29 Tips for Gaining and Retaining a Donor Base

Create a donor profile by doing a survey of long-time members. Offer donors something — a coupon, for example — for filling it out. You can do the survey online, but Rich said those that complete the survey then might not be an accurate representation of your donor pool.

After forming a profile of the donors you'd like to target, look for prospective members with a demonstrated interest in your cause, an understanding of who you are and disposable income ($50 is a traditional entry-level donation to a membership organization).