Conducting Surveys for Nonprofits: Best Practices on a Budget

Introduction

Surveys are one of the most powerful tools nonprofits can use to stay connected to their community, understand impact, and gather insights to improve operations. But let’s face it, resources are often tight. Conducting high-quality surveys without breaking the bank is a common challenge.

Whether you're running a local food pantry or a global advocacy campaign, collecting feedback from donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries is critical. With the right approach, even the most resource-constrained organizations can run impactful surveys.

Why Surveys Matter for Nonprofits

Surveys provide a structured method for nonprofits to:

They serve as a direct line to stakeholders, if you know how to listen.

Common Challenges in Nonprofit Surveying

Nonprofits typically face these roadblocks:

The good news? These challenges can be overcome with strategic planning and a few cost-effective tools.

Setting Clear Goals Before You Survey

A successful survey starts with a clear objective. Are you trying to understand volunteer satisfaction? Assess the impact of a program? Or gather ideas for new services?

By focusing on one or two specific goals, you avoid the common pitfall of trying to ask everything in one go, which only results in lower quality data and survey fatigue.

Identifying Your Target Audience

Knowing who you need responses from will help you tailor both the survey design and distribution. Nonprofits typically survey:

Each audience will require different language, platforms, and question types.

Choosing the Right Survey Tools on a Budget

Not all survey platforms come with a hefty price tag. In fact, many offer free tiers that are more than enough for small nonprofits.

Crafting Effective Survey Questions

Keep these golden rules in mind:

Timing and Frequency

Launching a survey at the wrong time can mean poor response rates. The best times are often:

Quarterly or annual surveys provide a rhythm without being overwhelming.

Strategies to Boost Survey Participation

Getting people to actually complete your survey is half the battle. Consider these tactics:

Using Social Media to Promote Surveys

Social media platforms are a free megaphone. Use visuals, polls, and direct survey links on platforms like:

Collaborating With Partners and Volunteers

Partner with universities, community groups, or other nonprofits to expand reach. Interns and volunteers studying data science or communications can be invaluable assets in survey design and analysis.

For more creative ways to use surveys, see our post on Creative Ways to Use Online Surveys Beyond Customer Feedback.

Ethical Considerations

When collecting data:

Being transparent builds credibility and trust.

Analyzing Survey Results Without Fancy Software

Free tools like Google Sheets or Excel work just fine for most analysis. Focus on:

Visualization helps translate raw data into actionable insights.

Sharing What You Learn

Always close the loop. Tell respondents what you learned and what changes you’ll make. This encourages future participation and strengthens your community relationships.

Budgeting for Surveys: Where to Save

Here's how to stretch every dollar:

Case Study: Small Nonprofit, Big Impact

One small nonprofit in rural Oregon surveyed its food pantry users using Google Forms on borrowed tablets. With just 8 questions and a $25 grocery card raffle, they got a 60% response rate. They discovered 40% of respondents lacked transportation and added mobile delivery, doubling their reach in 3 months.

Mistakes to Avoid

Steer clear of:

Leveraging Survey Data for Grants and Fundraising

Well-structured survey data can strengthen grant applications by:

If you're looking to turn survey data into actionable insights, check out our guide on From Survey Data to Actionable Insights: A Step-by-Step Guide.

Combining Surveys with Other Data Sources

Surveys offer perception data, but you can compare them with:

This triangulation improves decision-making.

Going Beyond the Basics

For larger nonprofits or growing organizations, consider investing in tools like Airtable or Tableau Public (both have free options for nonprofits) to build dashboards and dynamic visualizations.

Conducting Surveys for Nonprofits: Best Practices on a Budget

Conducting surveys for nonprofits doesn’t have to be expensive. With smart planning, the right tools, and a little creativity, even the smallest nonprofit can gain valuable insights from their community. Surveys not only guide internal decisions, they help tell your story, attract funding, and validate your mission.