Samantha Swann |Herald-Journal

Fundraising is usually a challenge for many organizationsand it has become even more difficult during the coronavirus pandemic.

Organizerssaid since the pandemic began in March, they have been struggling with raising money for their causes.

"Many organizations typically raise a large portion of their operating expenses through in-person fundraising events. With the onset of COVID-19, nonprofits have had to re-think how they fundraise and how effective virtual fundraising will be," saidAshley Whitt, senior program officer with The Spartanburg County Foundation.

For Kathryn Harvey, principal and founder at Neue South Collective, a local marketing company, 2020 has become a year of fundraising, with many of her clients making marketing a low priority as budgets shrink.

"I've been in a professional communication role in the nonprofit sector for 20 years and I have never seen a year where there's so much competing," Harvey said. From the pandemic to the election, the census to natural disaster relief, potential donors are receiving asks from all corners, making it that much more difficult for any individual organization to be heard."

Collaboration has been key, she said, withnonprofits applying for grantsor fundraising together. Partnering with matching donors can also help ensure success. Both will bekey parts of efforts for this year's Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1, said Harvey, whose company is creating a joint website for Spartanburg's nonprofits to use on the day.

Another challenge for many nonprofits was the canceling of annual in-person fundraisers. However, Harvey hasfound that nonprofits and organizations across Spartanburg are coming up with creative ways to replace them. For instance, Spartanburg Area Conservancy has replaced itsannual oyster dinner fundraiserwith a photoshoot fundraiser highlighting itsnewly renovated boardwalk. Participants can get 10-12 photos on the boardwalk for $175 through the end of the month.

Harvey also hashelped develop socially distanced fundraising events like Spartanburg Science Center's movie night in Barnet Park. And the science center has another creative fundraiser in the works a calendar featuring itsanimals as a holiday fundraiser.

"A lot of it is just thinking about what would be useful for folks right now or engaging and how can we turn that into something that brings awareness of the organization," Harvey said.

Groups and organizations outside of the nonprofit sector are also working hard to raise funds for their causes during a year of financial strain.

The fundraisers for the Alexina Atkins JenkinsPine Street School Scholarshipfound a way to make donating a personal experience. Their latest campaign for the scholarshipasks former Pine Street alumni to donate in honor of their favorite teacher. The scholarship will provide moneyfor college each year to a Spartanburg High School student who attended the elementary school.

Alumni can designatea teacher when they donate to the top donation tier through The Spartanburg County Foundation, Fund 02215, on the organization's website or by mail.

The Pine Street teachers honored by these donations will have their names put on a plaque to be displayed in the school. Six teachers have been honored.

More: Pine Street Elementary School alumni honor school, favorite teacher with new scholarship

Cecilia Hanna donated in honor ofher former teacher Mott Ryan Bramblett.

"Miss Ryan was simply my favorite teacher. I remember being so comfortable in her classroom to ask questions. I was a timid student, and she kind of brought me out of my shell," Hanna said.

Scholarshiporganizers said they are limited to email and phone calls for spreading the word about the scholarship and their fundraiser since large fundraising events are not possible for now. Donor Marshall Jordan, who nominated his sixth-grade teacher Nan Dempsey, said he thinks the personal aspect of the fundraiser will be a boost to the initiative.

"I think it will help bolster donations if there's a specific reason to do it. Inciting some sort of happy memory might help you make that decision," Jordan said.

Pine Street Elementary School also held its own fundraiser for its extracurricular activities earlier this semester.

Principal Dennis Regnier said the school has held two fundraisers to replace itsBoosterthon Fun Run: a Charleston Wraps sale and a Virtual Dance Party.

"This year, we were not able to host our typical 'Fun Run'event so we held a Virtual Dance Party. It lasted for about 30 minutes and our students were all able to log on to the website and participate.Our partners at Boosterthon were on-site for nearly two weeks to help our students and families get involved.They worked within every classroom and guided students through character lessons as well as different fitness challenges to get them ready for the Dance Party," Regnier said.

The students' families and friends could log onto thefundraiser website and donate while the students danced. Regnier said both of the fundraisers were able to be completed almost 100% online.

Harvey emphasized the need forclear messaging and smaller, focused campaigns given the demand for donors' attention. She also said groups need to becreative and tie in sometangible aspect to the donation or a concrete goal for donors to meet.

"If you can find a matching donor, somebody that's willing to give say $25,000 and you can match that in your community, it gives a goal that you're setting for folks to donate," Harvey said."You can incentivize them with a little something for donating, or you can position it against an actual tangible item that you're raising money for."

United Way of the Piedmont President and CEO Paige Stephensonsaid that all of the successful workplace fundraisers she's seen have had a strong, optimistic push from the business's leaders.

"Stay true to your mission, tell your story, be honest about the need but also highlight your resiliency as an organization. When a donor can connect with your organization on a personal level, I believe it will matter less if theyare in-person or not," Whitt said.

While donations are needed, it's also important to remember, particularly in a year that has hit many individuals as hard as it's hit organizations,thatsupporters can help in ways beyond donating.

"It's OKto ask your board and your friends and family to share (your fundraising information)," Harvey said."That ask might be great for someone who can't monetarily donate to your campaign, but can share it out to 20 more people."

Most nonprofits and other groups are also seeing a need for unrestricted donations or donations to the organization's general or operating funds, which can at times be harder to fundraise for than specific projects, Stephenson said.

"We want to make sure that people understand that giving those unrestricted dollars that can be invested in the general operations of the nonprofit for their survival, for their overall organizational health, are extremely key," Stephenson said."It's great to have those specific gifts, but those specific gifts aren't going to make a difference if the organizationthat is trying to provide (the service)is struggling," Stephenson said.

Read the original:
Spartanburg groups tackle raising money during the COVID-19 pandemic - Spartanburg Herald Journal