F, G, H, I and J — 'Vitamins' for Building Strong Fundraising

F is for frequency
Are your donors hearing about your successes and your needs at the right schedule for them? Or are you giving them up too easily?

When a donor calls to say that he or she is getting too much mail from your organization, your first (and often only) response should not be to remove that person from your mailing list. Instead, offer to reduce the mail you send, saying something like: "I understand, Mrs. Jones. Would you like to continue to receive our e-newsletters so you can keep up with the great work partners like you are making possible, as well as get our letters once a quarter?" Your options should not be "all or nothing." Instead offer options like quarterly, semi-annual, annual or e-newsletters only. No matter what they say, donors who don't hear from a nonprofit often forget about it.