How to generate revenue from virtual gifts

Virtual gifting has become a popular way for charities to generate additional revenue by providing set donation amounts for specific gifts purchased on behalf of a recipient. Offering a gifting service may make a donation more appealing, especially if someone has a loved one who supports a specific cause. It’s also a great option for family members that may not want presents (or who already have everything!) but would really appreciate a donation in their honour.

Charities are now generating revenue from Virtual Gifts (VG) by offering schemes that gift-givers can donate to in honour of their recipient. This involves sending a donation virtually, for a specific amount, usually attributed to a specific gift.

For example, this could include a Christmas dinner for a homeless person or a set amount of nursing hours, with a personalised card being sent to the recipient informing them of the donation.

Many charities are now offering virtual gift schemes so others should be mindful of this in order to stay competitive and not lose out on potential new revenue streams.

Virtual gifting is a fantastic way of truly involving your supporters in the work that you do and raising awareness of what vital donations can achieve.

But how exactly can charities introduce it into their offering? Let’s find out.

How do I set up a virtual gifting solution?

Visibility of the platform and ease of the donation process are key to securing a consistent and effective revenue stream.

Setting up an online virtual gifting platform can be a very complex process and may take up resources and time that you just don’t have. This is where a team of experts who know the process inside out can help. Our VG solution can be developed in as little as four weeks – from concepts through to taking orders and mailing cards.

One main drawback of using an off the shelf solution is that it is limited in personalisation. Our solution can be fully bespoke to your audience, cause and branding. The process is also fully managed from start to finish, making it a hands-off process for your brand.

Ensuring the accompanying cards and donor-facing website are engaging, on brand and impeccably designed, is also vital to creating a successful virtual gifts campaign.

How can virtual gifts generate revenue?

Case Study: Centrepoint

To achieve the best return on investment, charities must consider the gifts they are offering and the range of price points available, as well as elements such as card design and marketing of the platform.

Our campaign for Centrepoint demonstrates just how lucrative a successful virtual gifting programme can be. Our latest virtual gifts campaign for the charity generated over £367,000 in donations!

Our team worked hard to develop this solution, following a full programme of analysis and user experience testing, resulting in the integration of personalised messaging, digital variable print, the introduction of specifically designed order forms and production of a designed suite of greeting cards.

Here’s how the process went:

• Scoping out desired outcomes
• Brainstorming gifts and price points
• Developing effective card designs
• Creating branded website platform
• Promotion planning the platform
• Fulfilling the printing of physical cards and distribution of digital cards

In order to generate the most revenue from virtual gifts, it is important to have the correct processes in place.

Following the success of this campaign, we have launched a bespoke virtual gifts platform, specifically for the third sector. We want to help charities capitalise on the additional revenue stream that a virtual gift platform can provide through the creation of fully personalised greeting cards and gifts specific to each charity on their own bespoke platform.

If this sounds like the right solution for your organisation, please get in touch with our virtual gifts experts today!