A lapsed donor survey can consist simply of one question, with multiple choices for an answer.
Why did you stop giving? (Select all that apply)
- I was not aware my donation had stopped
- I can no longer afford to offer my support
- There was a mistake at my bank
- My personal priorities for giving have changed
- I switched to support a different charity
- I felt pressured into giving
- [Org name] asked me for an amount I found inappropriate
- I wasn’t thanked appropriately for my gift
- The quality of service provided to me as a donor was poor
- I didn’t enjoy [Orgname]’s communications
- This is not a cause that greatly interests me
- [Org name] did not tell me how my money was used
- [Org name] wrote to me too often
- Supporting [orgname] doesn’t fit with my sense of who I am
- [Org name] doesn’t seem to need my support
- Other: (write in an answer)
One word of caution: don’t let the survey recipient ever see the words “lapsed donor” – in other words, don’t address them as such. Words like “We miss you” or “Did we do something wrong?” can be good ways to preface the survey.