickly.

The fundraising landscape changes quickly, so staying informed and being open to new methods and approaches will help secure success. Cultivating relationships with donors is also critical. Show appreciation often, make a point of getting their feedback, share impact stories, and ensure they feel involved in the journey.

Step-by-step guide to launching your fundraising strategy

Here are the key steps to help your small nonprofit get started with a fundraising plan and strategy.

Step 1: Develop a comprehensive fundraising plan

Think of your small nonprofit as a small business. Where a small business has a plan—or two or three—for selling its product or service, your small nonprofit also needs a fundraising plan and strategy aligned to your mission that outlines how you’ll secure the funding necessary to further your cause.

• Identify your goals. Define what you want to achieve through your fundraising efforts, like expanding programs, hiring staff, or upgrading technology.
• Assess funding sources. Consider potential funding sources like grants, major donors, sponsorships, and fundraising events.
• Create a timeline. Set realistic deadlines for each phase of your fundraising efforts to keep your team on track.

Step 2: Cultivate strong donor and stakeholder relationships

Once you’ve established your goals, it’s important to share clear calls to action for how donors can support your mission.

• Engage your community. Use events, newsletters, social media, texts, and physical thank you cards to keep your supporters informed and involved on a regular and consistent basis.
• Personalize communications. Tailor your messaging to meet the interests and motivations of different donor segments.
• Leverage technology. Take advantage of tech platforms that streamline fundraising and maintain ongoing relationships with donors.
• Make sure donors see the impact of giving. Share compelling stories that highlight the effect donors’ contributions are making. Bonus if you can tie them to a specific fundraising event to help quantify the impact for your supporters.
• Solicit feedback and make adjustments. Regularly seek feedback from your stakeholders and adjust strategies as needed.

Step 3: Take advantage of online platforms for enhanced fundraising

Take advantage of digital tools to expand your fundraising reach and engage with a broader audience effectively.

• Launch social media campaigns. Use Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok to run targeted fundraising campaigns and engage with donors to keep them in the know on events, gatherings, and updates about the organization.
• Use online fundraising tools. Implement tools like donation forms, event software, and other online platforms to streamline fundraising efforts.
• Monitor engagement. Track interactions and engagement to refine your online presence and maximize outreach.

Step 4: Organize impactful fundraising events

From public art installations to community theater productions and beyond, there are several event types your arts and culture nonprofit can plan that will engage the community and boost fundraising.

• Manage event planning. Choose events that align with your mission and your target audience, whether that’s galas, auctions, or performances. Platforms like Qgiv provide excellent tools to streamline your auction events and peer-to-peer fundraising, offering features that enhance the donor experience and simplify event management.
• Involve volunteers. Rally volunteers to help with event logistics and foster a deeper connection with your cause. They can mingle with attendees, share important details about the mission, oversee raffles, support set-up and takedown, and a myriad of other functions. You can also enlist the help of volunteers in the planning process, delegating specific aspects of an event to different people or committees, so planning doesn’t fall solely to staff.
• Think global. You can also host livestreamed virtual events, hybrid events, or auctions, share donation pages in posts, and work with influencers or community members to host online fundraisers. Peer-to-peer fundraising platforms like Qgiv can be essential here, enabling supporters to fundraise on your behalf from anywhere—broadening your reach.
• Follow up post-event. Thank attendees, provide summaries of the event’s success, and don’t forget to share stories about the impact of the funds you raise.

Step 5: Measure success and maintain momentum

Keep a close eye on your fundraising achievements to ensure ongoing success and make data-driven decisions for future campaigns.

• Measure outcomes. Use your all-in-one giving platform to track fundraising progress; take advantage of useful data about fundraising campaigns to show progress and success. You can also use feedback surveys, donor recognition and thank-yous, impact reporting, and multi-year giving programs as part of your strategy for maintaining donor relationships and ensuring continuous fundraising.
• Report results. Regularly update your stakeholders on your nonprofit’s progress and how their contributions are making a difference. Study after study on donor behavior tells us that the communications content that has the most influence on whether a donor gives again is knowing the results achieved by their gift. If there’s one takeaway from this article, let it be the critical role of effective communication in building trust and sustaining support.
• Plan for the future. Analyze what’s worked and what hasn’t, and use that information to continually improve your strategies. Set future goals based on these insights to ensure your nonprofit adapts and thrives in changing environments.

The crucial role of fundraising in empowering small nonprofits

At its core, fundraising should be about transforming compassion into action to create positive change around a cause or group of causes. You can’t measure this impact solely by the dollars raised. You need to take into account the lives your nonprofit transforms and the community impact your organization is able to achieve.

Fundraising fuels the fulfillment of your nonprofit’s mission and is the lifeblood for small nonprofits looking to make a big impact. It opens the door to achieving your goals and making a lasting impact on the communities you serve.

Create a vibrant, sustainable community through the power of the arts

Ready to transform your nonprofit’s approach to fundraising and make a lasting impact in your community? Start by applying the strategies discussed here, and join a community of forward-thinking leaders who are shaping the future of arts and culture.

Please share your experiences, challenges, and successes with us in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this guide with others who could benefit from these insights.

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Arts and culture nonprofits face distinctive challenges in the nonprofit sector. They provide intangible benefits that are difficult to quantify, making it harder to demonstrate the immediate impact of donations. Unlike other nonprofits with tangible outcomes like meals served or shelter provided, cultural organizations often deal with abstract impacts, such as promoting creativity or preserving cultural heritage—a dilemma known as “subjective value.”

Long project cycles can deter donors who seek immediate results from their contributions. Building and maintaining an audience or patron base, essential for arts and culture nonprofits, requires continuous and resource-intensive marketing and outreach efforts.

Ballet Lubbock’s inspiring journey

To gain deeper insights into how arts and culture nonprofits can surmount these obstacles, we spoke with Nick Dragga, CFRE, Executive Director of Ballet Lubbock for over a decade.

Ballet Lubbock was founded in 1969 with a mission to change lives by making life-long investments in their dancers, the community, and the arts. They offer tailored instruction to fit any age group, skill level, and style. Despite their challenges, Ballet Lubbock has become an integral part of Lubbock’s cultural landscape.

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the Ballet Lubbock team not only weathered the storm—they thrived. They successfully closed major and minor capital campaigns, $6 million and $550,000, respectively—the first campaigns in Nick’s career! Donors and event participants even told Nick that they missed the sense of community made possible by the Ballet’s performances—quite a tangible return on investment.

Devotion and leadership drive growth

Merce Cunningham, a pioneer of modern dance, once said, “The most essential thing in dance discipline is devotion.” Nick’s devotion to Ballet Lubbock is evident in its remarkable growth, from a $550,000 organizational budget in 2011 to today’s $2.5 million budget, soon to reach $2.8 million. To tackle challenges faced specifically by arts and culture nonprofits—subjective value and perceived elitism—the board prioritized building networks within the Lubbock community.

Board members also contribute personally, adhering to a “Give & Get Policy,” sponsoring gala tables worth $2,000, and making substantial annual donations.

The arts are not a luxury; they are a necessity. They tell people’s stories, they help them be seen, and create community. The arts inspire confidence, ignite joy, and foster family traditions. The arts are what set great cities apart—drawing us in and captivating our hearts.

Nick Dragga, CFRE
Executive Director, Ballet Lubbock

The school’s impressive growth has continued over the years, fueled by generous community support, leading to the opening of a state-of-the-art dance facility in 2004. Since then, student enrollment has quintupled, the budget—including scholarship grants—tripled, and outreach activities expanded through valuable community partnerships. In April 2017, Ballet Lubbock broke ground on their 22,000-square-foot new home at the northeast cornerstone of The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences, marking a significant milestone in their journey. But Ballet Lubbock is just getting started.

Ballet Lubbock’s success isn’t solely about fundraising and infrastructure. Nick underscores the transformative impact on students: “Our students gain confidence and discipline through dance training just like in sports. Our greatest successes are off stage.”

Advantages and funding

Ballet Lubbock is the sole ballet in the community—standing out amid larger nonprofit medical complexes. Local private foundations are their primary funding source, offering accessibility and a streamlined application process. Government funding, though less substantial, still contributes an average of $95,000 annually from the State of Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) and about $20,000 from Lubbock City funding, sourced from a hotel hospitality tax. Occasionally, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funds pass through the TCA. Parents of students make up 20-30 percent of donors, but the majority are community members who value the ballet’s presence and inclusivity.

Ongoing challenges

Nick acknowledges ongoing challenges: “We need to institute a more robust planned giving program, address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, and expand development. Plus, recruiting dance instructors continues to be challenging as many of our candidates come from outside the area, and part-time positions may be less attractive. But creating full-time positions that match the employee’s talents with Ballet Lubbock’s needs often provides good a solution to meet staffing needs.”

Applying the lessons of one arts and culture nonprofit to all

When asked how Nick’s experiences may apply to other arts and culture nonprofits, he shared: “Building and retaining relationships with all of our stakeholders—not only with donors but also students, their families, alumni, and community—is crucial for success.” His experience at Ballet Lubbock underscores the importance of ongoing relationship cultivation in the nonprofit sector.

Ballet Lubbock’s story and Nick’s ability to respond creatively to challenges can offer valuable insights to all arts and culture nonprofits, highlighting the importance of dedication, leadership, and stakeholder engagement in achieving their missions.

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The Society is dedicated to discovering, preserving, and disseminating the history of the Jews of Washington State. This unique history is shared through publications, exhibits, displays, speakers, and tours.

Challenge

Washington State Jewish Historical Society was looking for a donor management system at the same time they were looking for a website provider. They wanted something that was easy to use, but could still track the critical data that they needed it to. They were introduced to Bloomerang through Firespring, and realized that their need for a donor management system could finally be met.

Solution

Washington State Jewish Historical Society had found a system that could help them easily track their donor retention and constituent data. Bloomerang has been an asset for their donor retention and gift development processes.

Lisa Kranseler, Executive Director at Washington State Jewish Historical Society was originally drawn to Bloomerang’s capabilities, ease of use, and knowledgeable staff. “The ease, the service, the whole system seemed great.”

Results

Lisa and her team simply can’t do without a donor management system in place. They’ve gained insights about their constituents that they never had before. “Love the way we can track people we never had the opportunity to before.”

Since implementing Bloomerang, Washington State Jewish Historical Society has benefited from improvements to several fundraising pain-points that were previously an issue. They no longer have to stress over “tracking on excel spreadsheets, notebooks, or sticky notes even.”

At the end of the day, one of the most important things Bloomerang does for Lisa and her team is help them leverage their donor data to increase donations. They love “being able to look back at the progress and records for each individual.”

It’s amazing what a user-friendly, data-focused tool can do for the long-term growth of an organization such as Washington State Jewish Historical Society.

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The Mission is to “preserve and enrich for present and future generations knowledge of the German immigrant experience and its impact on the American Culture.” GAHC’s focus is cultural programs and immigrant contributions. GAHC seeks to reach out to other cultural groups and demonstrate the contributions immigrants from many countries and from varied backgrounds have made to the ethnic palette which is the United States.

Challenge

German American Heritage Center was ready to ditch Excel for an intuitive donor management system that would be easy to learn and use. “We were using excel spreadsheets for each campaign and had no way of connecting each donation to a donor to see someone’s history. We wanted something easy to use, easy to upload our past data to, and something that would allow us refresher courses or learn new ways to utilize the system,” said Kelly Lao, Executive Director at German American Heritage Center.

After attending an AFP presentation and speaking to a Bloomerang rep, Kelly came to realize that Bloomerang’s features and functionality might just be the best fit for them. “I saw a presentation at my local AFP lunch and learn from Chris at Bloomerang and really enjoyed the features.

Solution

Kelly had finally found an easy to use donor management system that could help them get their donor data organized and focus more on building and maintaining strong donor relationships. “We are a small museum, so each donor is very important to us from $25 – $1,000 donors. We are able to place notes in on each person which helps us remember who likes to donate when or even a special note about anniversaries or volunteering.” Kelly and her team are also excited about the idea that they can now use their data from Bloomerang to pursue endowment gifts and other planned giving options.

German American Heritage Center was originally drawn to Bloomerang’s intuitive user interface, but they’ve come to appreciate its custom field functionality and donor-centricity. “I like how clean and crisp the look is with the most important info displayed on each page. We like being able to have our own categories particular to our membership and donor needs.”

Results

Since implementing Bloomerang several pain points have been alleviated for Kelly and her team. They now have access to detailed donor information and can use that data to make informed fundraising decisions, increase donor retention, and send better segmented communications. “We now know who are our top donors, who gives consistently during which campaigns, can easily see if a donor forgot about a campaign where they usually give and call them and remind them how much they gave previously and ask them to match or increase!” They also have visibility into their donor retention rate and have noticed the benefit of improving their communication with first-time donors. “We had no way to find out if we were retaining donors. Now we can make better efforts toward making first time or once past donors into sustaining givers.”

The team at German American Heritage Center has benefited from spending less time pouring over spreadsheets and more time defining and improving their development processes. “Our whole staff now understands the development world better and we all chip in to help on campaigns instead of it being one person’s job to try and pour over spreadsheets.”

Kelly really appreciates how easy it is to use and train volunteers on the system. If she were to talk to another arts and culture organization about making the switch to Bloomerang, she’d cite the dedicated customer support team and intuitive functionality. “I would let them know how easy it is to use (we are training our 78 year old volunteer on it!) and how much support is offered. We find it to be very valuable and enjoy the format better than competing software.”

It’s amazing what an updated, user-friendly tool can do for the growth of an organization such as German American Heritage Center. “We are still finding out more and more that Bloomerang can do for us!

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