2020 was a challenging year for the charity sector, but it also proved that it is resilient and versatile too. The coronavirus outbreak caused the economy to go into recession, something which has historically led to a decrease in charity donations in the past. But surprisingly, according to a recent study by Open, donations actually increased during the first national lockdown in the UK.

The rise of virtual fundraising events and other innovative solutions for charity organisations everyday operations meant that plenty of support and donations were still being made during the pandemic. With 2021 well underway, there’s no doubt that there’ll be plenty of new challenges for charities who are looking to navigate the ‘new normal.’ We’ve put together some of our predicted fundraising trends for 2021 that are set to define the charity sector.

Virtual events are here to stay

The biggest impact that coronavirus had on the charity and fundraising sector was the cancellation of thousands of in-person events. In response, there was a drastic shift from in-person fundraisers to virtual ones. With Covid-19 continuing to impact the world in 2021, it’s no surprise that we predict that these virtual fundraising events will continue. This is because they allow charities to:

• Engage new attendees, speakers, and sponsors in new locations across the country.  
• Make events more accessible for participants. There’s less time to take off work, and no flights or hotel bookings involved.
• Cut some of the costs of in-person events such as the venue.
• Easily encourage attendees, fundraisers, and donors to any future events.

Hybrid events that combine small in-person events with virtual audiences will also continue to grow in 2021, as Covid restrictions are set to be in place until June at the earliest. Hybrid fundraisers are great at balancing both aspects of physical and online events. They allow organisations to comply with social distancing measures, as well as maintaining personal elements that are often missing for virtual events.

More digital fundraising

With the continued use of virtual meetings and events, it’s not surprising to predict that digital fundraising campaigns will also be popular in 2021. They’re simple and cost-efficient, something that most charities and nonprofit organisations are looking for as a result of the pandemic.

Crowdfunding, digital auctions, pledge drives and prize draws don’t require a lot of time and only a small amount of work involved. Even simply adding a donation button to a charity’s website can bring fundraising success with little effort. Online fundraising was increasingly adopted in 2020, and it’s set to continue to grow throughout this year too.

More donors will come from social media platforms

2020 saw plenty of people go online and proactively engage donors in virtual social spaces. This year, charities and non profits will have to continue to look for support on the online platforms where audiences spend most of their time. They can do this by strengthening their presence on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, as well as creating a presence on up-and-coming social platforms like TikTok.

Live streaming is another exciting trend for 2021. By engaging your supporters through live video streams, you’re creating a new source of engagement and revenue for your charity organisation. You can also use it to show supporters the direct impact your charity has had with the simple click of a button.

Get the most out of your team with Fundraising Everywhere

Seeing these predicted trends, it’s no surprise that digital fundraising efforts will continue to grow online. If you want to get the most out of your virtual fundraising, we’re here to teach you the skills you actually need to raise more money for your charity.

Through virtual conferences, monthly webinars and virtual support, we connect you directly to the proven methods, people, and new ideas that are guaranteed to help you raise more money. This means you can learn wherever you are, in your own time, and at an affordable price. See how we can help you, today.