Charities are undeniably busy organisations, so you may not have had time to pause for breath, let alone consider online booking software. The truth is, online booking software can help charities out a lot more than you may think. We’ll explain how this software can transform the way you run your charity.

 

Why charities need online booking software 


Charities have many different tasks to juggle. But something that sits at the heart of charities activities is fundraising events. Organising events, from sponsored runs to fashion shows, can be a laborious process. Especially without the helping hand of online booking software.

To plan the perfect event, organisers need to complete many tasks manually. This includes sending out invitations, selling tickets and taking event bookings, and responding to repetitive queries from attendees. Selling tickets can become overwhelming as payments are often processed through paper-based systems. This method is neither accurate nor secure. 

After the roaring success of your fundraising event, there is still work to be done. Personalised thank you letters and feedback forms have to be created and sent to each guest. Nurturing donor relationships is ever more important for charities - something that will become harder as your email list grows.

Overall, the whole process of planning and executing a fundraising event requires a lot of time and input. But with online booking software for charities, valuable time can be saved and costs can be kept to a minimum. Many actions can be performed automatically!

Charities need online booking software to increase the accuracy, speed and ease of their bookings. Removing the need for manual paper-based reservations and messy spreadsheets allows charity volunteers to focus their energy on marketing campaigns to encourage donations. 

 

Benefits of online booking software for charities 


There are several benefits of online booking software for charities. From increased organisation through to marketing integrations, many features will help you grow your charity’s presence. 

 

Complete event organisation 


Online booking software can help charities from pre-event to post-event - and all the stages in between! Charities can plan and host events without having the extra stress of tasks such as chasing up RSVPs. 

Usually, volunteers may have to flick through a pile of papers to locate attendee information. Contact details may be noted down incorrectly, so there is no way to confirm whether prospects are planning to attend. Worse still, people may forget about the event, leading to no-shows and limited donations.

With online booking software for charities, all attendees’ details are recorded in one centralised system. This makes it easy to keep them updated with information and last-minute event changes via automatic SMS and email notifications. You can even post FAQs so you don't have to answer the same questions again and again.

 

Improved efficiency 


Using online booking software for charities means volunteers' time can be spent more efficiently. Gone are the days of forgetting who's been assigned to what, with online booking software organisers can delegate specific tasks to individuals. 

With easy-to-use online booking systems, it doesn't matter if volunteers have little technical knowledge. Human error is removed and there's no need for attempts to be made at creating counter-productive spreadsheets. Online booking software does all the leg-work.

 

Secure processes 


With online booking software for charities, you won't lose track of vital donations as they're all securely stored and recorded. Back-ups are also carried out regularly so your data doesn't go anywhere. Donations can also be tracked and users can print and email receipts to people who've donated.

BookingLive offers a range of payment integrations, from Stripe to PayPal, so you can build the software around payment gateways that matter to you. Attendees can choose to make a payment during the booking process, so it’s never been easier to make a donation.

 

Increase success


By managing each step of the process, online booking software for charities makes event organisation seamless and problem-free. 

After an event, online booking software makes it possible for mass emails to be sent to attendees, thanking them for coming and asking for their thoughts and feedback. Online booking systems even simplify the production of feedback forms with integrated, specialised applications. Once filled in, these forms are easily accessible by users, increasing future event success.

 

Boost marketing campaigns 


Now that you’ve successfully executed an event, it’s time to focus on attracting new donors and nurturing existing relationships. The best way to do this is through a series of marketing campaigns. When you have your online booking software set up, your charity can take advantage of its marketing integrations. For example, Mailchimp allows you to design beautiful email newsletters in a few clicks. 

To craft the perfect email newsletter for charities, you should include information about the work you do. Gather real case studies of how you have made an impact on people’s lives, and remember to explain how donors’ money is spent. Also, promote any upcoming events, no matter how big or small, to make your stamp in the local community, and beyond.

 

Try BookingLive’s online booking software


We would love to welcome you to the world of online booking software for charities. If you're interested in finding out more, you can book a demo with one of our experts. Alternatively, we can answer any questions about our online booking software via email or phone. Contact us today.