As communities strive to embrace cleaner, more affordable energy sources, affinity programs with companies like PureSky Energy offer a powerful way to meet fundraising goals while making a positive environmental impact.
Through an affinity program tied to community solar, your organization can fundraise effectively, drive local renewable energy adoption, and help individuals reduce their electricity costs—all at once. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up a community solar affinity program with PureSky Energy that both raises money for your charity and supports a greener, more sustainable future.
1. Understand Community Solar and Affinity Programs
In general, affinity programs tap into your existing network whether it’s where you work or another community organization to drive customer engagement with a partner business, with a portion of the proceeds going to the charity of choice. For a community solar affinity program, this means encouraging supporters to sign up for community solar through PureSky Energy, which donates a set amount with each sign-up to your selected charity.
This is a win-win for your company or organization. You raise money for your selected charity and the people and businesses who sign up receive savings on their electricity costs. Community solar is the no-cost green option, which means individuals and businesses do not need to install solar panels on their property and there are no fees to participate. Instead, participants subscribe to a local solar farm, like PureSky Energy’s Grand Island Solar Farm, to receive a discount on their electricity bills.
2. Define Your Goals and Set Measurable Targets
Start with specific, achievable goals for your program. Are you aiming to raise a certain amount for your charity? Or is your primary focus to support the local transition to renewable energy? Defining these goals will help clarify your message and create milestones to measure success. For example:
Fundraising goal: Target a set amount that you hope to raise within the first year.
Community impact: Set a goal for the number of households and businesses that will benefit from the transition to community solar through your program.
Environmental goals: Track how much carbon emissions could be reduced by switching your supporters to community solar.
3. Partner with PureSky Energy to Set up the Program
To get started, reach out to PureSky Energy and discuss your vision for the affinity program. The team at PureSky Energy is deeply committed to supporting local communities and will provide resources to help you launch and promote the program effectively. Your partnership might include:
Support and materials: PureSky will provide you with promotional assets, such as co-branded landing pages, social media graphics, and informational materials about community solar benefits.
Training and support: Set up training sessions for your team and volunteers to help them understand the program, explain community solar’s benefits, and help answer common questions.
In-person Outreach: Whenever possible, we come into your community and will answer questions about community solar from the people you’re trying to sign up.
4. Build an Outreach and Awareness Campaign
For your affinity program to be successful, you need a strategy to reach as many potential supporters as possible. We will work with you to create a marketing plan that’s proven to work by creating awareness, encouraging sign-ups, and keeping supporters engaged. Here’s how to build an effective campaign:
1. Create a Compelling Message
We work with you to craft your messaging that speaks to your community with a focus on the triple benefits of participating in the program:
Support a Cause: Every new subscriber generates funds to support the charitable mission.
Save on Energy Costs: Supporters can reduce their electricity bills by subscribing to community solar.
Help the Environment: Encourage clean energy and reduce carbon footprints by subscribing to a renewable energy source.
Clearly articulating the reasons for joining helps motivate new sign-ups, and generate funds for your cause.
2. Use Your Existing Network
Your company, organization or community is your network. Use the ways that you typically use to communicate, whether that is sending out an email announcement or posting regular updates on your messaging platform to keep your supporters informed about the affinity program. Let them know that by signing up for community solar through PureSky Energy, they’re helping to fund your charity.
3. Engage Your Community
Organize events, both virtual and in-person, to introduce your supporters to the program. Host informational sessions, invite PureSky Energy representatives to speak about the benefits of community solar, and offer Q&A sessions to address any questions. Consider also creating incentives, such as raffles or giveaways, to encourage participation.
4. Use Social Media and Content Marketing
Use social media platforms to reach a broader audience. Share posts about the program, highlight community stories, and post testimonials from early supporters. Additionally, consider writing blogs or creating videos about community solar and the impact of the affinity program to help drive engagement.
5. Empower Volunteers and Ambassadors
Identify dedicated volunteers who can serve as ambassadors for the program. These individuals can help amplify the message by reaching out to their networks, sharing social media posts, and even hosting informational sessions. PureSky Energy may be able to support these ambassadors with training or resources, enabling them to advocate for community solar effectively.
6. Measure Impact and Report Progress
Once the program is underway, PureSky will help you track your progress, so you can easily see your progress towards your fundraising and impact goals. We will track these key metrics:
Number of Sign-Ups: Track how many individuals and businesses subscribe to community solar through your affinity program.
Funds Raised: Keep a running tally of the donations generated for your charity through the program.
Environmental Impact: PureSky Energy can provide data on carbon offsets achieved through the subscriptions, which you can share with supporters to show the positive impact they’re making.
Share these metrics regularly with your supporters through newsletters or social media. Transparency builds trust, shows appreciation, and reinforces the impact of their choice to join community solar.
7. Celebrate Success and Keep Momentum Going
When you hit major milestones, make sure to celebrate them with your community. Thank supporters, recognize top ambassadors, and showcase testimonials from those who’ve benefited from community solar. Use these moments to not only appreciate current supporters but also attract new ones by showing the tangible impact of the program.
To keep momentum, continue sharing stories and updates. Consider running periodic pushes, like a Giving Tuesday fundraising drive, that encourages more supporters to sign up.
A Win-Win-Win Opportunity
An affinity program in partnership with PureSky Energy is a fantastic way to raise funds for your charity of choice, support local renewable energy, and give back to the community. By encouraging your supporters to switch to community solar, they can save on their bills, reduce their carbon footprint, and help fund important initiatives for your organization. With a well-structured program and committed outreach, you’ll be able to create meaningful change both for your cause and the planet.
Reach out to our customer care team if you would like to get started with an Affinity Program at customercare@pureskyenergy.com or 1-877-267-8727.
