E-philanthropy Forum

As we gathered information for last month’s special section on e-philanthropy, we spoke to a number of folks whose comments didn’t make it into print. Following is a sampling of those comments. Some came from our own interviews, while others (marked accordingly) were in response to Katrin Verclas’ request for comments from members of the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network, of which she is the executive director.
— M.B.

Building relationships
“Online fundraising is growing rapidly. Donors are becoming increasingly comfortable with giving online and expect organizations to have Web sites that offer well-functioning online-giving options. At its core, though, fundraising is the same whether done online or offline. It’s about building relationships with donors and prospective donors. Organizations need to focus on their overall strategies for communication, cultivation and stewardship, and utilize the new technology in concert with traditional marketing and development strategies. They need to focus on data integration and personalized communication to appeal to donors as individuals.”