Attention to Detail Improves the Net (Worth)

I'll never forget the poster: a large fishing net with an intricate pattern. Completely intact and flowing over the bow of an old fishing boat. The caption: Attention to detail improves the net.

Attention to detail is also important in fundraising — we ask donors to entrust us with their resources and provide them with a meaningful return. We not only owe our donors attention to detail, but it does indeed improve the net — the funds you raise for your worthy cause.

Check and double-check the spelling of your donor names
Know how the names are spelled and what donors prefer to be called. As Dale Carnegie shared, "A person's name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language."

Get the gift right
Last week I panicked when I received an e-mail acknowledging that a gift — equal to my year's pledge — had been charged to my credit account. It turns out that it did not happen, but the communication from the organization was clearly misleading. Get the gift right — and be sure it is communicated properly.

Make it easy
How easy is it for a donor to make a gift? Do you have multiple options — from online giving, to stock transfer, to account debit, to mailing a check? Are your phone number and mailing address easy to find on your website? What happens when someone calls to ask a question about making a donation?

Follow-up
I serve on several boards. Half are good about reminding me about my annual gift commitment and where I stand. Your donors have a lot on their plates; a reminder never hurts and usually helps.

We find that one of the top two reasons for bad or lapsed pledges is usually a failure on behalf of the organization to follow up. That lack of follow-up typically reflects a relationship that needs strengthening. And, given time, donors forget their commitments, lose faith in organizations and find others who show more attention.

Be prompt
Your promptness sends a positive message — it shows you care. And it shows that you are a good steward of resources. Be prompt in responding to a donor gift or request. If you acknowledge the gift and have it processed in a timely manner, it absolutely impresses your donor.

Know donors' recognition preference
We find that overwhelmingly, even if they say otherwise, donors want to be recognized. But every donor is different, so be sure that you know and respect each donor's wishes. And if you have promised any special recognition in conjunction with a gift, be sure it is implemented. From a name in an annual report, on your website or on a plaque, to a special gift — be sure that you fulfill your commitments.

By paying attention to detail with your donor relationships, you honor them and show that they are important. Following these simple steps helps improve the "net worth" of your organization and your ability to change lives.

Jeff Jowdy is the president and founder of Lighthouse Counsel and a member of the FundRaising Success Editorial Advisory Board. Reach him at jeff@lighthousecounsel.com