My friend hates the word ‘donor.’ She isn’t a fundraiser...No, she’s a real person in the real world. And when she gets letters asking her to become a donor her mind strays to giving blood or donating her kidney. This blew my mind...how can the word ‘donor’...so ingrained in my [...]
Ever hear of this? A “Second Gift Strategy?” If yes, good for you! You’re likely beating the average when it comes to donor retention. If not, listen up! This may be the single most important thing you’ll learn all year. You. Must. Prioritize. On. First-time. Renewals. Got it? PRIORITIZE renewing [...]
You know what is an unsung holiday for loving on donors? Valentine's Day. You know who is not expecting to hear from you on Valentine’s Day? Your donors! Why not surprise them with some donor love? I’ve outlined 21 ways to show you care including a spotlight on a couple [...]
I’ve written on the subject of strategies to renew lapsed donors. Because folks who’ve demonstrated a willingness to support your cause are too valuable to let them fade away without making a concerted effort to win them back. What about nipping this problem in the bud, before your donor leaves [...]
In article #1 of this four-part series on donor retention and gratitude we discussed the benefits of thanking donors in a manner that resonates with them personally. In article #2 we looked at what will make your thank you stand out. In article #3 we looked at how donor retention [...]
Everyone involved with you deserves your gratitude. After all, without them you’d have no purpose. The key to showing meaningful gratitude is to think specifically about what you’re grateful for. And this will be different, both for different segments of donors and even for specific individuals within those segments. You [...]
What is it that drives donor loyalty? What are the determinants of longer term value? These are questions we’re often asked at Bloomerang and we’ve been working to develop measures that all our clients can use to track how well they are doing at bolstering future donor retention. We know [...]
Benjamin Franklin had it right: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” I’m sure you have heard about the tax changes. It was all over the news and pretty much on every social media feed with one horrific message. “Nonprofits are going to [...]
As a nonprofit, you are always looking for new ways to expand your donor base. Consider using your membership as a tool to build this foundation. Establish lifetime value for your organization by creating deeper engagement and greater giving through enhanced and exclusive benefits. Build a ‘tribe’ of loyal and [...]
“I’m all ears…” in other words, “You have my undivided attention.” Listening is one of the most important skills we have for building effective relationships, especially when we’re trying to attract supporters and donors. Relationships are also the key to achieving the mission of your organization. Bottom line — “all [...]
SPECIAL EVENTS WORTH DOING MUST NOT EXIST IN A VACUUM. If you’re planning a special event, write this down on a sticky note, post it next to your computer, and make it your mantra. Or reap the consequences of doing fundraising the absolutely least cost-effective way possible. What a waste. [...]
Asking your donors why they are passionate about the cause is always a good idea. But how often do you ask them how they feel about your organization? It might be a better idea than you think. Roger Craver of The Agitator and DonorVoice fame has developed a simple donor [...]