It's Time to Reach Out to Your Donors

We are into the fourth quarter of the year. And that means it's time to reach out to your donors.

Hopefully, you have been tracking retention of your top donors all year. There are times in shops large and small that this slips—because of the urgency of tasks that are often less important.

Now, it is critical. Look at your top tier of annual donors—those who typically account for an overwhelming majority of your revenue.

For any donors who gave at your leadership level last year and not this year, reach out to them today. First, thank them for their past support. Ask them why they give. Create a dialogue. In person or by phone call is best. Email is OK if you have to because of volume, or if you do not have a phone number. Make this a pure thank-you call or message—but you have to do this within the next week or two!

Then, follow-up with a handwritten note and a return envelope. Share in the note their level of support last year and ask them to renew.

Don't wait—it's time!