10 Best Practices for Netting and Keeping Donors

2. Know your donors. How do your donors want to be contacted? What is a donor’s normal giving cycle? What prompted a donor to give to you the first time? “Pay attention to any communication you receive from donors — written notes with contributions, attendance at a particular event, or a sudden change in giving pattern,” said Burton. Document and save this information to build a donor profile. Respect their wishes for how they want you to communicate with them and leverage what prompted them to give to you in the first place. “Future gifts depend on how well you’ve nurtured the donor’s relationship with your organization,” she said.