I’ve written before about the dangers of the DIY (do-it-yourself) mentality in fundraising. The most frightening thing is the amount of time you’ll spend doing everything but meeting with donor prospects.
15 Conversation Starters With Your Donors
Even the most socially adept among us need a little help to get the conversation started. That’s why we’ve developed these 15 conversation starters along with the “why” behind each one. Use them the next time you meet with a donor or prospect. They’ll help break the ice, establish trust, and get you started on the path to building a meaningful, mutually beneficial relationship.
Trust is The Most Important Element of Fundraising
Achieving trust doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, persistence, consistency, and dedication. It also takes audience awareness of your “brand.” And creating that awareness means consistent marketing — an investment far too many nonprofits are afraid to make.
Donor Stories Motivate Others to Give
Donor stories are among the most effective ways to reach and engage with your audience. That’s why it’s important to have a system in place to pursue, record and share donor stories.
Gifts for Donors or Legacy Society Members
Personally, I don’t want another paperweight, it just makes my trashcan heavier. But if someone brought me the best baklava money can buy, that would go in my belly quickly — and be greatly appreciated.
Postcards From the Edge of Agita
How do you thank your donors? We give them gifts. Every year. These can range from the mundane (a printed calendar) to the ridiculous (a bobble-head doll), to the more expensive-and-mundane (an engraved glass mug or paperweight.)
Finding Your Best Planned Giving Prospects
Whether you’re kicking off a fledgling planned giving program or you’re comfortably positioned with a legacy society, it doesn’t take a data scientist to help you find your best prospects. It DOES, however, start with your donor data. This blog explains why data is essential.
Did You Know – Whining is Good for Donor Retention?
Did anyone ever tell you, “Quit your whining?” Complaining is practically second nature for most of us, and some people have been known to raise it to an art form. The thing is, no one likes a whiner, right?
Collaboration
Collaboration draws upon the unique skillsets of individuals to achieve a common goal among a group. But for specialization to work, teaming up (aka, collaboration) with others who have complementary skills is critical. And I am happy to see that’s becoming the norm in philanthropy.
That’s No Way to Treat a Donor
Like dating, you have an ongoing relationship with your donors, and there is a right way and a wrong way to treat them — to keep them happy; to show you truly appreciate them; to “keep the romance alive.”