Political fundraising has changed a lot and is becoming online political fundraising. Companies are realizing that they need to make specific adjustments to their offerings to better handle the needs of this segment of the business. Therefore, the offerings get better every year to the point where going with a well-known big box payment provider almost makes no sense anymore.
Offline Fundraising vs Online Political Fundraising
It used to be a massive undertaking to get a fundraising campaign together in the past. You had to have people. Moreover, those people had to be organized, then you needed to send them out into the world. It was a concert of time, logistics, and know-how. Of course, recent health events have brought to light how fragile this system really is at any point. How can you generate money if you cannot meet with other people in person? It is enough to topple an otherwise strong candidate. A political candidate without money is a candidate that will have a hard time getting to the voters who need to hear their message. You are heading to a singular event that will, hopefully, culminate with your election to your chosen seat in the local or federal government.
Marketing as a Function of Time and How It Affects How You Fundraise
However, your fundraising, likely, will be a series of events over time. Your marketing will also be a series of events over time. Therefore, even though you can take a lump sum of money in donation money it does not mean that is all you will need. You will, likely, need infusions of cash over time so that you can compete effectively against your opponent or opponents. The platform or payment processor that you work with is going to have to be flexible as well. They are going to have to realize that you are in a symbiotic relationship with you and not a one-off relationship. They should allow you to run multiple campaigns at the same time while not failing to provide an excellent amount of service on any of those campaigns. It sounds like every one of these platforms should do that and your right. The reality is that not all of them do.
Limitations of the Online Processors: Do You Have an EIN?
You should also be aware that most of them have a limitation. The limitation that most of them have is that most of them require you to have an EIN number. An EIN number relates to the structure you give your campaign or business. If you want to give yourself the most amount of options possible for payment processors then you should get an EIN number by signing up for the appropriate structure. You should consult with your experts on what structure is right for you and how you set it up.
Making Donations at 3 a.m.
Notwithstanding, the logistics and setting up of a political campaign is much easier when you have the right payment processor working with you. You can direct your donors to donate online instead of needing to meet up with everyone to collect donations. It is safer for your volunteers and/or your workers since they do not need to physically interact with the donor. Your donors can make their contributions from the comfort of their own homes and own their own time. There is no set time for them to make the donation. If they want to make a donation at 3 a.m. in the morning then they can do that with your online system. Something that your team may have a hard time accommodating.
You Must Add an Online Political Fundraising Campaign Plan to Your Repertoire
If you are running a political campaign you must add an online component to your campaign. An online component gives you flexibility. It allows your donors to donate from anywhere and it allows them to donate at any time. All of these things are good for you. It also helps you avoid the problem of trying to coordinate people and resources to get donations in person. Something that is helpful if you find yourself in the middle of a major health crisis.
