Virtual Catalogues

Virtual gift catalogues can be a highly successful online fundraising initiative for not-for-profits. Whether the catalogues include actual physical items that the charity needs to execute its programs or "virtual" gifts representative to the aid recipients in the program receive, they are highly effective because they generate a level of transparency that donors don't normally see.

Most charities are good at communicating the need for their cause to supporters but the reality of how the need gets addressed remains abstract. For example, donations go to large vague efforts such as "research", "food aid", "development", and "therapy". Virtual catalogues give charities the opportunity to make those concepts more concrete by illustrating how items are actually used in real world situations. In turn, donors can feel like they've made a real impact because of the tangibility of the items. I can feel like one more child in the world is safe from malaria because I bought a mosquito net.

Familiar Is Good

Virtual catalogues give charity access to donors they wouldn't otherwise be able to attract because the process is familiar to donors. Many charities fall down when their online donation process varies from charity to charity. But virtual gift catalogues are no different than shopping at Amazon.com. You browse the categories, choose an item, add it to your shopping cart, then pay for the items in your shopping cart. The only difference is that instead of shipping the item, you send a notice to the person you are honouring with the virtual gift. Potential donors are comfortable shopping online. You provide a familiar process to them that they are at ease using.

Why Online Gift Catalogues Work

Virtual catalogues can be extremely successful fundraisers for not-for-profits for a number of reasons.

TANGIBILITY - Donors know exactly what they are contributing to the cause.

TRANSPARENCY - Supporters can see where the money is going and how much their support costs.

VARIETY - Donors identify with a number of different causes, needs or solutions. Virtual gift shoppers can choose items that are personal to them.

REPEATABILITY - Because there are a number of items to choose from, it allows donors to donate to their preferred charity over a number of years and still have it a new experience for the honouree. This year I can by my mother a goat, next year some school supplies, and the year after that a mango tree.

EDUCATIONAL - Virtual catalogues are a great way to educate supporters not only about how items are used, but about costs. This is an important part of the process for charities. The reason why a goat costs $140 is because it comes with a year's worth of food as well as training for the family who is going to own it.

MARKET ACCESSIBILITY - Virtual catalogues allow access to a different market: alternative giving. Catalogues make gift giving a shared experience that supporters can do for birthdays, weddings, and at Christmas. the experience is more rewarding than simply giving in honour or memory of someone. It gives supporters the opportunity to request virtual catalogue gifts for their own special occasions.

LONGEVITY - Unlike fast and furious fundraising campaigns, catalogues are good all year round. You can focus on certain times of the year or key dates but people keep giving all year long.

Experience

Amalgam Design's experts have extensive experience with several national charitable catalogues including growing Canada's largest alternative gift giving catalogue to a multi-million dollar a year project.

Understanding usability of catalogues is critical to their success. We understand how to overcome the challenges of receipting, fund allocation, donor management, list building and database integration.

We are experts on how to market your virtual catalogue to existing as well as potential donors. We analyze catalogue sales and identify key items. We know which items to highlight and which to simply offer in the catalogue.

Talk to us about feasibility for a virtual gift catalogue for your not-for-profit.