Engaging Donors Can Elicit Second Gifts

The two key steps to this end, Bailey says, are acknowledging the gift with appreciation and following up with results of how the donation helped the people you serve. Did it bring your organization closer to its goal in a capital campaign? Was it directed toward program services?

Bailey says photographs are a great way to communicate to donors the impact of their gift. "Pictures speak volumes. Whenever a photo can be sent of who [a donor's] dollars have helped, of what improvement was made, there's a sense of accomplishment on the donor's part, and they will feel as though their donation to your organization really makes a difference," he says.