With Ramadan only three weeks away, we should all do our bit to physically, mentally, and spiritually prepare ourselves for this holy month. This year, on April 12, most of our brothers and sisters around the world will celebrate the most blessed time of the calendar virtually once more.

Due to the pandemic still affecting many cities, most mosques remain closed, while others are open with precautionary measures and limited capacity. But even if people aren’t allowed to gather and celebrate together, the meaning of Ramadan remains the same.

We can still connect, reflect, and be close to our friends and family, albeit in a digital space. By continuing Ramadan preparations, mosque donation, and EID celebration, we can grow spiritually and build stronger relationships with Allah.

Preparing for Ramadan and Making the Celebration More Meaningful Through Donations

To ensure that we’ll greet the holy month with a peaceful heart and mind, we must build up faith and prepare for Ramadan. It may be different from what we’re used to before the pandemic hit, but this year’s Ramadan doesn’t have to be less memorable and successful.

Many Muslims do small and vital preparation steps, such as sunnah fasting, reciting and reflecting upon the Qur’an, repenting, and practicing healthier eating habits. Although there’s no specific time or month, those with the means are also religiously obliged to donate. Be it a Zakat or Sadaqah, the donations towards a mosque go a long way in its operation and other services.

How Islamic Institutions and Mosques Can Raise Donations During Ramadan 2021

Mosques raise a significant portion of their budget during Ramadan. But with the pandemic forcing many places of worship to close, not only are prayer rooms empty, so are donation boxes. Because of this, some Islamic centers had to let go of their staff or cut their salary last year. Others even had trouble with their utility bills. To ensure that the mosque donation continues amidst this challenging year, organizations need to adapt and set up an effective fundraising strategy.

Last year, many businesses and organizations went online to survive and continue operation. Religious institutions could learn a thing or two about the digital age. By taking advantage of technology, mosques, business and schools that want to collect donations can effectively and efficiently reach a wider audience. No matter where they are, a person will be able to make a mosque donation for Ramadan. Here are several strategies that can help mosques and other religious institutions raise donations in 2021.

Email Marketing

An email is a great digital platform to send out persuasive rhetoric and convince people to make a mosque donation. And with global email users expected to grow up to 4.48 billion by 2024, your fundraising events will reach wider audiences than ever. However, you can only successfully convert a donor if you use the email correctly. With good communication, you can boost your mosque fundraising strategy and even retain donors for your following events.

Paid Advertising

With people living under COVID restrictions and working remotely, there’s not much else to do but go online. It makes perfect sense for fundraisers to invest more heavily in paid advertising, such as search engine ads and social media ads. With email marketing, you would need a potential donor’s email before you could send them a persuasive message. But advertisements are in plain sight for anyone to see. It gives your mosque fundraising event a more public reach.

Press Releases

Whether it’s for Ramadan or another mosque donation event, a well-crafted press release will pique the interest and entice reporters to ask questions about your organization and campaign. It’s an excellent and inexpensive strategy to increase awareness of your event and attract more supporters.

SMS Marketing

Some people don’t have access to the internet at all times. They might not be able to see those emails, social media ads, or even online articles immediately. Since people have their phones with them at all times, a text message is another way to make them aware of your campaign. You can use this to remindthem about the upcoming Ramadan on April 12, 2021, and inspire them to donate to the mosque.

SEO

In this digital age, people who care deeply about the traditions of Ramadan are going to use search engines like Google to do research and find out where and how they can donate. If they can easily find your Islamic center on the first page, they will likely click on your website and learn more about your campaign. There’s a chance they’ll make a donation and even become an active supporter of your website and future events.

Connect with Your Community and Reach Your Fundraising Goals

Many of our brothers and sisters might be celebrating this year’s Ramadan away from the family once again. But we can still connect as a community and celebrate the holy month. By hiring the right people to help, you can easily reach donors to generate the funding necessary for the mosque, business or school, help you build engagement and reach a wider audience, and allows you to connect with the community safely during these challenging times.

Curious how Zoom makes money in this digital age? Read ”How Does Zoom Make Money?” to learn more.