If you work for or run a large nonprofit organization, although many aspects of the day-to-day operations are in-person, there’s still a pressing need for virtual engagement (aka digital engagement.) One of the most important things about large nonprofits is spreading the word about why support is needed to keep them going. Reaching as many people as possible with a nonprofit organization is essential, and turning to digital solutions can help!
Nonprofit programs are quickly realizing the value that digital engagement holds for their overall business goals. A vast majority, 89% of nonprofits surveyed, claimed that digital communication is key in facilitating their mission. Something that used to be optional and an afterthought is becoming the central focus in many business plans for large nonprofits.
To better understand how large nonprofits can benefit from virtual engagement, let’s break down the details of what that means. Then we’ll cover how to engage a virtual audience and provide examples of nonprofit virtual events. Let’s get virtual!
What is Virtual Engagement?
Virtual engagement or digital engagement refers to communicating with your audience through channels such as social media, email, SMS, live chat, DM, video conferencing, and other digital platforms. It’s a cost-effective and efficient way for large non-profits to inform their audience about current fundraisers, events, or projects. It’s much easier to find supporters all over the world to help a non-profit’s mission. No more geographical barriers when focusing on virtual engagement!
Large nonprofits can incorporate virtual engagement by connecting with past, present, and potential supporters to keep updated on the latest news and information. Creating those digital channels is an integral part of boosting virtual engagement and building lasting relationships. Encouraging the process of virtual engagement allows large nonprofits to take an omnichannel approach to reach as many users as possible with their mission.
How to Engage a Virtual Audience
Now that we’ve covered the basics of virtual engagement, it’s time to put a plan into action! It’s one thing to have social media pages, an email list, or video conferencing. In addition to that, large nonprofits also need a plan on how to engage a virtual audience through these digital channels.
Here are a few ways to increase engagement with your audience virtually:
Always Include a Call-To-Action
This applies to anything you post on your social media channels, newsletters, and direct communication with your audience. A call-to-action simply means letting your audience know what they should do next after interacting with your content.
- Social media: this could be as easy as asking your audience to leave a comment, save, like, or share your content. This all depends on what you have going on at the moment. You could direct them to a link that gives them more information about your non-profit. It could be a direct campaign speaking about the details or promoting an upcoming event.
- Newsletters: this is a great opportunity to go more in-depth with what you’d like to communicate with your audience. Talk about ways they can donate or help your cause. Provide them with stories of success and ways their support will help. Then make it clear with a call-to-action on where they can donate, find out more information, and more with the appropriate links.
Let your audience know how they can get involved and help your non-profit—make it easy for them!
Organize Nonprofit Virtual Events
For large nonprofits, fundraising is an integral part of their event strategy. Without it, there would be no non-profit! Nonprofit virtual events for fundraising gained popularity during the pandemic when in-person events were no longer possible. Virtual fundraising continues to be a successful way to bring in funds for large nonprofits.
Some common types of nonprofit virtual events include:
- Peer-to-peer fundraising: individual donors create their own fundraiser on behalf of your non-profit organization
- Annual galas: a very cost-effective alternative to having a large fundraising event virtually vs. in-person
- Online auctions: this is a great way to add a virtual fundraising element to in-person fundraising events or nonprofit virtual events
- In-kind donation drives: websites like AmazonSmile help facilitate these types of virtual fundraising events
Nonprofit virtual events for fundraising are less expensive to organize than in-person events and provide another avenue to reach your audience globally.
Add an Interactive Element
When you’re looking to increase engagement with your virtual audience, make it interactive! This can be with resources like a live webinar, video conferencing, or information sessions. Add in some Q&A time where your audience can ask questions during these virtual interactions. You can also consider live annotation, chat functionality, or live polling. Making sure your virtual audience has a way to communicate with you increases engagement and gets them involved with your nonprofit virtual events.
Boost Virtual Engagement Through Video Solutions
Learning how to engage a virtual audience with large nonprofits will set your organization up for success. Start planning nonprofit virtual events like virtual fundraisers to reach more people to avoid the limitations that traditional in-person events have. Take advantage of all the resources available to you with digital communication and engagement with your audience.
If your organization doesn’t have an in-house digital team to organize nonprofit virtual events—our experts at Reimagined Experiences are ready to simplify your video production and virtual engagement! Our state-of-the-art video solutions will help you plan and execute your nonprofit virtual events from start to finish. Imagine a more straightforward way to communicate with your supporters effectively, and we’ll take care of the rest!
Visit our services page to learn more about how we can help. Contact us to book a FREE discovery call today! Let’s discuss your nonprofit virtual events options.
